Cypress is a soft wood like pine. However, it holds up against rot better than pine when it comes in contact with wet soil. Cypress resists decay and insect damage because it contains natural oils that protect the wood.
Cypress is native to the southeastern U. Cedar is another soft wood, but it holds up well outdoors. Like cypress, cedar contains natural oils that protect it against rot and insects. You can find some quality cedar raised garden beds from Etsy on this page. Redwood is a soft wood, and it is one of the longest lasting types. Even when exposed to wet soil and insects, redwood is a champion at resisting rot.
Redwood is expensive, but it can last up to 30 years. If you want your raised beds to last for a long time, the cost might be worth it. Remember that for any of the longer-lasting types of wood, you want heartwood, not sapwood, in order to get lumber that will really last.
It may be a tall order to find heartwood, and it can be very expensive if you do find it. You can learn more in this article about wood myths from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
You can make your wood raised garden bed last even longer if you treat the wood with stain or paint. You can also use a raised garden bed liner to protect the wood more on this later.
You should avoid using treated lumber for raised garden beds. You can use a raised garden bed liner to separate the soil from the wood. The last 2 methods are possible alternatives to wood if you have not built your raised garden bed yet or if you need a replacement bed.
The purpose of wood stain is to change the color of wood and protect it against damage from water and sunlight. On the other hand, the purpose of wood sealer is simply to protect the wood, without really changing the color. Make sure the wood is dry before applying stain or sealer. Otherwise, you are just locking in moisture within the wood, instead of keeping it out. If you are worried about chemicals getting into your soil, there are some natural options available.
For example:. A combination of flax, linseed, hemp, and soybean oils deeply penetrate the wood for a lasting finish. After the linseed oil dries, durable beeswax hardens with age for long-lasting protection. Buff the waxy finish to a sheen, or leave a matte finish. The rustic, matte finish of hemp oil looks excellent on outdoor planter boxes, and its thin viscosity quickly penetrates unfinished wood to protect against the elements.
Specially formulated for outdoor planter boxes, Seal It Green uses a blend of plant-based oils for ultra conditioning of unfinished wood. Non-toxic, safe to use for all types of wood and near children and pets. Choose from lush colors like golden tea, espresso, walnut, and dusk grey, to name a few. There are several biochemically engineered wood stains and sealants on the market today.
Many eco-friendly formulas are water-based, so they do not chemically bond with the wood and might need to be reapplied more frequently than the alternative, chemical stains. Eco-friendly wood stains and sealants are both food safe and safe to use near children and pets.
Because these formulas do not contain solvents, contain no or low volatile organic compounds VOCs , and use plant or earth derived pigments, you benefit by keeping your vegetable planter organic. Classic colors, including cherry, dark walnut, mahogany, and java, are generated using all-natural earth pigments. This stain is recommended for indoor use. So, I reached the rather surprising decision that it was best to use untreated wood, using thicker 2 inch structural grade planks fixed together with galvanised decking screws.
That way, although they will still rot, it will be a much slower process and I expect to get at least 5 years from them before I will need to start replacing them.
He assured me that the only lasting way to treat wood is with a mixture of engine sump oil and creosote! However, my family is the one eating the vegetables from the beds and I would hate to have this concoction leaching into the fresh produce I feed to my children. I was so impressed by the eco-credentials of the company producing these that I intend to use them for other parts of my garden. EDIT: The beds lasted well for 3 years and then I had to move house and the new owner ripped them up!
However, it was clear to me that they would easily survive another two seasons. Most fences and posts are treated in this way, to prolong the life of the cheaper softwood used to make them. The problem is that it is usually very hard to get information about the chemical concoction used in the process, particularly as the wood may have been pressure treated long before it reaches the place you purchase it from. There have been serious concerns about the use of arsenic compounds CCAs and heavy metals, particularly when these rub off on hands or get into the food chain.
Before modern synthetic sealers were available, linseed oil was the most popular wood preservative for exterior applications. Raw linseed oil is more recommended because it is a more viable and eco-safe option instead of boiled linseed oil which contains toxic additives. However, the raw version would take weeks and even months to dry completely. This is another traditional sealer that is petroleum-based and is considered food safe and used to season the wood used for making salad bowls or butcher blocks.
There are safe ways on how you can apply paint or stains on your raised bed gardens. The following are things that you can do to apply stains or paint safely:. You do not want any plants to get in contact with stains or paint during application. If you have already planted in your raised beds, it is best that you put them out first, transfer them, or just apply the stain or paint on its exterior. You do not want your vegetables and other edibles to get in contact with this because these can make the vegetables unsafe to consume.
As much as you want to finish the job faster, it is highly recommended that you use a brush instead of a sprayer. Though a sprayer allows you to cover all sides of the wood quickly, you may overspray on the soil or plants and kill your plants eventually. If your plants get in contact with stain, it may leave brown spots on the fruit or the leaves.
In case it leaches into the soil, it may affect the growth of the plant roots and affect the overall growth of the plants.
Using a brush will give you more control. Just make sure to start with a light layer to avoid drips. Apply paint or stain under a warm sunny day so that the planters and raised beds will dry quickly. Avoid staining on a windy day to prevent excess stains from getting picked up and blown onto nearby plants. As you build raised beds and prefer sticking to organic gardening, you should stay away from pressure treated lumber as a material for the bed.
At the same time, make it a point to avoid paints or stains with chemical additives or are made from toxic chemicals to keep growing safe edible crops. There are always safe alternatives that you can use instead of toxic paints in beautifying your garden.
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