All the wood I intend to burn in 09-10 (2.5 cords at present) is split in a big pile. I'll stack later.
I have different motivations for splitting way in advance. Maple rots relatively easily when bark-retained moisture is not released. Even more so with birch and poplar. So I split them as a hedge against rot.
Oak, while more rot resistant, requires more seasoning time. So I split now so it will be plenty seasoned for next year.
And probably the most important reason of all. Splitting (with maul) is my favorite aspect of processing. An unsplit round in my pile sends forth a siren song that, sure as gravity, lures me to the stump, hickory handle in hand...
woooodbooooga...O woooooooodbooga. Here I am. Come to me. I am whole but yearn to be quartered. Regard, if you will, my straight grain and lack of knots. It wooooood be soooooo gooooooooood. But...you...must come...to me