webesemps said:Not going to treat the wood in some way to help prolong wood life? or was original oily residue going to be helpful?
I am indeed considering treating the wood planter. On my mahogany deck, I treat it with Cabot Australian Timber Oil, one paints it on allowing it to sink in for a minute, then rub off any excess with rags, it works good. My deck is 5 years overdue for an oil-rubbing, will get to it this spring.
I wondered about the existing thick oily residue layer, but it's mostly on the outside, and test sanding shows it comes off easily and perhaps not deeply penetrating the wood, so I will sand the entire planter and likely use the oil-rub. I need to pay particular attention to drainage; drainage holes, coarse inorganic free draining soil mix, and possibly the inclusion of small "reservoirs" (such as upfacing plastic dishes with some clay soil in them) buried a few inches below the semps. I'm not sure how deep semp roots will go, but I will do some investigation to arrive at best depth placement.
