What type of wood is needed to build a planter box?
It has worked its way into my garden despite my attempts to stop it.We decided to use the raised garden bed method after our summer garden was done.We had to find the best material for the raised garden boxes.
It was a difficult decision.There are many options to choose from when creating raised garden boxes.The materials for raised garden boxes are listed here.
Cinderblock can be found at any local hardware store.It will last a long time.
It is heavy to lift and can hold heat.In a winter garden, this can be a good thing, but in a summer garden it can really raise the temperature of your plants.
Depending on where you get it, the material can be free.It gives your raised garden boxes a cottage look.
It is possible to be heavy to lift and work with.Weed and grass will make their way in if you don't fill the space between the rocks with cement.
It is the fastest to set up raised garden box materials and gives your garden a cool industrial look.
Although it has been galvanized to protect against rust, this doesn't make it completely protected, and these can rust over time.
The cost can be high and steel can rust.This is not ideal for growing vegetables.
It is important to use untreated wood when choosing wood.In 2003 the EPA banned the sale of lumber treated withCCA for residential use.In the residential market, the two compounds that have replaced the wood are ACQ and CA-B.Both contain copper but no arsenic.The copper keeps insects at bay.In ACQ, quat is used in swimming pool chemicals and as a disinfectant.The other compound, CA-B, uses copper and tebuconazole.According to Miles McEvoy, who works in organic certification with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, no pressure-treated wood is allowed in soils used to grow organic food.Choose a different material if you want to meet this high standard.Source.
Though it wouldn't hurt to double-check when purchasing, the following options are typically treated wood.
Black Locust is the best option for raised garden boxes because they are rot resistant and have been known to last up to 20 years.The con is that they are expensive.One of these types of wood will cost you more than a cheaper wood.
Cedar is rot-resistant and can last up to 15 years.It is also expensive, around 3-4 times the cost of cheaper wood.
The cheapest type of wood used for raised garden boxes is Douglas Fir.It is the most affordable option.
We decided to go with Douglas Fir.I think wood is the best material for raised garden boxes.I knew that I would probably change my mind in the next few years on where I wanted my raised garden boxes, and there was always the chance that we would move from this home.
The boxes were all 14 inches tall.The wood we purchased was 2 inches in thickness.There was a total cost for our wood.
We're going to post more about how we built our raised garden boxes and what type of soil we filled them with.
After suffering from two chronic diseases, DaNelle became interested in a healthier lifestyle.DaNelle forced her husband to purchase a ranch home and transform it into their own urban farm because she wanted to create a farm of her own.At Weed 'em & Reap, DaNelle writes about sustainable farming, traditional food, and natural remedies.
I saw a lot of timber that was autoclave treated, I had to look it up.
The wood is typically used for building timber, door frames, window frames and other wooden materials.The process of using an autoclave is fairly easy.The process begins with a vacuum being used to remove the air from the pieces of wood.The wood has the ability to last longer and resist harm caused by bugs, rain, and other environmental elements.The wood needs to be dried up so it can be processed for shipping.
I cannot say how reliable it is because I haven't used it before.It would be worth trying if it can stand up to the elements and be free of harmful chemicals.Let us know how it goes if you use it.
I have a small back yard with a few small fruit trees and I used to plan vegetables in between the trees but now they are causing a lot of trouble.I'm planning to build a raised bed around the trees, leaving a square shape space around them, so I want to know if you have any questions.
1.I am in CA and I found Douglas wood is the only option for a veggies bed.Can we apply a safe coating to increase the life of the bed?I have limited space and need any other tips or suggestions for my project.
Some people seal it with beeswax.Here is DaNelle's suggestion for the best soil: https://www.weedemandreap.com/best-soil-combination-raised-garden-boxes/
Excellent post, DaNelle.Thanks for sharing your knowledge!It looks like this was posted a few years ago.How did the fir hold up over the past 6 years?I use fir for my initial raised bed construction since I may move/upgrade/all sorts of changes can happen in 6-7 years that the wood will last!I hope it lasts around 5 years so I can use it.Thanks!
DaNelle took the boxes out last year because she was changing things up for her garden.
I was wondering what you think about re-purposeing a kiddie pool.It is not a good idea because of the material, but I can not find anything that isn't safe.Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
The pool is made from plastic.The article gives a breakdown of which plastic is safer to use.Which plastic is safe for gardening?
Hi!Why is steel not the best choice?I want to reuse corrugated roofing sheets from my garage.Is this going to be toxic?
It depends on the type of steel, whether it is coated or not, the acidity of the soil and water you are using, and your price range.If you know what steel you are working with, steel can be used.The difference between cheaper steels and more expensive ones is discussed in two articles.
I would like to thank you for writing about this.I was confused when visiting different shops for the selection of wood.After reading your article, I have decided to go with the third type of wood, Douglas Fir.I found some great tools to do the chore.Do you know if I need to fill it with any specific type of soil?Which soil type would be appropriate?
DaNelle has a suggestion for the best soil to use.
Cinder blocks and cement are toxic.As soon as a higher pH (alkaline) comes into contact with these surfaces, they begin to oxidize.
The answer is no for people asking if vinyl is okay.When vinyl starts to heat up, it excretes plastic toxins.
It's asking for trouble to treat wood with stain, paint, or nearly anything else.It will make its way into your soil.It's your food, keep it chemical-free.
The way the author built hers is already perfect.I don't understand how people get into trouble.
Food grade mineral oil can be used to treat the wood.My wife and I have a butcher block island which we occasionally refinish with a light sanding, cleaning, and application of mineral oil.
I bought larch wood for my raised beds from the RI sawmill and had Joe cut the planks for me and deliver them to my house.Larch wood is valued for its tough, waterproof and durable qualities.Top quality knot-free timber is in high demand for building small boats, buildings, and interior panelling.The timber is resistant to rot when in contact with the ground, and is suitable for use as posts and in fencing.
It is holding up well after three years, and it was much cheaper than cedar or pine at local lumber yards.I think it will last a long time.My bed is 9 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 12 feet high, using two 6 foot planks stacked on top of one another for the economy.There are no bending or cracking problems.I highly recommend them.!
Do you mean Rhode Island or the lumber mill in Arizona where the author is located?If you see this, thank you for your reply.
Hi!Is it possible to use treated pine as an alternative to fir?I am wondering if pine is our version of the fir, or if you prefer fir over it.Thanks!
If it is a cheaper and more readily available product, you can use treated pine to make your garden boxes.It may not last as long as some of the other options.Some people use natural linseed oil to make pine more water resistant.linseed oil takes a long time to dry and it doesn't protect it from sunlight damage.Make sure that the oil you use is pure raw linseed oil and not a mixture with heavy metals.I hope that helps.Good luck with your garden boxes!Thank you, Bobbi.
My husband and I are going to do raised beds in our backyard, so I found your website on the internet.I love the name of your site!My husband and I had a good laugh.
cinderblock is affordable and can be purchased at any local store, as well as being durable.Since I am on a limited budget, I will choose this for my garden.One of the things that attracted me to this property is that I can start a garden since I was a teen.
You can find some of the items on DaNelle's Resources page.
Most of the other items can be found at larger stores.Thank you, Bobbi.
What is the best organic soil to put in a raised garden box?Is it a good idea to buy truck loads of triple mix?
DaNelle suggests the best soil for raised garden boxes: https://www.weedemandreap.com/best-soil-combination-raised-garden-boxes/
It got me when you said that cedar will last a long time and not rot.I think I will choose this for the garden boxes that we want to put in our backyard.Since our backyard is wide and boring, we plan to turn it into a garden.
I took special care to soak the ends of the wood when I painted them.They rotted out in 2 years.
Wood boxes are very cost efficient and easy to install.My husband wants to start a garden with our daughter.If we buy raised garden bed kits, we can make sure the plants are safe and have an amazing summer.
Do you recommend screws to attach the corner pieces?
DaNelle suggests a link to wood screws.Good luck with your garden boxes!Thank you, Bobbi.
I want to purchase 1 or 2 elevated garden boxes so I don't have to bend over.Any store suggestions?
You can find a link to Cedar Raised Garden Boxes from Amazon on DaNelle's Resources Page under Gardening.You can buy cedar from Home Depot or Lowe's, just be specific about what you want.If you have an actual mill in your area, they can help you as well.I hope that helps.Happy gardening!Thank you, Bobbi.
I have pressure treated materials that can be used for beds.Is there a product I can use to keep toxins out of the soil?
I am not aware of anything you can use to paint pressure treated wood.There are some tips at the bottom of the page to minimize the risk of exposure to toxins from Penn State Extension if you choose to use it.I hope this helps.Happy and safe gardening!Thank you, Bobbi.
About 6 years ago, I built 2 boxes from cedar and stacked them 2 high.The boxes are long and wide.I am replacing the wood this year because it warps and splits.I wanted cedar in the same size as before, but with two board high.I would have had to pay $1,000 for 11 cedar board.I went with Douglas Fir at 25% of the cost.
I am staining and oiled the inside and outside of the building.I made a very solid base by using galvanized brackets at the top and bottom corners of the lower boards.The upper boards are connected to each other and the lower section is secured with corner posts.The screws are inside.I laid the old cedar like floor plank in the base after lining the inside with a black cloth weed block.It can be deposited into the soil.My boxes look very similar to yours.
I removed what I could from the old boxes.I fill them with a mix of equal parts local soil and store bought garden soil.
Considering beds made of steel.What about the heat?Is that a problem in Colorado Springs?I do not want to bake the roots.
You have to be careful when planting near the edges of steel beds.You will probably be fine.The east or northeast side of the house is a good place to put these boxes.
I bought a raised bed kit from Lowes and it is plastic.I made a large outlining barrier out of wood after the grass went crazy and I now have a raised bed and some tomatoes.I put rocks on top of the weed blocking sheet to make it look better and hopefully stop the grass from growing.The wood was treated.Is it ok that it is on the outside of everything and the soil for the raised bed is not touching the treated wood?Is it necessary to change it out?
What kind of material did you use on the inside?What kind would you recommend?I want the one I build for my wife to be portable as well.I will post pictures when they are finished.To allow the bottom of the soil to aerate, I need to figure out the best cloth that will breathe, not rot, so that I can also drain water.What kind of stain is best for the exterior of wood?Thank you.I didn't see anything after you chose the wood.Thank you.
Hello!We also chose wood.I was hoping that cedar would last longer.Is there a coat we can give to protect the wood from the elements and snow?Is there a way to keep the wood from turning dark and gross?
I had the same question.I decided to leave it unfinished, but a lot of people seal it with beeswax.
The sun messes with cedar's color, so you can always use a UV coating.It will rot inside out if you use something that holds water in wood.
Did you line the bottoms of the boxes with cardboard boxes to slow the growth of weeds and grass in the garden?I want my garden to be organic, but I don't know how to start.This is a great start for me, thanks for the post.!
I thought I posted, but I don't see it anymore.I wanted to know if aluminum L brackets were used in a raised bed or planter box.I got my husband to agree to build me some cedar boxes but didn't know he was going to make some aluminum brackets to hold them together.I am curious if I should be concerned about the growth of food in these or not.Do you know where I can find out more about it?Thanks a lot.
I would place those brackets on the outside in the future because it is a small amount.
I have concrete patios.Is it possible to put the built boxes on my patio?It would have to be lined or a rock base for drainage.I have never seen boxes built on concrete.I have a sunny spot next to my house, but the ground is a cement patio.Thanks!
I would like to do this with the addition of heavy duty caster so I can move it back and forth.There is a narrow area between the fence and the house where the sun changes sides.
If you have a box with a suitable bottom, that sounds like a good plan.Best of luck!Thank you, Bobbi.
If you have good drainage and a thick rock layer on the sides of the boxes, you will not have to worry about weeds.
I like to go with wood because I believe it is the safest, but vinyl may not be as safe as I would like it to be.
I used to work in the concrete block manufacturing business and had my own supply business for years.I studied and trained at the National Concrete Masonry Association.There is a risk in the performance of a product if it is used outside of its intended purpose.Fly ash has more heavy metals and poisons in it than can be found anywhere else.
It is assumed that the blocks will be sealed and waterproofed after the cement is created.They will ruin the soil and plants if they don't have that waterproof material.They should not be used for food crops.
Is it safe to line the inside of the garden box with tar paper?The box will last longer according to my husband.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you put in those boxes.My raised beds have been around for three years.There is a double layer of planting fabric underneath the boxes.Plants in the boxes produce very little fruit and veggies.I put a lot of time and money into these square foot garden boxes.
I will give an update on my experience with the square foot method.
I went to a small local sawmill and bought a whole pile of lumber for $50.I made a dozen beds out of it and have some left.
You may be able to get fill dirt for free on the internet.People doing landscaping free the dirt in my area.
It depends on what kind of plants you are growing and the weather.I don't want to get just any soil because there can be disease and rot in it.
New beds look great.The cypress ones my DH built me only lasted a couple of years because of the weather.GA.
You might want to put L-brackets on the inside of the joints to make them more stable.If you wanted to make them last longer, you could use melted beeswax or paraffin wax.
Those look great!I mulched with wood chips this year, but I don't think I used enough.Ha!Weeds kill me.While I prepare the garden for fall, I have been getting some exercise.