One of the most compelling reasons to using juniper wood in your fencing or decking is that the wood is extremely durable. When dried, juniper tends not to shrink or swell as much as other Pacific Northwest wood varieties. For a softwood, juniper is more dense than other types of tree species which compliments its general durability. It has also been shown that juniper performs exceptionally well glued or finished.

Juniper is also surprisingly rot and pest resistant without any chemical treatment. Because of the lack of a need for a chemical application, juniper-based fences and decks are child and pet friendly. Furthermore, the lack of chemicals makes juniper the perfect accent to one’s garden as it will not contaminate your yard vegetation.

The aromatic qualities of juniper wood is another unique component. Western Juniper brings an earthy scent to any project. Unique to the product in an essential oil inherent in western juniper: cedrol. Typically, cedrol is used in scenting and flavoring and provides an exceptional earthly aroma to your project.

Additionally, choosing juniper as your wood material is a strong recommendation for sustainability and sustainable harvesting of our natural resources. Juniper is typically harvested in order to maintain a more balanced ecology and allow other vegetation to compete for water resources. The tree is quite plentiful in eastern Oregon, Idaho, and parts of California which makes it a great local resource. Juniper harvesting also supports local ranchers and suppliers who want to maintain ecological balance.

In combination, these components to western juniper make it an ideal wood product to use in a variety of applications, particularly fence and deck construction. By selecting this variety of juniper, one can add a beautiful aesthetic touch to your outdoor living space while, additionally, supporting local sustainability programs.