Knowledgebase
Using pressure treated wood in a raised bed #751104
Asked May 20, 2021, 2:42 PM EDT
Hello,
I ordered a 22” deep raised garden and have set it up. However, I don’t want to have to use the amount of dirt required for my 6’ X 6’ container. The idea I came up with is using old 2x6 pressure treated deck boards. This seems to be just right for what I want to accomplish, put the amount of dirt needed on top of cinder blocks and the boards that I’ve placed in the container. I’ll be placing landscape fabric over the boards then dirt.
My question is will the pressurized lumber cause any health hazards to the dirt and ultimately to the produce planted in the bed? It seems like it will work fine but I wanted to check.
Many Thanks in advance,
Susan Snyder
MG 2004
Washtenaw County Michigan
Expert Response
It will depend on how old the old treated lumber is and how it was treated. Treated wood as recently as the early 2000s was treated with arsenic and other compounds that could be a problem. I am including some bulletins with information on using treated wood in raised beds.
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/treated-wood-in-the-landscape/
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On May 20, 2021, at 20:49, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
