Abstract
Sapling-wood products from different wood species such as willow (Salix spp. L.) and Common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) are frequently used for gardening and outdoor decoration purposes. Remaining bark is suggested to provide additional biological durability. Even for temporary outdoor use it seemed questionable that durability of juvenile sapwood can provide acceptably long service lives of horticultural products. Therefore, sapling-wood from seven European-grown wood species was submitted to laboratory and field durability tests. In field tests, specimens with and without bark were tested in comparison and submitted to differently severe exposure situations, i.e., in-ground contact, and above-ground situations with and without water trapping. All materials under test were classified ‘not durable’ independently from any potential protective effect of remaining bark, which contradicted their suitability for outdoor applications if multi-annual use is desired.
Highlights
The biological durability of most European-grown wood species is often insufficient for outdoor applications and wood needs protection either by design, wood modification, or wood preservation as pointed out in prEN 460 (Durability of wood and wood-based products—Natural durability of solid wood—Guide to the durability requirements for wood to be used in hazard classes [1])
The average mass loss (MLf ) caused by C. puteana was between 32% and 50%, and between 24%
The median MLf caused by C. puteana was well above 30% corresponding to durability class 5 (DC 5, ‘not durable’) according to CEN/TS 15083-1 [21]
Summary
The biological durability of most European-grown wood species is often insufficient for outdoor applications and wood needs protection either by design, wood modification, or wood preservation as pointed out in prEN 460 (Durability of wood and wood-based products—Natural durability of solid wood—Guide to the durability requirements for wood to be used in hazard classes [1]).more recently, some wood species were advertised and customized for gardening and outdoor decoration purposes, their durability is generally considered low, but had been rarely studied systematically. L.) are suggested for climb supports for clamberers [2,3], paling and woven fences [4], fascines, screens, flower bed edgings, raised beds, and other decoration items (Figure 1). Such products are manufactured from sapling-wood (here defined as roundwood from stems of less than 10 years of age) and bark is not removed since it is suggested to provide additional biological durability. Goat willow (Salix caprea) is classified as ‘non-durable’ (DC 5, [5]), some previous studies indicated slightly higher durability [6], i.e., DC 4. It is hypothesized that sapling-wood is the least durable kind of xylem and manufacturing sapling-wood
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