treating wood for fencing stakes?

[theharvestmouse]

I've sourced some wood for use as fencing stakes, they are just cut poles so apart from the ends there is no grain exposed, but do I still need to treat all the wood to prolong its life as fencing?

Its green wood, only felled 2 months ago, so what process must the wood go through before I can use it for fencing stakes?

I think its small leafed lime timber.

[RichardKing]

Lime wood has a very short life in such a situation.

I have tried tried borax disolved in food grade propylene glycol on Scots pine, with mixed results.

I dont know of any environmentally friendly wood treatment for such a situation.

Even the commercial products are unlikely to penetrate green timber unless pressure treated.

Sweet Chestnut is the most naturally rot resistant wood for fencing stakes.

[Darren]

What's the fence for?

I go with Richard, Lime will not last long.

larch lasts a long time.

[Toby Allen]

European larch is ok, japanese larch isn't great in the ground.

As the other chap said, chestnut is the best, oak also but taking the sap off is a bit of a chore.

If you need to use soft wood and want to use your own, your local timber yard should be able to tanalise it for a fee.

Or for certain applications creosote can be used (not creocote, its rubbish)

But by the time you've peeled off the cambium, seasoned it, paid for the treatment and moved the wood about, it may just be better to buy some stakes.

Or stick with chestnut, fencing is an expensive job, best not to do it twice because the posts rot.

Where are you?