Hi... I wouldn't do anything to the wood. Red cedar is naturally resistant to decay. If you do want a color then use an oil semi- transparent stain or a clear latex water repellent. The stain has to be oil because latex doesnt penetrate the wood. That also is why you would use latex for the water repellent, because it stays on top and repels. I guess the only real reason to put anything on it would be for the color change. Bobby

I'm still looking for the answer to my original question about the oil stain and it leaching into the soil.

thanks,
Dora

from a chemist (in a nutshell) - trace amounts of the stain would leach into the soil, however plants do not absorb oil so it would not be directly taken in by the plant.

But a certain amount of oil is water soluble, therefore the rain water would pick up trace amounts of stain oil, however that specific water carrying the oil would have to be taken in by the plant as opposed to draining.

The danger in stain is the not so much the oil but the solvents. These solvents can evaporate off rather rapidly - read: let it cure. Can not give a time, too many variables.

Bottom line: It is unlikely that the stain will cause problems, but the choice is of course yours.