Apple Firewood

Apple firewood is a very desirable wood sought after by many people.

The dense hardwood creates a nice, sweet smelling fire that generates a lot of heat with good coaling qualities.

In fact, apple wood is so desirable a vast majority of the wood never experiences the inside of a fireplace.  

So where does it go?  

The rich colored wood is popular for furniture making and its sweet smelling, delicious aroma makes it one of the most popular smoking woods around.

In the end, most people think apple is too valuable or cherished to throw in a wood stove or outdoor wood furnace.  

Apple is more of a specialty wood that's used for specific purposes, not just everyday heating.  

Can you burn apple everyday? Of course, if you're lucky enough to have a large supply. 

But for the rest of us the wood is a novelty and most are willing to pay a higher price for it compared to other similar hardwoods.

About The Apple Tree

The apple tree is one of the most widely cultivated fruit trees around and it's known for its delicious sweet flavored fruit.......the apple.

The apple tree originated in Central Asia thousands of years ago.  Since then, the tree has spread throughout most of the world.

The apple tree itself is a relatively small with several low hanging branches.

The low branches make obtaining the apples easier and several hybrid species have been cultivated to achieve this effect.

Having mature apple trees on your property is a novelty for most homeowners.  

However, if you're looking to plant some young trees I recommend purchasing bare root stock trees from either your local conservation district or from a reputable dealer.  

Try to stay away from big box stores, you'll get higher quality trees from a nursery.

Higher quality trees have a better chance for survival.  I learned this the hard way on the first group of trees I planted.  

I didn't do my research and just planted them in the ground without taking any extra steps.  The results......dead trees.

Last year I ordered trees from a reputable nursery and also ordered some from my local conservation district.  

I wanted to use the trees for both a small orchard in my backyard and as a food source for deer hunting.

After consulting with a few orchards I learned some valuable tips that have helped my new trees thrive.  

Here's a few important things everyone should know before planting a new apple tree:

Don't plant them too deep.  It's better to plant a new tree too shallow as opposed to too deep.  

Keep the tree a few inches above the spot where it was grafted together.  Placing a stick over your hole as a marker will give you a nice reference point when you fill in the hole.

Apple trees like well drained soil.  If your location allows, try to plant them in well drained soil.  

Although there's a lot of different schools of thought on this, I didn't add any compost or topsoil when I filled in the hole.  Just the same dirt I dug out.  

This promotes good root growth into the surrounding soil.

Compact the soil around the tree roots.  Air pockets around the roots of the tree can kill the tree.  

As you fill in the dirt around the tree, take your foot and pack the soil as you go.

Mice and rodents love to chew the bark of young trees.  Use a tree guard around the base of the tree to prevent mice from chewing up the bark.  

This is a very common cause for young apple trees not surviving.  

The guards are inexpensive and you can even cut them in half, making two guards out of one.

Place much around the base of the tree.  Mulch not only holds in moisture, but it helps reduce weed growth around the newly planted tree.

Weeds compete for moisture and nutrition. A bag of mulch works perfectly.

Use fencing to deter deer and other wildlife.  Use some welded fencing to make a circle around your newly planted tree.  

A 10' long piece secured to a metal T post works great.

Water, Water, Water!  You must generously water a newly planted apple tree, especially during the first year.  

Depending on the weather, water them once a week.

That's it!  It sounds like a lot of work, but it's pretty quick an easy.  

The watering is a little tedious, but if you have a wet spring and fall it makes it a lot better.  

By following these simple steps you'll have a beautiful newly planted orchard or food plot that's sure to survive.  

Apple For Firewood

If you're looking for apple to burn this year you can expect to pay more for the wood than a typical firewood like oak or maple firewood.  

Apple firewood can also be somewhat difficult to obtain if you don't live near an orchard.

Large apple orchards are probably the easiest and most affordable places to find apple firewood.  

As the trees start to age and die, the orchards will need to replace the old trees with younger, healthier trees.

Apple can also be purchased online or from other large suppliers, but the cost of shipping the firewood in bulk is too expensive for most people.

Cooking With Apple

Apple is probably best known for its cooking qualities.  

In fact, most people would agree it's the most prized, highly sought after wood for smoking and cooking competitions.  

Oklahoma Joe's Wood Smoker Chunks

The wood burns hot and creates excellent coals making it a good choice for cooking in a fire pit.  

The flavorful smoke is mild and not overpowering but still contains enough sweet flavor to complement almost any meat.

If you cook with wood, I highly recommend cooking with apple firewood.

If you're looking to buy the firewood and don't have access to it locally, buying it online is one of the easiest options.  Online retailers offer bags of apple for a decent price.

Apple Firewood - Overall

Apple firewood is cherished by many people.  

It offers a unique smell, flavor and coaling qualities that's hard to beat.  So go ahead and give it a try......you won't be disappointed.

Apple firewood will create 27.0 million BTUs per cord.

About the Author

Nick Greenway

Obsessed with firewood, Nick is behind over 350+ of Firewood For Life's articles, as well as countless reviews, guides and YouTube videos to help readers like you reduce heating costs and create the perfect fire.