How to Treat a 2X4 for Ground Use

Untreated wood put into the ground will rot more rapidly than treated wood. Premature rotting will undermine your attempt to build a lasting structure. You can purchase pressure treated wood, wood put through a machine that infuses it with chemicals. Pressure treated wood should be used for decks and sheds -- structures that may put people in danger. But if you are just building a garden box or rural fence post you can use wood lying around the house. You can treat the wood yourself with charcoal and linseed oil.

Charcoal
Plastic bag
Hammer or mallet
Measuring cup
Bucket
Boiled linseed oil
Paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Place the charcoal in a bag. Hit the charcoal with a hammer or mallet until it is a dust.
- 2
  Pour the dust into a measuring cup and note how much charcoal dust you've made. Empty the measuring cup into a bucket.
- 3
  Pour the boiled linseed oil into the measuring cup. You want a ratio of two to one, linseed oil dust to charcoal dust. So, measure out double the amount of linseed oil as you have charcoal dust and pour it into the bucket.
- 4
  Stir the mixture with a paint stirrer. The charcoal will not dissipate. The dust will suspend like grains of sand in the oil.
- 5
  Paint the mixture onto the wood with a paint brush. Wait a day and then apply another coat.

Freeze Protection for Bushes

Lawn Fertilizer That Won't Harm Dogs

Lawn Basics