Trees cut in Autumn will generally season quicker. And Elm is notoriously wet Spring - sap rising. Autumn - sap falling. If you get the trunk & branches cut into 10" slices then it's easier to move/roll Get the branch unions taken away ( where branch joins trunk, or branches spilt into two ) as they're near impossible & dangerous to split by hand. Or leave them in the garden to rot as Stag beetles love this kind of enviroment Then they'll need until next Summer (at least) on the floor-on their sides, to season Then they're ready to split by hand, if you know how Then a further season as splits in a stack By Jan 2014 they'll be ready to burn So at best, by next summer, you can have a splitting session ! BUT do learn or ask how to it safely Canadian splitting tool & a sledge hammer - safe but slow Or a good sharp splitting axe -fast, but quite lethal in the wrong hands Have fun- but be safe Nette