Yes, the wood does need time to dry out before it's burned. How long this takes depends on the species of tree and your climate - in humid areas it takes longer than in dry ones. All of the wood should be split for faster drying. If you have a place that is under cover but exposed to air and sun, that would be best. If not, stack the wood in a sunny place, cover the top to prevent rain from soaking it. The minimum time can be as little as 6 months. A full year is more realistic. If it's oak, at least 2 years. A cheap investment is a moisture meter. When the meter indicates 20% or less on a freshly exposed surface, the wood is ready to burn.

I agree. Cut it to length, split it, stack it and it'll be ready to go next winter.

Here in Vermont firewood is an industry. The dealers even qualify for LIHEAP heating assistance. The general rule of thumb is the trees are felled in January-February and stacked. Come July it's cut to length, split, and sold for the following winter.

Fantastic - I'll definitely cover it. Does it need to have a barrier underneath as well? The ground will stay pretty dry if covered, but I keep hearing about needing to lift it off the ground for an air barrier underneath. Currently, it's sitting on mulch in an un-landscaped area behind a retaining wall. I don't want to ruin it by letting it sit on the ground if I shouldn't. On the other hand, I have enough that if the bottom layer were to be sacrificed, that'd be ok too.

Adam

Get some 2x4s and lay the wood on those to create air circulation under the wood too.

Just curious, what kind of tree was it?