Over the years there has been a lot of talk about pressure treated lumber and its use in gardening and specifically for raised beds.
Treated wood for raised garden beds.
From what i ve seen the consensus is that the chemicals do leach out of the wood into the soil and are uptaken by the plants in very small amounts.
Homeowners ask if it is safe to use treated lumber for garden beds.
However while treated lumber will hold up better over time it can also leach harmful chemicals into your soil.
While there is scientific consensus that it is safe to use for garden and vegetable beds the information below explains what chemicals are used in viance ground contact treated wood for residential use and the results of numerous scientific studies.
This type of treated wood was banned years ago for household use.
Like most things the more people talk about a particular topic the more the truth gets diluted and the myths and incorrect facts get shared as truths.
The durability of untreated wood used for raised beds largely depends on the type of wood used.
Pressure treated lumber what safety should be telling you before use.
Here s what i know.
Lamiot wikimedia commons pressured treated.
A cedar frame can last up to 10 years but one made of douglas fir may last only.
Treated wood predating 2003 is not recommended for raised bed gardening due to the risk of chemicals being leached into the soil.
Wood that isn t pressure treated tends to rot fairly quickly in contact with the soil.
While there is scientific consensus that it is safe to use for garden beds the information below explains what chemicals are used in viance ground contact treated wood for residential use and the results of numerous scientific studies.
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.
Pressure treated wood safety tips the spruce crafts.
Can pressure treated wood be used as part of an organic vegetable garden.
The safety of pressure treated lumber for raised bed gardens has been examined by several researchers.
You can read more about it below.
I also use some pressure treated wood for various garden structures including large raised beds.
However if you are planning on new raised garden beds avoid using old treated wood with cca to prevent this issue.
Raised vegetable bed with treated wood.
In 2003 wood treated with cca or chromatid copper arsenate was banned in the united states.
Any wood harvested before 2003 could have been sprayed with cca and might not be a safe choice for your raised bed.
The wood that people worry about leaching chemicals into the soil is cca chromated copper arsenate pressure treated wood or old railway ties.
How long will untreated wood last in raised beds.