Find out where your firewood comes from to prevent the spread of invasive pests
Crackling fires have long been an idyllic gathering place where chestnuts are roasted, stories shared and souls warmed
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Your support makes all the difference.Crackling fires have long been a gathering place where idyllic chestnuts are roasted, stories shared and souls warmed, whether around a hearth or at a campsite. Some folks cut their own wood and let it season, but most buy their wood without much thought about where it came from.
As it happens, where our firewood comes from matters a lot.
The U.S. National Parks Service recommends getting firewood within 10 (and never more than 50) miles of its destination. Transporting it longer distances ā from your home to a campsite or from a farm to your home, for instance ā significantly increases the chances of introducing invasive pests into the local ecosystem. And those pests can inflict devastating damage on local forests.
In my suburban New York region, for instance, pests like the Asian long-horned beetle, emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly and the oak wilt fungal disease are major concerns. Moving untreated firewood from my town to yours could make our problem your problem.
To help prevent this, many states have passed laws against moving untreated wood more than 50 miles from where it was cut or across state lines, unless the package bears a state or federal stamp or seal certifying that itās been heat-treated to kill pests.
Even seasoned wood can harbor pests, which often hide in layers beneath the bark, where theyāre hard to spot. While these pests canāt travel far on their own, giving them a lift on firewood can enable them to start a new infestation in a faraway place.
This isnāt speculation. Past invaders have already decimated native species like the American chestnut, hemlock and American elm.
Whatās more, buying local firewood can help protect your garden, too ā and your wallet. Infested or diseased trees can have a negative effect on property values. Theyāre also costly to remove. Plus, no one wants to see the landscape theyāve worked so hard to create fall victim to hitchhiking pests.
The Donāt Move Firewood campaign, an outreach partnership managed by The Nature Conservancy, aims to protect North American trees and forests from invasive insects and diseases that can travel with firewood. You can do your part simply by making informed choices.
Tips from the Donāt Move Firewood campaign to help keep trees safe:
ā Get firewood close to home. The best rule of thumb is to buy it within the same county, or no more than 50 miles from where youāll be burning it. Consult the campaignās Firewood Map for your stateās regulations.
ā Donāt be fooled by ācleanā firewood. Just because it looks healthy doesnāt mean itās pest-free. Tiny eggs or fungal spores may be hidden within the wood, ready to start a deadly infestation when theyāre transported to a new location. Donāt bring your backyard firewood with you, even if it looks OK.
ā Aged or seasoned wood isnāt safe. Even if itās been sitting around for a while, moving it is still risky.
ā If youāve moved firewood, burn it soon. If youāve already transported firewood, dispose of it safely by burning it completely and thoroughly. Clean up the area afterward, then burn the debris. Going forward, purchase only from local suppliers.
ā Spread the word. Tell your friends about the risks of moving firewood ā no one wants to be the one who unknowingly spreads invasive pests.
Finally, before building any outdoor fires, be sure to check for local restrictions.
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Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.
For her favorite tools and gear of the past year, see her 2024 gardening gift guide.
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For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.