Are you confused about choosing suitable firewood for your home? Cutting firewood is a time-consuming job that needs a lot of energy. This is why you need to make sure that you’re picking the right type of firewood before wasting your time.
Knowing which type of firewood works for you can save you a lot of hassle. So, is poplar good firewood? Keep on reading to find out.
Is Poplar Good Firewood?
There are several types of firewood that you can choose from, but not all of them will be available in your area. If you have poplar trees around, you’d be happy to know that poplar wood can be used as firewood when needed. Here are a few reasons why it’s good firewood.
- Poplar wood lights quickly, so it will help warm your house fast. If you don’t have access to another type of wood, poplar will work.
- Poplar wood doesn’t make a lot of coal, so it can work as a good fire starter. It’s easier to light than other types of hardwood like oak.
- Poplar wood seasons fast, so you can use it to burn your fire. In about six months, the wood will be ready to burn. You can still burn poplar wood when it’s green, but it will be too smoky. In some cases, the seasoning can take up to 12 months, but you can accelerate the process by splitting the wood and stacking the logs away from the ground.
- Poplar wood doesn’t produce a lot of sap, so it’s relatively easy to work with. Other types of wood produce more sap, so you might struggle a little while splitting the wood.
- You don’t need a lot of experience to handle poplar firewood. All you need is a good ax, and you’ll have access to easy to work with firewood. You don’t even have to spend a lot of time to get it ready, as you can still cut and use big chunks of wood.
- Poplar wood has a smell that some people consider sweet, especially when it’s freshly cut. However, when left to season, it doesn’t have much smell, so most people prefer to use it as firewood.
- Poplar wood doesn’t weigh as heavy as types of hardwood, so it’s easier to carry around and work with.
- Compared to other types of wood, poplar is widely available. You might even have a poplar tree in your backyard that you can use to get wood for your fire.
- If you want to enjoy a short fire, poplar firewood will be the right choice for you. There’s no point in wasting good logs of other types of wood if you’re only spending a couple of hours in front of the fire.
- Poplar firewood doesn’t burn too hot, so it might be the right choice if you only need to light your fire for aesthetics. It will also work in late spring and early fall when the weather isn’t that cold.
What are the Limitations of Using Poplar as Firewood?
Poplar isn’t the most popular type of firewood, but it can be the only option available. Nevertheless, there are a few limitations that you need to think about if you’re using poplar for firewood.
- Poplar firewood burns hot. Although it lights fast, you’ll probably need double the amount of poplar wood to keep your fire burning.
- One cord can produce between 13.7 and 14.7 million BTUs, so it’s not one of the most popular types of firewood to use in your household. Compared to other wood types, poplar wood has a low BTU rating.
- Other types of firewood will work better and can be easier to obtain.
- You need to store poplar firewood away from moisture. You need to keep it away from snow and rain to help the wood dry out fast.
- Poplar wood throws some sparks when it burns, so you need to keep the screen up to protect your furniture.
However, if you have poplar trees around, you can still use poplar as firewood. A single log can give you about two hours of burning, so it can work in case of an emergency. It also burns faster than other wood types, so it’s an excellent choice for campfires. As a matter of fact, some campgrounds sell poplar wood because it burns the ideal amount of time.
What Are the Characteristics of Poplar Trees?
Poplar trees have extensive root systems that spread meters away from the tree. This is why they shouldn’t be planted close to houses, buildings, or septic tanks. Nevertheless, if you have poplar trees around, you can make use of the wood to burn your fire.
There are several types of poplar trees that grow in the US, but some of them are more common than others. These are the most popular species in the US.
- Eastern poplar.
- Balsam poplar.
- Lombardy poplar.
- White poplar.
- Black poplar.
A poplar tree is native to the Northern Hemisphere and can grow between 50 and 165 feet tall. The trunk can be about 8 feet in diameter, and the wood is quite flexible. In most cases, the poplar tree’s wood can be used to make pallets, plywood, and paper. Poplar wood can also be used to make cabinets, crates, boxes, and picture frames.
Most people grow poplar trees because they grow fast, so they provide shade. They’re also rather easy to care for.
Wrap Up
Finding the right type of firewood can be a little challenging, especially if you don’t have much experience. Poplar firewood might not be the most popular type of firewood available, but it’s considered a good type of firewood, especially if you have poplar trees around.
Poplar firewood lights up fast and is easy to work with. It doesn’t produce messy sap or need to be left for a long time for seasoning.
However, it burns fast, so you will have to add more wood to your fire. On average, a log of poplar wood will last for up to two hours, so you will have to add more to the fire to keep it burning. Nevertheless, if you’re planning to light your fire for a couple of hours or need to start a fire in slightly warmer weather, you can still go for poplar firewood.