Years ago I got a load of free elm. Splitting it or trying to split it was one of the worse experiences. My ax handle slapped back and broke my finger with the bone sticking out. After that....it all just became fire pit wood.

Burn it heck no that's an 80 year fence post or a bow if you find a straight piece.;)

Standing dead Elm with bark off is real good wood IMO. I know op didn’t have that option. Ringing them so they die and waiting a few years works if you can’t find dead ones.

Don't have hedge (Osage Orange) around here but I have lots of Shagbark Hickory and Ironwood. They may not be as high in BTU's but they are close.

When one is used to burning a really good wood anything else seems lacking.
Elm and Ash are really disappointing firewood after heating with Hickory.

I have enough Hickory and Ironwood that I leave everything else to rot.
Elm, Ash Maple, Oak, Cherry and Beech are passed by.
I'll cut them for lumber if they are big enough but other than that they are left.

Elm is very stringy which is what makes it so hard to split. I used to split them by hand when the temp got below zero using a monster maul. I had a lot of dead elm in my woods so I burned a lot of it. It burns well.

A lot of these commercial pallets are made out of elm I'm told. They should be good to burn if you can find a place that throws away broken and worn out ones and will let you have them.

The Firewood Poem

Beech wood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for logs 'tis laid away.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom
Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter's cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

And, it stinks when burning.

Ash was always my favorite wood to burn. It smells nice, burns fairly long, gives off decent heat, leaves little ash, and will even burn green.

Red elm is great burning wood if you're lucky enough to run into some.

I was thinking the same thing!

(This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) Elm is no good for firewood, Red Elm is good firewood

Dry red Elm is very good wood. Every one wants it around here. White elm is for burning before dead of winter. Red Elm will stay good for years while white elm will be punky in 2 years or less.

I have no idea what king of elm it it. It's very dark in the middle so I would guess red. It's green full of water and very heavy.

I've got a 60' elm down in the back yard.
Anyone want to cut it up?
Its free.
just

Almost certainly Siberian Elm. Not as good as American Elm.

Yep, needs alot of drying time, not easy to split and stinks but...., it burns better then a snowball.

I'd say from what you explain that you have in your area, let it age at the very least a full year (maybe two) and you'll be satisfied...no matter what brand of elm it is! Round here I wouldn't touch elm unless the bark had already fallen off (or IS falling off), best regards!

Take the maul and take the bark off and it will cure quite well.
An elm growing by itself will not be twisted but straight grain and easy to split.

Drying is important because of the heat used to boil off the water lowers the flame temp.

it should produce some 70,000 BTU/ cubic foot of wood

Dropped off my trailer today at a neighbors place he loaded me up I think he over did it. LOL

My favorite is dogwood for a small wood stove.