Tips for Maintaining Bark Intact Twigs, Poles and Logs

Use HC® winter-cut material.

Minimize direct exposure to the elements. This material performs much better under porches and eves.

An annual treatment of wood preservative will greatly extend the life of the bark.

For material large enough in size to do so, we recommend nailing the bark on the top of the ridges, in a random pattern and all around the entire trunk.

Use a HC bracket or one of your own designs to elevate all exterior posts, whether structural or decorative. This avoids direct ground contact that can lead to water wicking into the fibers and subsequent post deterioration. Prior to bracket installation it is important to apply a sealant to the butt end or end grain of the wood to further protect from that process. Anything from a water-based sealant to an exterior varnish will suffice.

We have seen bark intact logs keep their bark for 100 years, when under covered areas. We have also seen bark intact material lose its bark after only one year when left uncovered. If exposed bark intact material does begin to shed, this ragged appearance should be accepted as its natural rustic progression to the eventual peeled look.

HC obviously does not guarantee that the bark will stay on the material but these tips will greatly increase the chances of the bark staying on.

What Causes Bark to Separate from the Tree?

During the warm summer months, there is an infusion of water into the bark of a tree causing the bark cells to swell. When a tree is cut in the summer, the water in the cells of the tree will dry up. The water in the sapwood of the tree and the water in the bark of the tree decrease at different rates. The bark tends to dry faster than the sapwood, causing the bark cylinder to shrink and crack. When this happens, it will potentially separate from around the sapwood. During the freezing months of winter, little or no water rises into the inner bark. When a tree is cut in the winter, and the sapwood and inner bark dries, there isn’t much difference in the rates of shrinkage. It is less likely that the bark will crack open and peel away from the tree.

No matter what the season, any log or post left in its natural state will potentially check or crack from the heartwood to the surface. As the wood cracks open and expands the bark can crack and separate from the tree.