Pressure Treated Wood For Raised Beds
Up until 2003 the most common preservative used for pressure treated wood was chromated copper arsenate cca a compound using arsenic as its primary rot protectant.
Pressure treated wood for raised beds. The safety of pressure treated wood for garden beds depends on what preservative was used to treat the wood. Almost every guide included in this round up uses supplies you can get from the hardware store except for this one. Some have the same look and others are a different approach altogether. He stated in a bulletin titled 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.
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. 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. This garden bed uses corrugated metal and pressure treated wood. Yes the new pressure treated wood is safe for use for raised garden frames.
Concerns have focused on the leaching of arsenic from pressure treated wood into the soil contaminating plants and people. When building the raised beds with this lumber make sure you and your scouts wash their hands well after the construction is done. With a few precautions. Garden use of treated lumber.
Wood treated with chromated copper arsenate or cca can leach toxic arsenic into soil. If you want to use a pressure treated wood for your raised beds look for lumber with a label stating it was treated with acq alkaline copper quat. 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. Modern pressure treated wood should be an acceptable option.
Inspired natural wood raised bed. 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. Over years the industry in cooperation with government recommendations. Inspired natural wood raised bed.
This instructable takes repurposing to a whole new level. The preservatives use various types of copper compounds which should pose no hazard to people eating vegetables grown nearby.