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TIL a huge chunk of fence posts rot at ground level because of a capillary effect I never knew about.
Read it in an old agricultural extension bulletin from Iowa State, says moisture wicks up wood like a straw. Anyone else run into this and have a good fix besides just using metal posts?
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kim.xena6mo ago
Used to think it was just rain. That capillary action is a real eye-opener.
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terry_lewis216mo ago
Buddy of mine lost half his pasture fence to that exact thing. He tried soaking the bottom of the new posts in used motor oil, old farmer's trick. It worked for a few years but then the rot came back. Ended up switching to those composite plastic posts, says they're ugly but he's never had to replace one. Still uses wood for the look near the house but paints the underground part with tar.
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