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Posted: Apr/25/2007 3:19 AM PST
We want to make a raised beds for some of our vegetables and make a strawberry bed but need to find what to build it with to keep it organic. I have read that treated timbers will leach out chemicals in the soil that will go into the veggies. Does anyone know if the landscape timbers (Home Depot or Lowes, usually @ 2.99 ea) have chemicals that can do this? No one at the stores can help me. Any suggestions? thanks Mary Ann |
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Posted: Apr/25/2007 7:27 AM PST
They don't know if their lumber is treated?? Somebody should know--I'd go to the store manager! |
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Posted: Apr/25/2007 8:30 AM PST
Do the timbers have any kind of perforations in them? This is a dead give away that they have been treated, since treated lumber often has indentations put into it so that the chemicals will soak in better. Also, is the wood an abnormal color? This would be another indicator. Personally, I have used bricks, cut rock, and treated lumber for different garden beds. My blog has some examples: http://my.gardenguides.com/blogs/divaqs/tag/herb_g arden http://my.gardenguides.com/blogs/divaqs/tag/treate d_wood (The links have a space put in them by the forum, which you will need to remove for them to work) I am aware that treated lumber does leach some into the soil, as verified by EPA studies, which is why I have been very particular about the treated lumber I use. For example, I would never use railroad ties in my gardens or yard, since they are so toxic with a variety of things, like arsenic, that plants have a difficult time even living within the area that they leach. I wouldn't ever want to eat anything that could be soaking up some of those toxins. |
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Posted: Apr/25/2007 10:23 AM PST
Using treated materials would not be considered to be organically acceptable. I have no doubts that the preservatives in treated lumber will leach into surrounding soil. What its life there is I don't know. I can't really speak to how much of the chemicals actually enters a plant. I haven't looked at any reliable literature. My gut says that these chemiclas are too complex to actually be taken in through plant roots and transported throughout the plant, tho they may be absorbed onto the surface of tissues with which they come into contact. My family used old railroad ties for commercial growing beds for many years with no apparent adverse problems with the plants we raised for cutflower production. Commercially treated lumber in stores will have a green tint to it. Even though the chemicals used were changed a couple of years ago, green die is added to signify that lumber has been treated. Its more a sles gimmick than anything else. Alternatives for bed building are naturally decay resistant woods such as redwood, cedars, cypress, and black or yellow locust. |
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Posted: Aug/09/2008 10:36 AM PST
Hello everyone, I like the idea of brick or rock for borders to raised beds. We haven't started our garden yet.We are researching,planning for next spring. I have been thinking to do raised flower beds. Do any of you have suggestions for soil/fertilizer mixtures for organic raised veggie gardens? |
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Posted: Aug/10/2008 9:03 AM PST
First, start with a good quality topsoil. Then add compost, composted manure, and such. I would mix it half and half. There's your start  After you plant your seeds or plants, I would then mulch with newspaper covered with straw or grass clippings (from untreated lawns). Those will help to hold down weeds and keep in moisture. Also they will completely break down and can be worked into the soil at the end of the growing season. Add more compost every year and you won't need to use fertilizers at all! |
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Posted: Aug/10/2008 12:18 PM PST
A note about mulching. It's great not only for holding in moisture but also for keeping the soil temp's down in the blistering heat of the summer. But in the Spring that's not an advantage in the cooler, clammier climes. You may want to wait a bit before laying mulch, esp. if you're using newspaper, because its light color will not absorb as much heat. And a note about using rock or brick for bed borders. They will suck moisture out of the soil. Keep that in mind when you plant the beds. Choose plants that like drier conditions for edging, and those that like more moisture, plant closer to the center. |
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Posted: Aug/11/2008 5:10 AM PST
Great tips thanks.There are a couple horse stables around here that offer free manure,although I had heard rabbit poo could be used right away versus having to compost horse doo.I was thinking about getting my kids a rabbit for this added bonus.Any thoughts anyone? |
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Posted: Aug/11/2008 6:50 AM PST
I would still compost the rabbit pellets... I have 2 rats, and I add their used bedding to the compost pile. This is the animal rescuer in me talking now: PLEASE don't have the benefit to the garden the only reason for getting a bunny for your kids!!!!!! Also, think about getting your bunny from an animal shelter, my local shelter has about 5 bunnies a week needing new homes... (and they get euthanized too if no one adopts them  )
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Posted: Aug/11/2008 10:29 AM PST
Good point, Aurora! Bunnies are SO CUTE but they can be challenging pets. I've had two over the years. One was a little feisty and sometimes nipped people. The other was very shy and hated its cage. So we spent a lot of time cleaning up after it. |
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