Comments on: We have a raised garden built out of treated lumber. Is it safe to plant vegetables in it? http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it Gardening CareTips for the Backyard Gardener Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:23:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: shedahudda http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3416 shedahudda Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:23:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3416 i would line the walls and at least 6 to 12 inches from the walls with a non-permeable membrane. Then you could grow things that fruit. However not any herbs or anything that you eat the green or leaves from. Unfortunately the treatment they use is poisonous. It may be worth replacing the wood with brick, but I still wouldn't eat anything from there for a few years. the idea of planting some crops to mix into the soil is a good one.<br><b>References : </b><br> i would line the walls and at least 6 to 12 inches from the walls with a non-permeable membrane.
Then you could grow things that fruit. However not any herbs or anything that you eat the green or leaves from.
Unfortunately the treatment they use is poisonous.
It may be worth replacing the wood with brick, but I still wouldn’t eat anything from there for a few years.
the idea of planting some crops to mix into the soil is a good one.
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]]> By: meanolmaw http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3415 meanolmaw Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:44:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3415 read here... http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00028.asp our Master Gardeners say the NEW type of treated wood is okay to use... the only caution they had was to not plant root crops near the walls in the first years... to let the wood leach and not get to the roots of those edibles... for those who are still iffy about it, just hang plastic on the inside of the timbers before adding soil....<br><b>References : </b><br> read here…

http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00028.asp

our Master Gardeners say the NEW type of treated wood is okay to use… the only caution they had was to not plant root crops near the walls in the first years… to let the wood leach and not get to the roots of those edibles… for those who are still iffy about it, just hang plastic on the inside of the timbers before adding soil….
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]]> By: hairy.caterpillar http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3414 hairy.caterpillar Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:02:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3414 Is it tanalised (greenish) timber or is it reclaimed railway sleepers (oozes thick black goo in summer). If it's old railway sleepers, personally I'd be very careful as there are already safety restrictions on their use, (due to harmful preservatives) through most of the EU. These have caused me and my collegues skin problems, and asthma in the past. I certainly wouldn't eat anything grown near them. I've never noticed anything so bad with tanalised wood and my veg beds are made out of them. I'd be more concerned about avoiding heavy pesticides and weedkillers. If you're really concerned about the treated wood you could always use large containers. Good luck with the veg. Hope this was helpful.<br><b>References : </b><br>Personal experience Is it tanalised (greenish) timber or is it reclaimed railway sleepers (oozes thick black goo in summer). If it’s old railway sleepers, personally I’d be very careful as there are already safety restrictions on their use, (due to harmful preservatives) through most of the EU. These have caused me and my collegues skin problems, and asthma in the past. I certainly wouldn’t eat anything grown near them.
I’ve never noticed anything so bad with tanalised wood and my veg beds are made out of them. I’d be more concerned about avoiding heavy pesticides and weedkillers. If you’re really concerned about the treated wood you could always use large containers.
Good luck with the veg. Hope this was helpful.
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Personal experience

]]> By: greenfingers http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3413 greenfingers Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:17:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3413 I say no as well. Tanalized, pressure treated or cca timber contains copper, chrome and arsenic. Not the kind of thing you want in your dinner!<br><b>References : </b><br>http://files.recycleworks.co.uk/files/Wood%20preservatives.pdf I say no as well. Tanalized, pressure treated or cca timber contains copper, chrome and arsenic. Not the kind of thing you want in your dinner!
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http://files.recycleworks.co.uk/files/Wood%20preservatives.pdf

]]> By: James R http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3412 James R Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:09:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3412 put in a couple of green crops first and dig them in then get the soil tested as some treatments are not harmful to the environment. this will tell you once and for all wether it is worth growing vegies or ornamental plants instead of saying no straight away to growing vegetables<br><b>References : </b><br> put in a couple of green crops first and dig them in then get the soil tested as some treatments are not harmful to the environment. this will tell you once and for all wether it is worth growing vegies or ornamental plants instead of saying no straight away to growing vegetables
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]]> By: crash http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3411 crash Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:02:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3411 If its old railway tie, NO don't plant. but just treated wood IS fine. I have several raised beds with treated landscape ties, things grow great and have done for the last 15 years. They have changed the chemical used in treated wood in the past 6 years and is much safer, arsnic WAS used. I have gardened for pleasure and business for 27 years now, you don't have to worry.,<br><b>References : </b><br> If its old railway tie, NO don’t plant. but just treated wood IS fine. I have several raised beds with treated landscape ties, things grow great and have done for the last 15 years. They have changed the chemical used in treated wood in the past 6 years and is much safer, arsnic WAS used.

I have gardened for pleasure and business for 27 years now, you don’t have to worry.,
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]]> By: Joanne A. W http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3410 Joanne A. W Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:56:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3410 From: http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2149 "Treated wood is treated with arsenic , which will leak into the soil. Use regular wood; it will still last a couple of years, and the extra effort to replace it when it does eventually rot is worth not contaminating your soil and your body." ********************************** From: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/quickref/vegetable/intensive_veg_gardening.html "The sides of an enclosed raised bed are often made of treated wood. Green pressure-treated lumber, has been treated with cromated copper arsenate (CCA) or ammoniated cooper arsenate (ACA). These two preservatives are the safest for the garden because of their very low tendency to leach into soil. Research studies have shown that there is very little chance of ingesting arsenic in vegetables near treated lumber. Because of the arsenic in the wood, however, wear rubber gloves and a dust mask when sawing the lumber. Avoid using creosote-treated railroad ties. Freshly treated creosote lumber can leach into the soil for several years and continues to give off vapors over a seven to nine year period."<br><b>References : </b><br> From:
http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2149

"Treated wood is treated with arsenic , which will leak into the soil. Use regular wood; it will still last a couple of years, and the extra effort to replace it when it does eventually rot is worth not contaminating your soil and your body."
**********************************
From:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/quickref/vegetable/intensive_veg_gardening.html

"The sides of an enclosed raised bed are often made of treated wood. Green pressure-treated lumber, has been treated with cromated copper arsenate (CCA) or ammoniated cooper arsenate (ACA). These two preservatives are the safest for the garden because of their very low tendency to leach into soil. Research studies have shown that there is very little chance of ingesting arsenic in vegetables near treated lumber. Because of the arsenic in the wood, however, wear rubber gloves and a dust mask when sawing the lumber. Avoid using creosote-treated railroad ties. Freshly treated creosote lumber can leach into the soil for several years and continues to give off vapors over a seven to nine year period."
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]]> By: Cynthia D http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3409 Cynthia D Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:37:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3409 I'm going to second "Uh huh" and say no, you can't use that garden for any edible plants. One of the primary chemicals used to treat lumber is arsenic, and you don't want that anywhere near your vegetable garden.<br><b>References : </b><br>http://home.howstuffworks.com/question278.htm I’m going to second "Uh huh" and say no, you can’t use that garden for any edible plants. One of the primary chemicals used to treat lumber is arsenic, and you don’t want that anywhere near your vegetable garden.
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http://home.howstuffworks.com/question278.htm

]]> By: DR. DIRT http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3408 DR. DIRT Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:49:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3408 uh huh is right--the preservative used to treat wood is formaldehyde , it is also used to embalm dead people--very poisonous, and will leach into the soil and be absorbed by the roots<br><b>References : </b><br> uh huh is right–the preservative used to treat wood is formaldehyde , it is also used to embalm dead people–very poisonous, and will leach into the soil and be absorbed by the roots
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]]> By: Uh huh http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it/comment-page-1#comment-3407 Uh huh Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:37:59 +0000 http://www.gardeningcaretips.com/raised-gardens/we-have-a-raised-garden-built-out-of-treated-lumber-is-it-safe-to-plant-vegetables-in-it#comment-3407 As a Master Gardener I would advise against it. Materials used as preservatives can leach into the soil and be easily absorbed by roots. I don't see much sense in growing your own if the produce is going to be full of chemicals, do you?<br><b>References : </b><br> As a Master Gardener I would advise against it. Materials used as preservatives can leach into the soil and be easily absorbed by roots. I don’t see much sense in growing your own if the produce is going to be full of chemicals, do you?
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