I'm thinking about what sorts of trees to plant. I'm wondering about wood that I could eventually harvest for making outdoor furniture, fencing, birdhouses, etc.

What sort of wood lasts well outdoors untreated? Cedar? Redwood? Maple?

And which of these woods would give me some decent lumber in short order?

I'm in zone 5 and I could irrigate some trees and not others. Pines seems to do well here without irrigation, but not hardwoods.

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), April 21, 2001

Answers

Response to wood for outdoor furniture

Paul: Of course Redwood last the longest but Being a lover of the big trees I won't build with it. Cedar is 2nd best and plentiful! Great wood to use for outdoors. Good luck and build beautiful stuff!!...Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (Kirkay@yahoo.com), April 21, 2001.

Response to wood for outdoor furniture

Paul, I do most of my woodworking projects with pine. Even though there is cedar everywhere in this region, much of them are just too small for milling. I would go with pine if I was you. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), April 21, 2001.

But pine rots outdoors.

I'm hoping that I can build things outdoors and not coat them with toxic gick and have them last a long time.

It would seem that redwood, cedar and hardwoods might fit that bill better than pine.

In cruising some seedling catalogs, the claims are that redwood and cedar grow pretty fast. Some hardwoods aren't too bad either.

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), April 22, 2001.

Too bad about the hardwoods..we have alot of hickory and oaks..when oak ages it is very tough. Cedar would be nice I think..have any persimmon? or locust?

-- (mscratch1@semo.net), April 23, 2001.