Poplar trees for Porch Posts?

[dieselcrawler]

Locust would be a much better choice, and readily available locally... I have hundreds of locust trees on my farm.

 

[JakeBrake]

In this part of the country yellow poplar is a valuable timber tree. It is the tallest and straightest hardwood tree in the forest.

The good thing about yellow poplar is that it does not compete with southern pine. You will see them mixed with southern pines. They grow tall, maybe 100', with no side branches, just like a southern pine. Yellow poplar is often used in furniture and other high grade applications.

Having said that, I will be using pressure treated southern pine 6X6" posts when I replace my porch posts to replace cedar posts.

 

[cartod]

Well damit. I guess that answers it. No poplar posts will go on the outside.

 

[Verticaltrx]

In different parts of the country 'Poplar' means different things, i.e. different species, which leads to a lot of confusion. Being in WV I'm assuming you have Tulip Poplar, same as we have here. In certain outdoor applications it is an excellent rot resistant wood. It has been used for hundreds of years for siding. Around here there are still some 100+ yr old barns and houses that still have the original Poplar siding, devoid of all paint years ago. If it is allowed to dry out it will hold up very well. It is not good for prolonged ground contact or areas that stay wet. Posts on a porch I'm not sure about. If you did something to the bottom I think it would be ok, maybe put it up on those little cast metal post pads. It won't last as a post in or on the ground for sure.

 

[forgeblast]

Verticaltrx I agree, poplar around here is aspen aka popples, which is related to the cottonwood. It hits the ground and rots fast.

 

[/pine]

FWIW...
Just the bark of a tulip poplar can bring $3+ per square foot...
...they make siding and shingles out of the bark...
...most of the timber is milled into interior trim moldings...cabinet makers use it for drawer boxes etc...

 

[8N Ren]

I agree, don't use it. I cut down around 80 or so pops and that type of wood starts to rot even when the tree looks healthy with nice green leaves. Ceder looks and smells fantastic, pressure treated perhaps, or maybe steel posts with those box column deals they sell.

 

[rekees4300]

Well damit. I guess that answers it. No poplar posts will go on the outside.

Not good for posts but termites wont touch it. It was used in all the log houses around here in the 1800's and many are still standing.