Silver birch pergola

I have a project in mind to build a silver birch pergola, using a tree that was taken in gales. I've cut the trunks to size, but they were felled 2/3 years ago, so are getting a bit brittle; I wasn't going to cut them today but by sheer luck that one of them snapped in exactly the right place as I moved it, so I figured I may as well rather than risk more snapping when I try and move them. Some did go at the ends but as they were 20odd feet long, it hasn't made a difference.

With that in mind, is there any way of treating them to prevent further deterioration in that respect? The design will be very simple - four uprights, four beams at the top to make a basic rectangle some other branches I've got crossing that (probably apple, and this year's prunings so still bendy) - but I want to grow something up it. Ideally a wisteria, but something lighter will be fine if that's a bit too hefty for it.

The plan is to concrete the uprights in two 2ft deep, then drill and bolt the beams in place (rope as well I think, for extra strength).

Can this be done, or should I find another use for the pieces?

 

I think silver birch will rot very quickly in the ground....it'll look nice for a year or two but then the posts will snap at the base in a storm. I would go with a wood that is more rot resistant.

 

Even concreted in? It will be behind a strong fence so there will be very little wind against it, even in the autumn gales which took it down before.

 

Birch is pretty un-durable, if that is a word, not a timber used outside as far as I know, other than to grow mushrooms.

 

I don't think that will help. Sorry to be a downer on the project.

 

I agree with the above. Given the work to build one, time etc. better is planks of treated wood that will last. And not fall over and hurt someone etc.

 

Don't be, I'd rather find out the problems now and not start it!

 

Just thinking, I had some years ago. had it cut up and stacked it in our fireplace for the spring/ summer, and decorated it some with greenery. It looked pretty because of the white bark. Then came winter and I burned it.

 

Okay, suggestions then? My other possibility was making a raised bed border with them as I need to build one where the stump is. I've been trying to dig it out but I'm just not going to manage it, so I figured I'd build a bed on top instead. There was nothing wrong with the tree when it was felled, it had just not grown sturdily enough with the four trunks instead of one. They were too narrow at the bottom so a strong enough wind took them down.

Any other ideas? I don't want to waste them but I don't have a wood stove or anything like that. I'd like to find a garden use for them.

ETA sorry redstar, you posted while I was typing!

 

Make a nice pile and impregnate them with Oyster mushroom spawn pellets

You'll get mushrooms and then rotted down wood at the end of it as a soil conditioner

 

A raised bed world work; in fact I have used various logs including Silver Birch as raised bed sides. The lowest levels will rot first so that, I think, is a good use for the logs.

 

Cool. And I can do both of those things, because I have all of the smaller branches to sort out still, and the roots too - I can't shift the stump but I have been out and dug up all the surface roots because I'm going to be stripping the lawn with a turf cutter soon. So they all need a job too!

Back on the pergola idea - would ash be more suitable? I've got 3 ash trees to feel soon, they are maybe 30ft tall so I could easily recut the lengths for the pergola from them. I was going to make some sort of bench from them but I could actually do both, there will be plenty of material.

 

Ash is also not durable.
Oak would be good.

 

Well, nuts. I'll do beds out of those too then

 

Hi i made this today, its not finished yet, the wood is from Wickes, it was bought untreated, just short of £20 for ten lengths, treat it with linseed oil as i have done and it will last for many years.