Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi all.
I'm planning to build a raised bed this weekend at the back of my existing veg patch to grow some asparagus and possibly a few carrots. I have just bought some lengths of pressure treated timber to build it with but having had a quick look online I've seen some mention of the fact that this can leach harmful chemicals into the soil and so is not really suitable.
After reading this I did a search on prssure treated timber and most sites seem to suggest that there should be no leaching at all.

Can anybody confirm whether pressure treated timber is suitable for this purpose or not? I don't want to poison my family with our home grown veg!

Many thanks.

I've used pressure treated timber on my raised beds without any problems. My boards are only half inch thick so not much to leech out to start with. For the first season don't sow closer than six inches from the boards and if any plants look unhealthy don't use them.

You need to ask what exactly the treatment is and do some research. There are different chemicals and processes in common use.

Often the manufacturer will not recommend the use of treated timber for vegetable or fruit areas to be on the safe side, but it is well used and risks today are small.

OK, I think I'm gonna chance it. I won't be harvesting any asparagus this year anyway so this gives the wood a year to settle down.

Thanks for the advice.

Every pesticide, herbicide and preservative even vaguely dangerous has now been banned under EU legislation - I use pressure treated timber for jobs all over the allotment, including raised beds.

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Resistance is fertile

Just a thought but Bob Flowerdew suggests that edging raised beds with timber isn't a good thing - he says that the edging creates the ideal place for lots of pests to live. We're not edging our beds at all - gives more growing area too. (like we need it!)

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We plant the seed, nature grows the seed, we eat the seed - Neil, The Young Ones

http://countersthorpeallotment.blogspot.com/
Updated 8 June 2008

Lots of websites talk about pressure-treated timber being dangerous because it USED to be impregnated with, among other things, arsenic. And I think maybe some wood is still treated that way in the USA, because it is cheaper than the alternative and because there is no conclusive evidence that it is actually harmful even if a bit does leach out.

Regardless, the EU banned the use of arsenic a few years ago (I can find a link to the specific regulations if you like lol) so as long as you are not using reclaimed wood it should be OK.

(At least I hope so as I used pressure-treated stuff for the frames in my front garden!)

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Warning: I have a dangerous tendency to act like I know what I'm talking about.

will probably be tanelised timber with is enviromently friendly...see here

Plane & Simple - Tanalised Timber

Tanelith E has got copper in it. I wonder if that means it'll deter the slugs???

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Warning: I have a dangerous tendency to act like I know what I'm talking about.

oooo never thought of that...but actually it doesnt...my garden got loads of tanelised timber in it and still loads of slugs

oh well - worth a thought!

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Warning: I have a dangerous tendency to act like I know what I'm talking about.