Natural Wood Treat?

Is there some natural or DIY product to treat small timbers? Using some kind of prickly ash/locust to make grape trellises. They get mildewy and split. Does that just mean I need to season them?

Are you looking for a `treatment` for the timber? If so whar are you trying to achive, you are not clear.

Here are some suggestions:

https://permies.com/t/37505/Yakisugi-grilled-cedar-Charring-Wood

https://permies.com/t/142752/vegetable-oils-preserving-wood-structures

https://permies.com/t/177032/Borax-Wood-Preservation

I’m going to be placing a maple wooden post that I have cut down and peeled with a draw knife.

I’m in the same boat as you, planning on making trellising that hopefully can withstand some weight. (Grapes or Hops)

So far, I’m planning on the char method listed before but only after I have aged the post for some time. I think the outside mildew/mold is just surface.

Keep it off the ground and keep at it.

If you use some of the natural oils,one listed using peanut oil is a great option,remember to saturate the wood until it will not accept anymore oil.Keep soaking the wood  and rubbing it down so it gets oil coated everywhere,then when it drys do it again and again until the wood will not soak in anymore.The more you do this the better your wood will be preserved.Wood is a sponge,when it absorbs moisture it swells,then it shrinks when it drys,this is where the splitting occurs.The faster it drys the more intense the splits,the oil will dry slowly and prevent water from entering the wood.Water drys quickly compared to oils.

Im not sure if it will prevent mildew completely but i think mildew needs water to grow so the oil will surely slow it down.

AWESOME this is just what I was looking for. Thank you guys!!

Tim, are you planning on drying the timber out first before charring?

Yes, my timbers are pretty fresh. I'm not sure I'm going for perfection in getting the percentage down but the longer I can manage to wait the better I think the end result will be. I can't the more water that is 'trapped' inside could be a good thing. Still reading into it!

Be careful of what you read in Mother Earth magazine or similar. A lot of ideas were oid tales which some have been  proven wrong.
A lot of time and maybe cash is being used and wasted.
Just spend a bit more time and look and ask around, proper advise always outlives 'gossip"