Episode DIG-157 Cedar heartwood is darker in color than sapwood and has an aromatic scent. Figure A Figure B Figure C Dr. Brian Bond of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service is an expert on wood products and their care, and he offers tips on choosing wood that will last.
Wood contains sugars that bacteria and fungi feed on.
In an outdoor environment wood products will decay if not properly protected. It's wise to use naturally rot-resistant woods such as redwood and red cedar, which are durable because of the extractive content found in the heartwood of the tree. As you might expect, heartwood is much more expensive than sapwood. Sapwood treated with water-repellent preservative is more durable than untreated sapwood, but it doesn't match the lasting qualities of heartwood. This type of wood is treated with copper and arsenic forced into the grain inside high-pressure cylinders.