| Different species of trees can vary in the quality of | | | | of time. hardwood also can make a nice bed of coals |
| firewood they produce. When being asked which | | | | which can be good for cooking fires. |
| type of tree makes the best firewood, it's not an | | | | Softwood tends to ignite easier and burn hot for a |
| easy question to answer and will depend on several | | | | shorter period of time. This makes softwood a good |
| factors. | | | | choice for making kindling and starting fires. If you |
| People often ask if a certain tree species will be | | | | want quick intense heat, softwood is a good choice. |
| worth burning as firewood or not. Any species of | | | | Softwood usually makes bigger and more brilliant |
| wood will burn and put out heat so pretty much any | | | | flames and some softwood species will crackle as it |
| type of wood is worth burning if you have it. But | | | | burns. This can make softwood good for campfires |
| some have more heat per volume than others so the | | | | or in an open fireplace where you want good flames. |
| question may be how much you should pay for any | | | | Both hardwood and softwood have their place. Some |
| given species. | | | | hardwood species are less dense than others and |
| Deciding which wood is best will depend on your | | | | some burn more like softwood so it can get a little |
| heating appliance, your wood burning style, and your | | | | complicated. As a general rule, the heavier a wood is |
| objectives. Hardwood is believed by many to be the | | | | the more total heat it will have and the longer it will |
| best wood for burning and is usually sold for a higher | | | | burn. The lighter it is the easier it will be to ignite and |
| price. For many situations hardwood is best, but in | | | | the faster it will burn with more brilliant and intense |
| some cases softwood is a better choice. | | | | flames. |
| Hardwood species are usually more dense than | | | | All wood will burn and put out heat. To decide which |
| softwoods, they burn longer and put out more heat | | | | wood will be best for you will depend on your own |
| over a longer period of time. This makes hardwood a | | | | needs. The best way to determine that is to try |
| great choice for wood stoves and maintaining a | | | | different types and decide which works best for you. |
| steady heat to heat your home over a long period | | | | |