Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi all,

Can anyone advise me on what I can stain my new veg beds with? Could I just use a fence treatment? I know I have to be careful what I use but I don't know exactly what to avoid!



Many thanks,

Jane

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Jane

Fence paint would be good (may be expensive), but it is water repellant and won't harm plants. Your beds look as if they are made of new wood (possibly pine?). If so they won't last forever as pine is a soft wood. The main cause of rotting will be from the moisture in the soil.

Linseed oil?

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Hi Johnstones fence paint from screwfix . To large cans just under 15 quid .

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...35390&id=70623

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The force is strong in this one!

I bought some fence paint from B&Q last year - very cheap.

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Hello JaneKT and welcome to the Vine. Your beds look good. What is it you want to "stain" them for. Is it for appearance - they do look a bit new. If so, they will soon weather in and look more natural.
Or is it to preserve them and make them last. I might get shouted down here, but in my experience that wood will last 15 - 20 years if you treat it, and 15- 20 years if you don't. So it just comes down to which way you want to do it. Interested to hear what other grapes think.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Hi J and welcome to the vine! I've just made some raised beds on my lottie ("ive got one" will show you what Ive done). My OH got me some creosote subsitute stuff from work - smells the same, does the same job, but isnt nasty at all and is safe.
Do keep us posted as to how you get on, you've obviously done a lot of hard work!
Bernie aka Dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

No help now, I know, but I would have done it before assembling them! We used a fence paint in a soft sage green - you can get some lovely colours these days, iris, heather, you pays yer money ...
If the wood wasn't pressure treated beforehand you really need some protection on them. If it was pressure treated then it's a cosmetic job - but no harm in that. I think a veg bed can look good as well as functional. I'm sure you'll grow some belting stuff in there, whatever you choose.

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Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated November 30th - Mr Stinky's Excellent Adventure (and a Christmas Cake)

Have been researching this myself today and found that most fence paint is fine once it has dried but lethal to plants if it gets on them. I was after wood stain as it has to look pretty on my patio, but on the lottie I love just to see wood weathering naturally.

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it's written in the wind that we're two, carved out in the sand that we're real,
it's lit up in the stars that we're true, we're destined in the sky to be glad
Paul Weller
http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

A friend and I got 2x56 gallon drums and 24x1 gallon cans of REAL creosote before it was banned, so everything gets painted with that before it has chance to get wet. The problem with all the modern substitutes is it actually washes off after a couple of years. If I ever get my hands on the moron who banned creosote, I'll.............

Thanks for all your help. I haven't got round to doing anything yet and yes I know I should have treated them beforehand but tbh it was an after thought and is for appearance more than anything. I realise they wont last long but then I was never 100% sure that I'd be able to grow veg! So they weren't built to last. Now I'm so excited about it all I wish I'd made more beds

We've now got a lawn, and some plants in, and to top it all off my carrot seedlings have just poked through today

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Jane

Looking good janekt!!!!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

it fantastic when you have days like that

well done janekt

It looks great - I can just picture myself on that deck with a G&T!

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Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated November 30th - Mr Stinky's Excellent Adventure (and a Christmas Cake)