Does a redwood post have to be surrounded by rocks or concrete?

Question

I have a 8 ft x 8 in x 8 in post. It is not for a fence but for something like a bird house. I dug a 3 ft deep hole with a post digger. I have to probably widen it more for the thick post. I stained the post with solid stain. Can the wood of the post touch the ground in some places? Or does the surface of the post have to be touched only by rocks or concrete to keep it from rotting. I am thinking of using base rock instead of concrete so the post can be removed in the future.

Answer 1

No offense and forgive me, are these BIRDS going to be Eagles? 8 x 8 is pretty substantial.

    Actually though, in my opinion, it has less to do with the species of wood than the depth of the hole and the general stability of the soil.

    I would think for your application, 36 inches would be sufficient. Your already bringing the top of the post down to 5 ft. above ground level. Any deeper would just lower the top, too close to ground level, perhaps inviting other critters, which may happen in any case.

   Redwood being one of the most durable species, with old growth cypress close, it really is a personal choice. Obvioulsy if the soil allows adequate drainage, and you use gravel or river rock to bottom the post and fill around it, perhaps even tamping; It's likely to last longer.  I don't see any real need to concrete the post into the hole however, given any possible load or stress on an 8 x 8 post.

Steven Wolf

Just my two "sense"

No offense but Redwood is a Conifer, not strictly a HARD wood. It produces PODS/CONES, not seeds.

Answer 2

The best thing to do in your scituation is to suround the post with rocks., Cement holds moisture and will eventually rot the pole

Answer 3

If it was me and I only want to use it for a bird house.  The 3' depth is OK.  Just stuff it with pepples and rocks so if I want to remove it the future, I can.  U can also fill it back with the dirt u dug out.

Answer 4

Redwood is hard wood, so even if you put this post in the ground without a protective coating, it would last you for at least 20 years. It seems to me that you intend putting considerable weight on it later, for that your post needs to be stable, so yes, 3 feet deep, lots of smallish stones well rammed in should be fine. Posts do not break below ground, the rot occurs at ground level, so if anything, this is really where it needs protecting to about 6" above

Answer 5

I would set the post with the dirt you took out of the hole, the rocks would let it lean and the concrete makes it hold moisture which will rot the post, did you stain the very ends of the posts, if not you should .