Long robinia poles

Beyond 4 m, a robinia pole becomes hard to find: the tree rarely grows straight over a great height. We produce round poles from 4 to 13 m long and 10 to 40 cm in diameter in our sawmill in Teiu, Romania. Debarked, pointed, with no treatment at all: the poles for riverbank works, hop yards, pergolas and large timber structures. They are in stock and ship by half or full truckload.

What are they used for?

Soil bioengineering and riverbanks: bank revetments, bank piles and crib walls to reinforce the banks of ponds and rivers in restoration projects.
Retaining works: holding back soil on earthworks sites.
Hop yards: hops are trained 7 m above ground, which calls for poles of 8 to 9 m. Organic growers look for timber with no chemical treatment at all.
Pergolas and large structures: long spans, canopies, shelters, pegged joints.
Mussel farming: bouchot poles standing in the sea.
Zoos: enclosures, structures and outdoor facilities.

For a smooth, sapwood-free finish (playgrounds, furniture), see our sanded posts, also up to 13 m; for natural shapes with branches, our whole trees.

Dimensions

Lengths: 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 m.
Diameters: 10 to 40 cm (±1 cm), in 2 cm classes from 10-12 to 28-30 cm, then 30-35 and 35-40 cm.
Finish: debarked and pointed; unbarked or unpointed on request. Most of our customers take them debarked.
Shape: natural, as the tree grew; a slight bow is possible. State your tolerance in your enquiry.

For stakes from 0.5 to 4 m, see our stakes. All dimensions in the long poles technical data sheet.

Why are long straight poles rare?

Robinia is a crooked-growing tree: it rarely grows straight over a great height. The longer the length required, the fewer logs can supply it: straight, defect-free pieces of 4, 5 or 6 m are already rare, and beyond 6 to 8 m straight pieces become expensive. That is why so few robinia poles of 4 m and over are found on the market. Guide: what drives the price of robinia.

Weight, truck and transport

The table below gives the weight of a debarked round pole by diameter and length, up to 10 m; beyond that, and for diameters of 30 to 40 cm, the weight is stated in the quote. Robinia density: 780 to 820 kg/m³, timber delivered fresh or slightly seasoned.

Weight per long debarked pole (kg), by diameter (D.) and length (L.)

D. / L.	0,8m	1,2m	1,6m	1,8m	2,0m	2,5m	3,0m	3,5m	4,0m	5,0m	6,0m	7,0m	8,0m	9,0m	10,0m
6-8 cm	2	4	5	5	6	8	9	11	12	15	18	21	24	27	30
8-10 cm	4	6	8	9	10	12	15	17	20	25	30	35	40	45	50
10-12 cm	6	9	12	13	15	19	22	26	30	37	44	52	59	67	74
12-14 cm	8	12	17	19	21	26	31	36	41	52	62	72	83	93	104
14-16 cm	11	17	22	25	28	34	41	48	55	69	83	96	110	124	138
16-18 cm	14	21	28	32	35	44	53	62	71	89	106	124	142	159	177
18-20 cm	18	27	35	40	44	55	66	77	88	111	133	155	177	199	221
20-22 cm	22	32	43	49	54	68	81	95	108	135	162	189	216	243	270
22-24 cm	26	39	52	58	65	81	97	113	130	162	194	227	259	292	324
24-26 cm	31	46	61	69	77	96	115	134	153	191	230	268	306	345	383
26-28 cm	36	54	71	80	89	112	134	156	179	223	268	313	357	402	447
28-30 cm	41	62	82	93	103	129	155	180	206	258	309	361	412	464	515

Long poles are loaded on a standard semi-trailer, up to 13 m long. The number of pieces per truck is shown, up to 10 m, in the round stakes table on our Products page; for example 480 poles of 4 m in Ø 14-16 cm, 160 of 6 m in Ø 20-22 cm, 85 of 8 m in Ø 24-26 cm, 50 of 10 m in Ø 28-30 cm. We deliver by full or part truckload (groupage costs charged).

Installation and service life

Embedment depth depends on the structure and the soil: for example 70 cm to 1 m for hop yard poles, more in soft ground where the pile must pass through the mud. In the ground, a robinia pole lasts up to 30 years without treatment; permanently submerged, it does not rot for lack of oxygen — the mussel poles of the Atlantic coast have proved it for generations. A larger section lasts longer. Over time the wood turns grey and may check on the surface: that is normal. For corners, row ends and tension points, choose a larger diameter. Guides: robinia in soil bioengineering, posts for hops, orchards and kiwis and service life of robinia outdoors.

Why robinia?

Robinia is Europe's most durable wood: natural durability class 1-2 (EN 350), use class 4 (EN 335), meaning permanent contact with soil and moisture, with no treatment at all. A hard, dense timber, it releases nothing into soil or water: that is why it is chosen for restored rivers and organic farming. Its limits: long, perfectly straight lengths are rare and expensive, and appearance varies from piece to piece. Robinia outdoors: the complete guide

Options

Unbarked poles.
Unpointed, or pointed at the thin or thick end; pointing over 50 cm.
Chamfered top.
Drilling Ø 20, 30, 40 or 50 mm.
Anti-split plates.
Storage of the poles for drying.
FSC® 100% certification on request.

Order your long poles

Our long poles are in stock. We supply professionals — bioengineering and civil works contractors, landscapers, carpenters, hop growers, mussel farmers, local authorities, timber merchants — across Europe, by half or full truckload, ex works. Send us your parts list (lengths, diameters, straightness tolerance, options) and we will reply with a quote. Private buyer? Write to us and we will refer you to a dealer near you. Request a quote

Frequently asked questions

Up to what length do you make robinia poles?

Up to 13 m, metre by metre: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 m, in diameters from 10 to 40 cm.

Where can I find a 4, 5 or 6 m robinia pole?

These lengths are rare on the market because robinia grows crooked. We produce them and keep them in stock; we deliver by half or full truckload. For a few pieces, write to us and we will refer you to a dealer near you.

How much does a 6 m robinia pole weigh?

Depending on diameter: about 83 kg in Ø 14-16 cm, 162 kg in Ø 20-22 cm and 230 kg in Ø 24-26 cm. All weights up to 10 m are in the table on this page.

How many long poles fit in a truck?

It depends on length and diameter: for example 480 poles of 4 m in Ø 14-16 cm, 160 of 6 m in Ø 20-22 cm, 50 of 10 m in Ø 28-30 cm. Pieces up to 13 m travel on a standard semi-trailer; the quote states the exact load.

Which pole for a hop yard?

Hops are trained at least 7 m above ground: allow poles of 8 to 9 m, Ø 18-22 cm for row poles and Ø 25-30 cm for end and border poles, set 70 cm to 1 m deep. Details in our guide to trellised crops.

Are long robinia poles straight?

They keep the natural shape of the tree and may have a slight bow; very long, perfectly straight lengths are rare and more expensive. State your tolerance in your enquiry.

How long does a robinia pole last in water or in the ground?

In the ground, up to 30 years without treatment. Permanently submerged, it does not rot for lack of oxygen — even in seawater, as mussel poles show.

Should a long robinia pole be treated or debarked?

No treatment: robinia achieves use class 4 without any product. We deliver them debarked by default; with bark on request.