Pressure Treated wood for Vegetable Garden?

[Kyle241]

I'm going with cedar for my garden beds. I personally would not use PT no matter what the companies or studies say. There are too many hazards out there already, I don't wish to potentially add another.

 

[Red Horse]

I 'd like to build a raised garden this summer for veggies.

Any opinions on using new ACQ type PT for the frame? I know Cedar would be preferred, but $$$.

Theres a bit of mass hysteria out there re: PT wood but how much is fact based? Ive seen opinions ranging from "you can eat it", "Wont kill the fish in your fish tank" to "OMG, your going to kill your family". ACQ companies of course say there's no risk. Creosote timbers are out though... they just leach far too much to be safe.

Dont want to use spruce, as i dont want to redo in a few years. I might be able to get some rough Hemlock that has good rot resistance but not sure if its available currently and at what cost.

Opinions?

I too doubt there is any real long term impact. Bit when you look at the cost of PT vs say plain spruce, I think its almost cost effective to use untreated wood and assuming you get four or five years out of it, you are close to a wash dollar wise.

 

[dmccarty]

Glyphosphate isnt so bad... If you drink enough of it, worse that happens is you'll pee bubbles:thumbsup:

How big where the bubbles?



Did you chase the bubbles in the wind and pop them?

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[Scooby074]

Did you chase the bubbles in the wind and pop them?

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

Hope not

More of a foam. :laughing:

 

[KTurner]

I know Cedar would be preferred, but $$$.

I just paid $4 each for rather crummy looking ACQ 8' 2x4s. Not sure what cedar is running. The guy at the store said he was ashamed of the quality (and he pointed it out to the manager), but also said that his competitor's wood wasn't in any better shape. Not sure if he was trying to cover his butt or if there was some truth to it. Warped, twisted and lots of edge pieces that were missing a corner for most or the full length of the board (Wane?).

Keith

 

[KennyG]

I just paid $4 each for rather crummy looking ACQ 8' 2x4s. Not sure what cedar is running. The guy at the store said he was ashamed of the quality (and he pointed it out to the manager), but also said that his competitor's wood wasn't in any better shape. Not sure if he was trying to cover his butt or if there was some truth to it. Warped, twisted and lots of edge pieces that were missing a corner for most or the full length of the board (Wane?).

Keith

I don't know what it is about treated wood but trying to find good 2x4's, or even worse, 2x2's is often hard. On the other hand, if you want 2x8 or 2x10, they are very good straight lumber. If you price 2x10 cedar, have something to hold on to.

I had to replace some damaged cedar last summer on a half timbered house (custom sawn beams) and I'm still staggering from the cost.

 

[Scooby074]

I just paid $4 each for rather crummy looking ACQ 8' 2x4s. Not sure what cedar is running. The guy at the store said he was ashamed of the quality (and he pointed it out to the manager), but also said that his competitor's wood wasn't in any better shape. Not sure if he was trying to cover his butt or if there was some truth to it. Warped, twisted and lots of edge pieces that were missing a corner for most or the full length of the board (Wane?).

Keith

2x8x12 cedar is about $38 here. Quality is good though.

I do agree, treated wood is some of the worse for wain and loose knots. They take wood right from the mill, and put it in the tanks. Not that SPF dimensional lumber is much better here. You have to step up to about a 2x8 before you start seeing decent wood consistently. 2x4 and to a lesser extent 2x6 are pretty bad for twist and other defects.

 

[grnspot110]

grnspot110: great garden. Having a greenhouse sure would be nice. Im figuring if i do a raised bed, i can make arches out of PVC and cover with poly... to make a poor mans greenhouse.

That's what my greenhouse is! 10' x 10', 4' x 6' CCA sill, 1 4x4 post on the south end, two on the north, a 2x10 ridge board down the center w/holes for the 1' schedule 40 pvc pipe, 1/2" rebar through the sill & up the pipe a ways. Used aluminum storm door on the north. double wall (greenhouse film) plastic has to be replace every couple of years, inflated with a small dble. squirrel cage fan, pulling air from outside. ~~ grnspot

 

[jinman]

My local Lowe's store has 2x6x8 rough cedar planks for $10.27 each. 2x6x12 rough planks are $19.06 each. 4x4x8 rough cedar posts are $15 each. Because the lumber will be so straight and easy to work, I think paying a bit of a premium could save you a lot of grief in the long run. if you can use 1x6x?? lumber, it's even much cheaper and will be smooth boards. If a 4' x 8' raised bed is what you want, you could buy one post and three 2x6x8 and put in each bed for less than $50 each. That's a bargain in my book for nice lumber that won't twist and bow and double-crown like some treated lumber.

 

[jinman]

I just paid $4 each for rather crummy looking ACQ 8' 2x4s. Not sure what cedar is running. Keith

Keith, my local Lowe's has 2x4x8 rough cedar for $7.20 each by comparison. The quality is excellent.