The concern is that the chemicals that are used to treat the lumber can leach into the soil.
Treated lumber for garden boxes.
Many organic gardeners use this combination and feel fully comfortable with the result.
Yes you can use treated lumber for your raised vegetable garden beds.
The purpose for chemical pressure treatment is to protect wood from rot decay and wood ingesting insects.
Cover cca treated wood used for raised garden beds or borders with heavy plastic to prevent contact with garden soil.
The water they drink through their roots contains minerals and nutrients.
Wood that is pressure treated can last many years when in contact with concrete and dirt where other wood would begin to rot.
108 products in raised garden beds.
Maintain soil ph in the near neutral range ph 6 7.
With a few precautions.
Homeowners ask if it is safe to use treated lumber for garden beds.
Manage your garden soil to reduce plant availability as cr and cu.
Why would it not be safe.
Gardeners have used pressure treated wood for decades in raised beds and as posts but on december 31 2003 the environmental protection agency epa banned the sale of lumber treated with chromated copper arsenate cca for residential use.
Pressure treated lumber has been a controversial topic for many years.
Pressure treated lumber is an option.
Up until 2003 the most common preservative used for pressure treated wood was chromated copper arsenate cca a compound using arsenic.
Pressure treated lumber is used for fence posts garden beds decking playground equipment and many other structures that are either partially below ground or have significant exposure to the elements.
Plants take up nutrients through their root system.
Yes the new pressure treated wood is safe for use for raised garden frames.
It may also include some of that arsenic if cca lumber is used.
Alternatively you could build the frame of your vegetable garden with pressure treated wood acq or cba then cover the inner wall with a sheet of plastic so that no copper from the wood ever touches the soil it contains.
Image credit if you re like me you ve wished you could use reclaimed pressure treated lumber for a garden bed to grow food in.
When cca treated lumber touches the soil and water drenches the wood over time the compound breaks down and leaches or drips into the soil.