If you hollowed the sections out it would help prevent splitting
and make them lighter. Cut a rabbet in one end and inset a
piece of plywood to hold the plant.

If I was doing it I think I'd try splitting the log into quarters, chop
out the center, and glue it back together real quick before it
dried and warped. But then again I've never done this and
this method may not work. It's just an idea and others with
more experience will rightly shoot it down if it's a bad one.

Art

"dean" wrote in message
oups.com...
... and I was wondering if there was a way to stop them cracking and
splitting as they dry, not that its really all that important. If I
varnish it on the end, will that slow it down enough and stop it
splitting?

Its oak wood, although the wife wants me to get some pine as it would
be lighter to move around the house if necessary.

Thanks

Dean