Wood Preservative Killing Plants? - Ask Extension
Hi. I built a couple planter boxes out of wood, then treated them with a preservative called Copper Green. After drying for a couple weeks, I lined ...
Knowledgebase
Wood Preservative Killing Plants? #827515
Asked April 27, 2023, 8:59 PM EDT
Hi. I built a couple planter boxes out of wood, then treated them with a preservative called Copper Green. After drying for a couple weeks, I lined the interior of the boxes with garden paper. It's been difficult to grow plants in both boxes. Plants survive, but grow very slowly and do not look healthy. Would this be related to the wood preservative? Thank you,
Vic
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your question, Vic. The current product label lists no toxic effect on plants, and an earlier (1997) EPA filing indicated it was to be used on "landscape timbers, wooden seedling trays, plant and flower boxes for ornamental plantings". I wonder if your plants' problems are caused by other factors. What is "garden paper"? Is it the black material in the photos? Do the planter boxes drain? What type of soil is in the boxes?
If you can provide more information, we can try to identify the problem(s). Thank you!
If you can provide more information, we can try to identify the problem(s). Thank you!
