A little botany lesson: Douglas Fir

The mammoth fir tree

Do you also spend a lot of time in nature? According to a study, more and more people are going for walks - preferably in the woods. So, it is no wonder that many are discovering "forest bathing" for themselves. Visitors immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the forest with all their senses. In Japan, forest bathing is an integral part of preventive health care because studies show that forest bathing lowers blood pressure and reduces stress.

But even without scientific proof, you certainly have felt it before:

Being in the forest is calming and relaxing. The smell of wood. The sun shining in the leaves. The soft forest floor under your feet. Bring this forest feeling into your home: Osmo wood brings the beauty and peace of the forest in your home.

Our little botany lesson will give you an insight into the special features of some of the woods. Maybe you will discover your favourite wood for your garden deck or floor.

The largest tree in Germany is a Douglas fir: the 100-year-old "Waldtraut vom Mühlwald" measures 67 metres.
The Douglas fir is a conifer and, with a growth height of 60 to 120 metres, is considered one of the giant trees.

Douglas fir:
the mammoth fir tree

It comes from the Rocky Mountains. Due to this changeable climate, Douglas firs have a strong and at the same time elastic wood structure.

The evergreen tree with a trunk up to four metres thick and a slender, conical crown exudes an aromatic, pleasantly lemony scent. The several-centimetres-long green to blue-green needles of the Douglas fir are soft and blunt, the cones red-yellow.

Douglas fir:
a very popular wood spieces

Douglas fir has also been cultivated in Europe for over 100 years and now accounts for two percent of the total forest area in Germany.

This fine softwood is one of the most popular conifers also because of its interplay of colours: the longitudinal cut is characterised by expressive arching annual rings, the cross cut by contrasting lines between pink and golden brown.

Utilize the advantages of Douglas fir with Osmo decking

Osmo Douglas fir deck boards are particularly resistant to moisture. This is because the high resin content of the Douglas fir acts like a natural impregnation. The perfect complement: Osmo Decking Oil in the colour of choice.

Douglas fir is also available as pressure impregnated deck boards in grey.

Tip: let it weather

You should let your Douglas fir decking weather for at least six weeks before treating it. By then, most of the resin that gives the wood its weather resistance will have leached out. Seek advice: find out which wood in your region and for the location of your terrace will last the longest and how you should treat it.

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