Question about backyard tracks/features.

[OutLore]

So I "collect" stuff for my backyard track that I'm planning, and part of that was a holly tree I cut down last year.

What's the best way to ensure the wood I use from it doesn't rot over time, or is that just inevitable?

I could put a surface treatment on it but I'm not sure it will really take as the wood has the bark on it still, and I'd like to leave that on - I thought about drying it out inside for a while then soaking it in something, but I don't want to make the surface super slick and slippery.

Ideas? Thoughts? What have others done?

Thanks all...

 

[JimrC]

leave it alone

 

[high plains drifter]

I agree with @JimrC. I wouldn't treat wood that's going to be left outside. Slow decomposition isn't going to affect much of anything anyway. Depending on the condition, wood generally takes quite a while to degrade unless it's getting wet often. Obviously whatever part is resting on the ground will degrade more quickly but that can make things more fun/ challenging/ interesting too.

If you treat the wood in its current state or even after drying, chances are that the treatment will not be effective due to elemental factors beyond your control. The wood will still expand/ contract/ split/ warp and that will cancel out the time and effort to treat. It will then take subsequent treatments which will continue to be less effective as the wood continues to age.

Add to that the toxicity of most polyurethane, sealers, etc. May or may not matter regarding your particular environment but having synthetic chemicals leeching into your soil imo is not worth it for this particular application. Cost, mess, and hassle would also steer me away from the idea. Creosote would probably be the best thing to use if you're set on doing this but man that stuff is smelly and nasty.

 

[Saltrock]

Wood rots, that’s just how it works. I have put lots of different treatments on lots of different types of wood. My favorite treatment is sun, gives the wood a nice silver sheen.
In nature wood has bark for a treatment, anything else would look fake on an outdoor course in my opinion.
It is your choice though, do what makes you happiest.

 

[diezel666]

With cut wood, You actually want it to degrade over time, slowly. Like it would in nature if you're wheeling in full scale.

Now what you may want to do, depending upon your environment, is to treat the wood. But, with an insecticide to keep bugs out that can dramatically speed up it's decay. Just my humble $.02

 

[psn]

To avoid rot issues I've only been using stones. However it seems Cicada Killers like burrowing in the cracks between them

 

[OutLore]

Thanks everyone for your feedback & advice - I'll leave it as is, hopefully none of the wood will be touching the ground so should be good to go.