Pressure treated lumber - basics and beyond - Use Pressure treated wood for raised garden beds

With the recession in full swing home gardening is making a comeback. Vegetable lovers with diminished means are finding that a little more green in the pocket is worth a bit of toil in the soil. A good choice for many backyard growers is a raised garden bed. The perfect building material for raised beds is pressure treated lumber. It’s economical, easy to work and safe to use in gardening applications. The new micronized copper formulations, including ProWood Micro CA, use a treatment process that has earned Environmentally Preferred Product status from Scientific Certification Systems. This new formulation also has a lighter, fresher appearance compared to other formulations and is less corrosive to fasteners.

According to Becky Wern, Master Gardener with the Duvall County
Agricultural Extension Service and the University of Florida, today's pressure treated lumber "is safe to use around children and animals and for gardens with edibles."

Don’t burn or compost pressure treated wood. Once you’re finished building the bed, your pressure treated wood scraps and sawdust can be land-filled along with ordinary household trash.

Comments for Use Pressure treated wood for raised garden beds

Sunday, September 13, 2009 by shommestaad:: I don't think pressure treated wood is a good idea for garden beds considering that it is recommended to used gloves when handling the wood and masks when cutting it. Cedar is fairly similar in price and has equal resistance to rot as pressure treated wood.
Thursday, September 17, 2009 by Dick Gauthier:: Thank you for your comment. The use of a dust mask and gloves is a common safety precaution advised for working with any type of lumber, treated or not. In general, cedar is much more expensive than pressure treated lumber. The leading formulation — micronized copper azole — of pressure treated lumber, such as ProWood Micro, is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The vast majority of cedar decking carries no warranty.
Friday, November 20, 2009 by bev:: Thanks. I've been trying to figure out if I could use pressure treated wood for my edible garden. Does this wood contain any arsenic? It doesn't appear so but I just want to make sure. Also do I have to let it sit out for a period before adding dirt? If so, how long?
Friday, November 20, 2009 by Dick Gauthier:: The use of chromated copper arsentate to treat lumber used in residential applications was phased out at the end of 2003. There is no need to let the wood dry out before you add dirt. If you plan to paint, stain or seal the wood wait a few months so it's nice and dry.
Saturday, November 21, 2009 by bev:: This is great news. I look forward to starting my project with my friend Brent in a couple of days. Any advice on using linseed oil to seal the outside of the wood?