With the ongoing pandemic, campgrounds are crowded. Michiganders are tired of being cooped up indoors, and millions of people across the country have rediscovered the magic of being outside. If you’ve had trouble reserving a campground – don’t get discouraged! PPM Tree Service & Arbor care is here to help! We offer firewood delivery right to your door!

The Ins And Outs Of Firewood Delivery

When it comes to firewood, you’ve got four options: hardwood or softwood, seasoned or unseasoned. At PPM Tree Service, we prefer hardwood. Here’s why.

Hardwood

Hardwood comes from deciduous trees, i.e., trees that lose their leaves in the fall. They tend to burn for longer periods and don’t produce as much smoke compared to softwoods. Types of trees that produce hardwood include:

• Alder
• Ash
• Beech
• Basswood
• Black cherry
• Hickory
• Maple
• Oak
• Teak
• Walnut
• Cottonwood
• Elm
• Locust
• Magnolia
• Popular
• Willow
• Sycamore

Hardwoods are much denser and consequently burn for longer periods of time. A single piece of hardwood can last several hours. If you’re curious about the firewood species, ask your landscaping service technician, and they can pinpoint the type of tree it came from!

Softwood

Softwood is produced by conifer trees, meaning the evergreens that produce needles and cones. It’s generally less expensive than hardwood firewood because it doesn’t burn as cleanly. They also tend to burn faster, so you’ll go through your wood supply faster than you would with hardwood. Because of all the sap, softwoods are better for outdoor fire pits, as burning them indoors can block up the chimney.

Softwood producing trees include:

• Fir
• Juniper
• Spruce
• Yew
• Pine

What Is The Difference Between Seasoned Wood Or Dry Wood

Seasoned wood means the wood has been left out to dry, so it doesn’t have any moisture. This creates a cleaner burn. Unseasoned wood is freshly cut wood. If you’ve ever tried to burn damp leaves or wood that’s been left out in the rain, you’ll know how dreadful it can be. The wood is incredibly hard to catch fire and produces a boatload of smoke. In conclusion, we offer our customers the best selection of seasoned hardwood. Hence, it lights quickly, doesn’t overly smoke, and brings you and your family hours of a wonderful aroma, gentle glow, and a place to tell funny anecdotes and ghost stories.

Different Ways To Make A Bonfire

There are two main types of bonfire arrangements: teepee and log cabin. Teepee-style fires tend to burn hotter and tend to produce a better flame for warmth and light. On the other hand, log cabin style fires are square and offer a good flat area if you want to do some open-pit cooking with your fire.

How To Make A Teepee Style Bonfire

Start with your kindling. Place it in the center of your fire pit and use the smallest twigs you can find to create a teepee around it. Covered this layer with slightly larger twigs or branches. As you work your way out, add the firewood for the final layer. Take three to five logs, depending on how big you want the fire, and lean them towards the center, so they support each other’s weight and create a teepee shape over the rest of the fire.

How To Make A Log Cabin Fire

Start with your kindling in the center of the firepit. Take two small twigs and place them on either side of the kindling so they are parallel. Then take two more twigs of the same size and place them end to end on top of the first twigs, creating a box shape – like the Lincoln Logs toys. Continue alternating placement of the small twigs until you’ve got a box about three inches high. Then take slightly larger twigs and place them across the top to create a roof but make sure to leave openings, so the fire has air. Then, use medium to large twigs and create a larger “cabin” around the small one with the kindling. Finally, do this with the firewood, so the largest “cabin” encases everything.

Best Fire Starters

You’ll need a match or a lighter, of course, but if you’re looking for a way to get the fire caught quickly, you don’t have to use gasoline for the mower – in fact, we highly advise not to do this! There are many around-the-house items you can use for kindling. You can grab lint from your dryer, which is an awesome kindling – and it’s free! Another great fire starter is to wipe a few cotton balls in petroleum jelly. Cardboard boxes that would normally be recycled are great, too – make sure not to burn any plastic tape that may be attached. Newspaper or paper from your shredder also makes easy kindling. One last thing: never add wood that has been painted or treated with chemicals!

Get Firewood Delivery Near Metro Detroit

You don’t have to drive up north to capture the magic of the outdoors. At PPM Tree Service & Arbor Care, we bring the magic of the campsite to your door! We do our best to find a good mixed selection of different hardwoods for delivery. We’ll provide anywhere from a ½ face cord minimum, up to 10+ face cords (a face cord is 8’ x 4’ x 16” of stacked wood). We also offer tree cutting service, so if you’ve got a dead or dying tree, we’ll safely take it down – you can turn it into firewood if you wish!  If you’d like to learn more or schedule a delivery, give us a call at (877) 454-8733 or leave us a message online.

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