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Bamboo stakes

peteSpeteS Posts: 966
in Plants
I'm sure I've read somewhere, that if you soak one end of a bamboo cane (the end that's going in the ground) in cooking oil, it preserves them and stops them rotting, as mine seem to do. Has anyone tried this, and if so was it successful. I might have dreamt it, as I can't find any reference to it on the internet.

Posts

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    As no-one's taken the bait, PeteS, I can't answer your question but would ask what you're going to use the canes for?  With a bit of initiative you can sometimes find a total alternative that suits you better.  E.g. I've now got a new take on both pea and runner bean supports that have replaced old ideas and last much longer.  Nil Desperandum?
  • GrumpymumGrumpymum Posts: 77
    As cooking oil fairly quickly biodegrades, I can't imagine that it would have much of a preservative effect on your bamboo stakes. You would need to dip them in something like a varnish/resin that cures to a water resistant finish, or in a biocidal preservative like a creosote substitute. 
  • peteSpeteS Posts: 966
    I shall do a "scientific" experiment on this. I will soak one cane in some old cooking oil and one not, leave them in the ground for a year and see if there is any difference between the two and report back.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487

    Try this, Pete.  There's a useful product on the market called heat shrink tubing that starts life bigger than, say, your cane but shrinks to form a tight skin round it once heat is applied (over a gas hob for example).  This will protect your canes for ages but doesn't take account of the top and bottom which will remain open.

    Some products, like medicinal sweets, come in plastic tubes so, if you can find some of the right size, Sod's Law says you'll have difficulty finding them when you want them, all you need to do is slip one on each end of each cane, cover the rest of the cane with heat shrink (overlapping the tubes) and, with care, your canes will be rot proof for years.

    There are various experiments you can try such as one inch plastic tube filled with ground up polystyrene, the two ends of which are sealed with either wooden plugs or more polystyrene dust mixed with an adhesive.


  • WishywashyWishywashy Posts: 12
    Great I am interested to hear when your scientific experiment on stakes answers come to light, next year?.

    Always interested, in bamboo stakes.
    Only because I get alot free(annoyingly free) as they grow up from spreading neighbours bamboo plant in my garden, yes and front garden too!!!!!.
    Yes I can use them but I'd rather have bought them in a shop really.


    My good EXTRA use for bamboo's is also to train up a weed I.E. Ivy or Bindweed, or even a mini oaktree shoot rising out of my grass lawn.

    Train and tie them too the bamboo, then when there's enough to spray the leaf areas with weedkiller/ specificically for them, but the purpose is it isolates the weed from your grass or underneath layer which you don't want killed or damaged, perhaps like I don't. Much easier to spray then but I still cover up the grass with card usually just to be safe.


    Claire Wishywashy
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    What about wax?  Dip the ends in some melted bees wax and see if that lasts longer.  Some will come off when you push it in.. but much will remain.
    Utah, USA.
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