Hardwoods

• Oak: Oak is abundant in the U.S. and considered one of the best picks for firewood. When it’s dried properly, it will burn for hours and produce warm heat. The key is that it needs to be seasoned properly. Oak firewood should be aged in a dry area for at least six months. Oak is difficult to light, but once started, it will offer a long-burning fire.

• Hickory: Hickory can be difficult to split, but once you have this part covered, it burns just as beautifully as oak.

• Ash: Some argue that ash is the best firewood to burn. Ash splits easily and has a low moisture content, which is why people love it.

• Maple: Hard maple produces a slow-burning fire because it’s very dense and heavy. Soft maple is also a suitable choice for firewood. It’s easy to burn with no heavy smoke.

• Birch: Birch is an attractive choice for firewood because it gives off a lot of heat, but the drawback is that it burns quickly. If you find bundles of birch, you’ll probably notice that it’s cheaper than other woods. Just remember that you will burn through more of it, so it’s best to mix in birch with slow-burning firewood like oak.

• Apple: Apple trees aren’t just valued for their apples. They also produce great wood for burning since it has a pleasant smoky aroma and generates little smoke.

Softwoods

• Pine: Pine is readily available, especially because it seasons faster than other wood varieties, and it’s easier to split and light. Pine is a great wood to start a fire with, but it’s not the best to continue with. Pine burns very quickly and has sap pockets that can explode, causing creosote buildup in the chimney.

• Fir: Fir produces sparking just as pine does, but the older trees are easy to split and start. Fir firewood also gives off an ample amount of heat, although not as much as the hardwoods.

Let’s hear from you. What’s your favorite wood to burn?