Why do the wood from the trees being cut take two years to dry out but Christmas trees are a fire hazard because of how quickly they dry out? What gives?

Question

Wasn’t sure what was the correct flair to use.

In: 1

Answer 1

Trees are made from long cells, sap (water) is drawn up these cells by capillary action.

In softwoods the cells are long tubes, while hardwood cells have partitions at short distances apart.

Softwood dry (or season) relatively quickly as the water can drain out more easily. Hardwood season more slowly as the water has to pass through each partition.

Christmas trees are usually a pine tree (like pinus radiata) and pines are softwood – seasoning quickly. Also pines are full of resins which burn rather well.

So, hardwood takes a few seasons to dry, which might explain the 2 years you mentioned, while softwood dry out faster which might explain the fire hazard.

And the fuel load of the small dry branches and needles mentioned in the earlier part