cheap treatment for Wattle-poles needed: (lime-bath?)

I read of an old technique for pickling poles/timber - that is to soak the woods in a bath of diluted lime (very dilute) - does anyone know whether this is viable?

I have collected hundrreds of wattle poles from an alien clearing effort on a mountain-side in Cape Town, South Africa. I've been warned that some of the species are splitty and all are insect rich.

I want to treat the poles not just seal (all or 99% will be above ground)

Any alternative advice welcome.

there is another thread on here about charring poles to preserve them, but mostly it seems that is in regard to fence posts in the ground. I have also heard of just water-soaking both wood and bamboo.....this dissolves the starches and sugars in the wood and makes it less susceptible to insects, and also prevents it from cracking until it is actually fished out and used.

Thanks - I read those posts about water and charring I'm intending to roast some bamboo sometime. I imagine the poles would benefit from some heat but would it be enough?

Given that your intended use is above ground, I would imagine the soaking would be more beneficial than the charring....

Is the soaking necessarily tap water (chlorinated) - or rainwater specifically - what about sea-water?

Is not sea water used for some wood or bamboo preserve or pre-bending soak or specific pest or mold deterent?

I would think seawater would be superior....the salt left behind in the wood when it dries would be an additional deterrent to bugs and fungi....