Pressure treated wood for raised beds

Free 2-day Shipping On Millions of Items. What is the best lumber for raised beds? Is redwood or cedar better for raised beds? Of course, the primary concern with using pressure treated wood in raised-bed gardens has been with the arsenic in CCA- ( chromated copper arsenate ) treated wood.

This publication from Pennsylvania State University does a good job describing the risks of using both CCA-treated wood as well as ACQ-treated wood: Environmental Soil Issues: Garden Use of Treated Lumber. He stated in a bulletin title Treated Wood in Raised Bed Gardening , “Scientific evidence and data have shown that using pressure treated wood for raised bed or box gardening is safe to adults and children in terms of the plants grown and used in these containers. He further explains, “All chemicals in consumer products have a toxicity and most are very low, so they are not a problem, especially those regulated by the federal government. The safety of pressure-treated wood for garden beds depends on what preservative was used to treat the wood.

Wood treated with chromated copper arsenate or CCA can leach toxic arsenic into soil. Concerns have focused on the leaching of arsenic from pressure-treated wood into the soil, contaminating plants and people. Why would it not be safe? The concern is that the chemicals that are used to treat the lumber can leach into the soil.

Use a non- wood material such as stones, concrete blocks, bricks, or synthetic lumber. Should I be concerned about arsenic or other chemicals in pressure - treated wood used in raised beds ? An older type of wood preservative called Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) contained arsenic, copper, and chromium. Many new gardeners, and even experienced ones, turn to treated lumber when sourcing materials for raised beds due to its added protection against moisture and the associated rot and bug damage. However, while treated lumber will hold up better over time, it can also leach harmful chemicals into your soil.

Marketed as Thunderbolt (who thinks up these names?!) by a company in Riverbank , CA, the wood is treated with a solution of 62. The company hopes to get this treated wood alternative accepted for use in organic agriculture, specifically for fence posts and grape stakes. Create a Healthy Home with Timeless Long-Lasting Home Furnishings. Pamper Your Plants with High-Quality Supplies.

Explore Our Huge Selection Today! Yes, the new pressure treated wood is safe for use for raised garden frames. Over years, the industry, in cooperation with government recommendations, phased out the use of CCA for all residential and most commercial wood pressure treatment.

Cedar and juniper—as well as other materials—are fantastic for building raised beds, and if you feel safer using those, you absolutely should! Before you get starte please read our info on safety , fasteners and building tips. Avoid using older types of wood treatments such as CCA, creosote, and Penta- treated lumber.

If you have concerns about using ACQ- treated wood for raised beds , paint or stain the wood , use a heavy plastic liner between the wood and your soil, or use a non- wood building material (e.g., stones, bricks). See Additional Resources below. Wood is a very versatile material for vegetable gardens.

Whether it is used to create raised beds , the edges of paths or a frame for protective netting, wood is the natural choice for many gardeners. Apart from being a sustainable resource, it looks good and is great for creating a new structure for vegetable beds that will hold in compost or keep out pests. So when I set out to create a set. In my opinion the best wood for raised beds would be untreated cedar. It lasts a long time compared to regular kiln dried lumber, and is often found in ready made kits for raised beds.

The downside to cedar is that it is fairly expensive. Modern pressure treated wood should be an acceptable option. We built our first raised garden bed out of untreated pine with cedar posts and did nothing to protect the pine. It succumbed to very bad rot after eight years. The chemicals in pressure - treated lumber are pesticides, so you should handle the wood with the same precautions as befit any potentially hazardous material.

Protect yourself while working with CCA wood. Always wear gloves, eye protection, and most important, a dust mask. Long sleeves are a good idea, too. The purpose for chemical pressure treatment is to protect wood from rot, decay and wood -ingesting insects.

Pressure treated lumber is an option. We shop and deliver, you enjoy.