tree care updates

What to know about Emerald Ash Borer:

• It attacks only ash trees (Fraxinus spp.).
• Adult Beetles are metallic green and about 1/2-inch long.
• Adults leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark when they emerge in Spring.
• Woodpeckers like EAB larvae; heavy woodpecker damage on ash trees may be a sign of infestation.
• Firewood cannot be moved in many areas of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin because of the EAB quarantine.
• It probably came from Asia in wood packing material.

Info provided by www.emeraldashborer.info

What NOT to burn in your fireplace/wood stove:
 

Many of these will produce hazardous fumes indoors, as well as chimney emissions that would be an environmental concern. Some also pose additional risks to your stove metals or can create a hazardous build-up of creosote in your chimney. Additional information is also noted.

• Painted or varnished wood, trim or other wood by-products
• Pressure-treated lumber - due to the treatment compounds
• Driftwood - salt water driftwood contains some amount of salt which is corrosive.      When heated, corrosion is accelerated and toxic fumes are produced. Fresh water driftwood may contain silt and gravel.
• All engineered sheet goods because of the glue compounds used in the layering      process, including but not limited to:
  • Plywood
  • Particle board
  • Press board
  • Orientated Strand Board (OSB)
  • Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)
  • Green wood - wood that is not dry will not produce any heat, you'll be just trying to dry it in your stove. It will produce a lot of smoke and creosote.

Salvaged firewood or other scraps can save you a lot of money when it comes to heating your home with wood. But there are certain wood products and other items that you should avoid for health and safety reasons.