Putting up a fence is hard work.
It’s also incredibly expensive the first time around.
If you don’t plan your fence correctly, you could run into problems and breaches very quickly.
It just doesn’t make for a very good time on the homestead, especially whenever you have a lot of animals to contain or animals to keep out.
This forces many farmers and homesteaders to try to find a way to extend the lives of their fences and fence posts.
There are a lot of toxic options out there, including treated wood and wood that is sealed at home with diesel fuels.
These are not viable or wise options when trying to organically feed a family while reducing environmental pollution.
Once these chemicals are placed in the ground, they can affect the health of livestock, local wildlife, and your family.
The Natural Solution: The Ultimate Evergreen Turned Fence Post
So far, rough cedar posts seem like the longest lasting, most environmentally friendly, and cheapest method of installing a fence that’ll last for decades.
I have found many testimonials regarding the reliability of cedar from homesteaders and older farmers alike.
Cedar has a natural ability to resist decay, as many insects, fungal species, and bacteria do not like it.
This self preservation is incredibly useful for all-natural, untreated, and organic outdoor use.
Extending the Life of Cedar
People use different methods for setting up their fences when going from live tree to seated post.
- Some farmers will cut fresh cedar from their land, then they will remove branches and bark, ultimately setting them in post holes shortly after.
- Others will cut the trees, remove branches, then allow the post to dry and age. Posts are aged for anywhere from 6 months to a year, and some will even age them longer.
The aging process serves to allow the post to dry and the resin to permeate through the wood.
The posts should have plenty of air circulation, while being kept up off of the ground and dry.
This significantly reduces the risk of rot in most wood types; however, some also believe that cedar does not need the special treatment.
Check out this video right before we move along; it’ll give you a peek into the process from tree to seasoned post.
Skip the Concrete
If the cedar posts are long enough to simply sink into the ground, skip out on the concrete.
This will reduce the cost of fence installation and is believed to be beneficial in the case of cedar posts.
When using Concrete in fence post holes, it is believed that the concrete will attract and retain moisture contributing to the risk of rotted posts.
While I do not have first-hand evidence to support this, it does sound like a very viable theory; especially in climates that tend to get decent rainfall year round.
As time goes by and the wood separates from the concrete under ground, water will pool between the concrete and posts without the ability to drain off.
When a fence post is sunk traditionally into the dirt, any rainfall can drain off and permeate lower into the ground.
Freezing during cold weather could also crack the cement and the wood, which would be an entirely different problem in itself.
Planning the Fence with Post Longevity in Mind
Another great tip is to avoid putting posts in the lowest lying areas of the property.
While cedar is rot resistant, this doesn’t mean that standing or pulling water will not have a detrimental effect on the post overtime.
In a low-lying area, it can be hard for water to drain off; this means that it’ll sit for far longer and the soil will remain wetter even throughout the hottest weather.
Proper Spacing & Bracing of Fence Posts for Livestock
Livestock can be extremely hard on a fence.
Therefore, fence posts should never be stretched too far.
This could significantly weaken the fence, causing damage to it and reducing its lifespan.
This will also increase the risk of escaped livestock, which can be a really bad scenario in populated areas.
With fence posts spaced properly and corners braced for strength against the livestock that they will be containing, you will see the longest possible lifespan out of cedar fence posts.
