The dangling leaves clatter in the wind. Cottonwoods prefer moist soil and they usually grow along ditch banks and the bottom lands of rivers and streams. Although the trees are usually huge causing the rounds to be heavy and difficult to move, the firewood it produces will definitely heat your home. r/oddlysatisfying: For those little things that are inexplicably satisfying. Cottonseed oil does appear to have some health benefits, but other vegetable oils provide the same benefits without the high amount of saturated fat and other side effects. 5PM: 2 Provo fires were fueled by cottonwood seeds, firefighter says This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. I’m skeptical – sounds like “pappy” tales. If someone tries to give you a free load of cottonwood I definitely would not pass it up. Otherwise you may end up with just a lot of smoke. Then it can can ignite, causing a chimney fire. mowoodchopper. Creosote is nothing more than a condensation of small, unburned particles contained in the smoke that coats the chimney surface as it exits. PROVO CITY, Utah — Cottonwood seeds can make a small fire grow in just seconds. Besides, the bark usually sloughs off cottonwood once it becomes cured and dry. Some say it smells like cat pee. Tips and ideas for building a firewood crib to store and season your firewood so it's dry and ready to burn. They are the fastest growing trees in North America, adding 6 feet or more in height every year. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. I was told it's a softwood. Cottowood falls somewhere towards the bottom in terms of BTUs per cord. The real science behind cottonseed oil — and many seed oils like it such as canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil and safflower oil is so alarming that you might never touch the stuff again. When not seasoned properly gives off an unpleasant aroma. This will give you a little bit of dry time and allow for easier splitting. Find the perfect cottonwood seeds stock photo. When the wood is dry it splits pretty easy and makes good kindling. Since it is a hardwood it will have more nutrients than other softwood ashes though. Cottonwood trees tend to warp and shrink, and the wood doesn’t have an attractive grain, so the wood is often used to make pallets, crates and boxes. Firewood Cutting Safety - How To Protect Yourself, Building A Firewood Crib - How To Store Firewood, Chimney Damper Repair - Fix A Broken Damper. Cottonwood trees (Populus deltoides) are quick-growing, brittle trees hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 to 9. They are difficult to split when green and if not seasoned properly give off a very unpleasant aroma. Then go ahead and start splitting and stacking. The trees grow in locations with full sun and lots of moisture. Been burning it now since our first early cold (27degrees) and I am SUPER happy with it. Aug 22, 2009. mowoodchopper Polar Bear. The Fremont Cottonwood can be found throughout the southwestern United States and into northern Mexico while the Black Popular is native to Europe and western Asia. In areas like Colorado and Utah where there is an abundance of cottonwood trees, officials regularly send out warnings to residents to remind them of how quickly a cottonwood fire could escalate. Until the late 1800s, nobody cared much for cotton seeds. Burning cottonwood seeds is a common way of quickly removing them from your yard, but it can be very dangerous as the fire can quickly spread in many different directions. While many people consider it a poor firewood choice, there are others who have no issues burning the wood and are actually pretty happy with the results. Cottonwood firewood has a fairly low BTU.  It is rated between 15.8-16.8 million BTUs per cord. I think you'll find it splits a lot easier once it dries out a little bit. Glad so many people find it useful. Native Americans used Cottonwood trunks for dugout canoes. Is there any scientific basis to this tale? Cottonwood will produce 15.8 million BTUs per cord. We cut and sell cottonwood every winter. Then, press the cottonwood tree seeds into the soil ensuring good seed-to-soil contact. In late September, we split the rounds (half the weight as before) with absolute ease. Learn how to fix and remove a busted or stuck fireplace damper. The box full of it went up in two seconds and didn't even scorch the box. Placing the tray near a window that faces south, or southwest is ideal. The bad: lower BTU’s and some might find the sweet smell unpleasing. xtm . However, not all of the options will be available to you since some trees only grow in certain parts of the country. Any help would be appreciated.". Watch Queue Queue We hope you love the products and ideas we recommend! 0:38. A bifurcated creek forms an island on which grows and abundance of Cottonwood (it actually becomes a bit of a nuisance), and where the ranch house, barns, corrals, orchard and garden are located. 6 cords, wow! Buy an inexpensive easy to use moisture meter like this one, to ensure your split wood is ready for the fire. Green wood tends to smoke and smolder creating the possibility for creosote to form in the chimney. Selling around 15-20 cords every winter. Surfed and surfed and surfed – cannot for the life of me find comments about cottonwood ASH — My step son (50-ish) says not to use it in the garden as it contains toxic elements that other wood ash lacks. That’s great! This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. When the wood is dry it splits pretty easy and makes good kindling. Cottonwood sap is used in folk medicines and massage oils. Cottonwood, several fast-growing trees of North America, members of the genus Populus, in the family Salicaceae, with triangular, toothed leaves and cottony seeds. Some Native American tribes have been said to used their sap as a sweetener in teas, pudding and syrups. Cottonwood firewood will burn clean when it is seasoned properly. Thanks for sharing this information with us. Burning cottonwood seeds is strangely soothing. We just cut a healthy 105 foot Cottonwood from our property because it’s roots were damaging our foundation. We like it. During a tree's 125-year lifespan, it may rise to a height of 150' with a diameter ranging from 7' to 8'. REALLY well seasoned cottonwood logs do NOT pop and spark – at least no so you’d notice in a furnace that is properly maintained. Northern Oregon here. When Cottonwood is dry it will ignite fast and produce heat quickly, but it doesn’t last long and will leave a lot of ash. Learn how to protect yourself and others while cutting firewood. It’s a problem firefighters say they encounter every year. As long as it’s split and seasoned people we sell it to really enjoy it and have no problems with it. These trees have been very important to the native people living in North America… The ripe capsules split into 3 valves and release seeds with white, cottony down that are carried great distances by the wind, thus the name cottonwood. Cottonwood trees get their name from the fluffy cotton-like seeds produced by the female tree. It will not light quickly and will produce a lot of smoke. This site is owned and operated by Martin and Julie Johnson.  Down To Earth Homesteaders is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The creosote will stick to the sides of the chimney and dry. Is it ok for firewood? Cottonwood is moderately good for firewood because it is a hard wood that splits easily when seasoned properly, burns relatively clean and produces a fair amount of heat. While many people consider it a very difficult firewood to split, there are others who have no issues with it. Cottonwood does not burn well when green. As the green wood burns, the energy created from the fire is used to evaporate the moisture resulting in wasted heat. 2:59 . It's a flash fire and doesn't usually catch anything else on fire. Cottonwood does not burn well when green. The grain is very straight. Joined … (Source: Twitter) While the Australian bushfire earlier this year wreaked havoc and devastated parts of the country, a video of a “controlled” fire in Spain sweeping through a park without burning a single tree has left netizens stunned. The fibrous wood is used for shipping crates, pallet boxes and pulp for magazines. Cottonwood, also known as the poplar, it is named for its cotton-like seeds. 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