Can pressure treated wood be used for raised garden beds

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Vegetable lovers are finding that a little more green in the pocket is worth a bit of toil in the soil. A good choice for many backyard growers is a raised garden bed. 

The perfect building material for raised beds is pressure treated lumber. It’s economical, easy to work and safe to use in gardening applications. The new micronized copper formulations, including ProWood Micro CA, use a treatment process that has earned Environmentally Preferred Product status from Scientific Certification Systems. 

This new formulation also has a lighter, fresher appearance compared to other formulations and is less corrosive to fasteners.  

 

Can pressure treated wood be used for raised garden beds

According to Becky Wern, Master Gardener with the Duvall County
Agricultural Extension Service and the University of Florida, today's pressure-treated lumber "is safe to use around children and animals and for gardens with edibles."
 

Don’t burn or compost pressure treated wood. Once you’re finished building the bed, your pressure treated wood scraps and sawdust can be land-filled along with ordinary household trash.

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Raised garden beds are popular, practical, and relatively easy to build. Their simple construction can be customized to fit into any landscape, and they are an ideal way to grow vegetables, flowers, or herbs. A cost-saving alternative to Cedar, treated-wood products work very well when constructing raised bed gardens.

Can pressure treated wood be used for raised garden beds

Raised beds offer many benefits and advantages for gardeners:

  • Improved drainage
  • Easier to improve soil quality
  • Easier weed control
  • Easier to water
  • Fewer pests and rodents
  • Less physical strain for the gardener
  • Improved accessibility for elderly, disabled, or individuals with physical limitations

Can pressure treated wood be used for raised garden beds

TIP #1:
If there’s a concern about vegetation coming in contact with treated wood, a liner can be used but is not required.

TIP #2:
Orient embedded support columns so only treated ends are in ground contact.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUILDING A RAISED GARDEN BED

Can pressure treated wood be used for raised garden beds

Materials List for Raised Garden Bed:

  • (6) 2″ x 8″ x 8′ Pressure-treated boards
  • (1) 4″ x 4″ x 8′ Pressure-treated post
  • (1) Box of 3″ — #8 Galvanized all-purpose screws

Building Steps:

Can pressure treated wood be used for raised garden beds

  • Use 4 single 8′ 2x8s for the long sides of the bed. Drill pilot holes in both ends of the two side pieces when they will connect to the ends of the other two side pieces.
  • Cut four lengths of 2×8 at 48″ for the sides. (You should be able to do with a single 8′ board.) Drill pilot holes in both ends of these pieces as well.
  • Connect the sides with 3″ deck screws.
  • Attach a piece of landscape fabric to the bottom edges using galvanized staples. Leave some slack in the fabric, allowing that the weight of the soil with stretch the fabric.
  • Add soil and start planting!

Can pressure treated wood be used for raised garden beds
Can pressure treated wood be used for raised garden beds

Download Instructions for Your Raised Garden Bed Here —Raised Bed Instructions

Can you build raised beds with pressure treated wood?

A cost-saving alternative to Cedar, treated-wood products work very well when constructing raised bed gardens.

How long will pressure treated wood last in raised beds?

Why To Consider Pressure-Treated Lumber. The benefit is that pressure-treated lumber will last as long as 40 years in contact with the soil. Raw, untreated pine or hemlock used for a raised bed will only last about five years in areas with intense weather conditions.

Why not use pressure treated wood for raised beds?

For years pressure treated wood was not recommended for raised beds because of the arsenic and potential to leach. Plants really don't absorb arsenic. More commonly gardeners get exposure directly from breathing soil dust and ingestion of soil particles.

What wood is safe for raised vegetable beds?

What Kind of Wood to Use? In most cases, cedar is the best wood to use for garden beds because cedar is naturally rot resistant. Western red cedar is commonly used, but white cedar, yellow cedar and juniper are also high-quality choices for outdoor construction projects.