- 1). Split the cut wood with an axe to a length that will best fit your fireplace---at least 1 foot long and a few inches in diameter. Split the wood right after you cut it, since it dries faster when split.
- 2). Strip the bark from the wood. Strip the entire piece If you plan to cover the wood with a tarp or roof. But if you are storing the wood in an area completely exposed to the elements, strip only the bottom part and leave the bark on the top part of the wood to protect it from rain, snow and sleet. Place the wood under a shelter with a roof exposed to air on at least three sides. If you have no shelter for the wood, drape a clear UV-inhibited polyethylene tarp over the stack. The sun will hit the stack more efficiently through a clear material.
- 3). Place the wood on a wood skid, cement blocks or even rocks to keep the wood off the ground. Stack the split logs in one row side by side, then stack a new row on top of that one, perpendicular to that row. Alternate using the same method. Create air pockets between the pieces of wood to allow them to dry faster. Place the wood pile in a sunny area to season it the quickest. If using a tarp, drape it over the stack and secure with rocks or similar heavy items.
- 4). Remove the tarp once the year's wettest weather has passed. To find out whether the wood is dry enough, take two pieces and knock them together at the ends. If dry enough, they'll make a sharp, cracking sound. If you hear a dull, thudding sound, the wood is still wet and needs to spend more time in the sun. Also, wood darkens as it ages, going from white or cream color to gray or yellow.