When the nights draw in and the evening air feels chilly, those of us who have log burners, open fires and log stoves are thinking about stocking up the log store shed for winter. There’s nothing cosier and more relaxing than sitting in front of the flickering flames of a log burner, sharing some stories and precious times with the family,  that is, if you can get the fire lit! And that means getting the log store shed prepared for easy access.

Burning wood begins with the right log store shed

The key to successful fires is choosing the right kind of wood and storing it correctly. Here are some handy tips:

1. Dryness: Dry wood will burn hotter and cleaner, with less smoke, so how you store your wood is important. Ideally, the moisture content needs to be below 20% and the logs will have been Kiln-dried.
2. Density: The denser the wood, the more effective the fire will be. Hard woods burn hotter and for longer, providing more efficient heat. Hard woods include ash and oak. Softer woods like pine will burn through more quickly, though fires made of pine tend to be easier to light.
3. Ignition: As just mentioned, you’ll find that some woods are much easier to light than others. Ash and birch are great woods to use because they light quickly and burn for a long time, which is the perfect combination.
4. Smoke: Pine and other conifers contain more sap and resin, which can increase the amount of smoke produced by a fire.
5. Ease of splitting: Of course, if you’re chopping up logs yourself, you may prefer to choose soft wood rather than hard wood for ease of splitting.

Stacking wood in a log store

How you stack your wood supply is important. It’s vital to let the air flow between the pieces of wood. So, arrange logs in rows with small gaps between each log. This will ensure that the wood is seasoned and dry before you burn it on your fire.

Always raise your log pile so it’s off the ground. If you don’t have a tailor-made log store, place the logs on pallets or bricks, and put a waterproof covering over the top of the pile, leaving the sides open to allow the air to flow between them.

Log store shed ideas

At Forest Garden, we have several log store sheds to choose from, depending on your individual needs. They vary in size, but they all allow logs to be stored under cover, and they let air circulate between the logs. Log stores with a roof and open sides are always recommended as these are the perfect conditions for keeping firewood.

We have some simple log stores in stock, such as our Compact Pent Log Store – 126.2cm (h) x 96cm (w) x 82.3cm (d) – which is small enough to place in a handy position near your backdoor: Compact Pent Log Store – Forest Garden.

Our Large Overlap Log Store – 191cm (h) x 272cm (w) x 87cm (d) – allows you to store a lot more wood in perfect conditions. The log store’s felted, boarded roof and overlap side panels ensure that logs are protected from the elements, while the open front allows air to circulate freely: Large Overlap Log Store

Some of our log stores are true log store sheds and come with a useful tool shed attached, saving space in your garden and keeping it free of clutter. This Large Overlap Log/Tool Store is constructed from heavy-duty, pressure-treated timber and is designed to last for years: Large Overlap Log/Tool Store

Finally, Forest Garden makes larger sheds with lean-to storage areas on the side, like this 4LIFE Apex Shed 6×8. This spacious log store shed allows you to keep garden tools, a mower and pots inside. But the covered outside storage area can be used either for bulky items like wheelbarrows or as an ideal log store: 4LIFE Apex Shed 6×8 – Double Door – No Windows – With Lean-To – Forest Garden.

Whichever log store shed you choose, now is the time to stock up on wood for your fire. We hope you enjoy many cosy firelit evenings over the cooler months.