Best fence posts for deer fencing

[Steve Bullman]

Asking for a friend. He's been given the choice of 2. Tanalised softwood(probably eastern european), or untreated Larch, which apparently lasts 30 years.

Opinions please, or what would you fencers recommend?

[Guest Gimlet]

There's no way modern tanalised will last 30 years. Ten if you're lucky. It's garbage now.

 

I've used western cedar untreated and it's brilliant. If concreted in for close boarded fences I've dipped the ends in creosote as well. Should last way longer than the boards. 

 

If the larch are a good price, use those. He can always dip the ends as well. Given the hassle and expense of deer fencing I'd want something better than cheap and nasty east European tanalised posts.

[woody paul]

Quoted for a job involving environment agency they said timber had to be tanalith treatment I asked if Celcure treatment was ok and there answer was it's equally as good treatment has got better in the last 5 years. 

Vilsa treated timber is good.

What ever he buys it will cost the same to put it in the ground just depends if he wants to do it again in 5_10 years or 20_30 years. 

[AJStrees]

I would say use the larch or chestnut if he can. 

 

 

[devon TWiG]

If it is to protect a new planting site , it will only need protecting from browsing/ fraying  for approx 10 years so is there any real need for it to last a very long time ?  This will of course depend on species and site !!   Also deer stalking will obviously help and allowing brambles to grow instead of constantly cutting back once trees have established for a few years .

[headgroundsman]

We had tantalised posts for a deer park in 2004. Some needed replacing after 5 years, more still a few years ago and 70+ last year

[topchippyles]

Larch every time but i would treat the bottoms in the ground 

[Stere]

Would  seasoning the larch make it last  longer than if its green?

 

Trouble is then you need to plan a fews in advance...

[The avantgardener]

Sweet chestnut all day for me. You should be able to re use a lot of the posts after 10 years, or even cut the bottoms off and repoint for stock fence.

The Italians burn the pointed ends up to ground level prior to installing, lasts years longer and better than chemicals.

[Stubby]

3 minutes ago, The avantgardener said:

Sweet chestnut all day for me. You should be able to re use a lot of the posts after 10 years, or even cut the bottoms off and repoint for stock fence.

The Italians burn the pointed ends up to ground level prior to installing, lasts years longer and better than chemicals.

This .