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A wood better than red cedar?!!

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by jai, Sep 26, 2016.

  1. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    Impossible no... I done much research and found a wood better then red cedar. Thuja occidentalis, also known as northern white-cedar or eastern arborvitae. This species is in the same family and is the relative of the red cedar with a its own unique characteristics. The native habitats of the two is what makes their structures different. The red cedar grows in areas like Oregon with a dryer environment and white cedar grows in areas like Michigan with a weter environment. So because of their environments the two have adapted differently to survive in their areas. The red cedar because of its dryer habitat it grows the center(heart wood) more durable than its sapwood in turn making only the center most rot resistant, pest(insect) resistant and fragrant(mean it oils) The white cedar because of is weter habitat it grows the center(heart wood) and sap wood equally rot resistant, pest resistant, and fragrant. The white cedar because of its environment needs to be more rot resistant than red cedar to survive. There are many other differences. White cedar grow much smaller than red cedar. They have different fragrance but both pleasing. White cedar is white/tan all the way threw and red cedar is red in the center and has white sapwood. With this analysis I believe the white cedar all though not as pleasing to the eye is the better choice of durable wood.

    What do you think?
     
  2. carl

    carl Active Member

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    I've dug small arborvitae trunks out of the damp compost at the bottoms of brush piles still intact and solid after 20 years or more.

    'Course, the neighbors won't be too happy with you cuttin' down their shrubs... Unless it cuts down on the squirrel population, that is.
     
    Marni and jai like this.
  3. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    I'm lucky my house is lined with:) A favorite in ohio yards.
     
  4. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    Also white cedar has a finer grain than red cedar and less knots making it cleaner split. Both eventually weather into a gray color over time.
     
  5. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    Is this a good conclusion?