Is Pressure Treated Wood Safe for Raised Garden Beds?

Pressure-treated wood is an option for many outdoor garden situations. Many gardeners have concerns and questions about using pressure-treated wood for raised garden beds. Gardener Scott reviews the history and science behind wood that has been pressure treated with fungicide and pesticide chemicals. (Video #340)

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[simplifygardening]

Before 2006 this would definitely have been a NO. but AQC is now used and this is safe to use. So many people think that CCA was safe but it was found that it was absorbed by plants so better to use it for ornamentals. I wrote an article on it last year. I now have no issue at all using pressure-treated wood. Great video mate

[seattledanr]

Once again...I learned something new! Thanks for the video. I've always thought that currently pressure treated lumber at the store was Copper Arsenate. I avoided it and paid an arm and a leg for cedar. Gardening is hard with only 1 arm and 1 leg remaining.

[GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

We also made the choice to use treated wood when we made raised beds in the greenhouse because we want it to last far into retirement. And we are about the upgrade the dilapidated untreated raised beds in the garden with treated lumber. Since I'm in my 50s, I do not want to go through changing them again (we've done it twice already). We are using 6x6s to hedge our beds. Thank you for making me more confident in this decision. Great video!

[Being_Joe]

I am so excited to learn that I can use treated lumber. I had been under the impression that it was toxic and cedar prices are insane. I will be making a trip to the hardware store to price out materials and hopfully have new beds in time for spring plants.

[lcnava]

This is such a well done video. It’s presented in a cohesive way. Thank you.

[Scott-jfnh]

Thank you for this reassuring video. I built my first raised bed today after watching one of your videos. All pressure treated from HD. Your system worked great for me and now I don’t need to worry about the chemicals in the wood.

[adampetherick]

Another great history lesson thank you no one actually explain the science behind like you do

[-Fitgirl]

Thank you for clarifying. Home Depot employee told me this when I was buying wood for my now 11 raised beds. Other staff in that department didn’t even know.

[SM-sycd]

I am just thinking of putting in a raised bed, this was a big question I had. I feel better now.thanks.

[kimberlysmith]

You just saved me money and headaches down the road! Thank you for explaining things so clearly

[suffolkshepherd]

The untreated wood will break down quicker in parts of the country with humidity and more rainfall too. Your climate is much drier and that wood is showing wear already. It breaks down real quick where I live . Thanks for the this information. I really need to use the pressure treated.

[MichaelJosephJr]

I began building my garden 3 years ago and treated lumber was still mostly a no-no. But I thoroughly researched and determined it to be safe. Not only did I use treated but I lined the inside with galvanized and also put the beds on gravel. And I used 4x6s so I should be good for a very long time. I also treat the wood with pure linseed oil every year.

[sandyjones]

Thank you for this . I have wondered about it for several yrs. But now feel more comfortable using it for my raised beds .

[Stebeway]

Great video. Answered some of my questions about safety; well, rather it alleviated concerns I initially had. Seems that many gardeners harbor some skepticism still and are wary of using pressure treated. For me, that’s ultimately what led to my decision to use untreated wood; however, I did treat every side of my wood with a product called “Outdoor Defense Oil” from Real Milk Paint. It was expensive, about $65 for a gallon. The oil is a mixture of pure tung oil (not tung oil finish with metal salts that you find cheaply at a retailer like Home Depot, but food grade tung oil), pine oil, and citrus oil. It not only coated the beds well, 4 coats each side pre-construction, but it smells amazing and provides a nice rich amber color to other unimpressive eastern white pine.

After construction I was able to treat with about two more coats on the interior and will likely touch it up once a year. The pine and citrus oil provide good treatment against pests, but the oil also contains zinc which acts well in preventing UV damage. Time will tell how it holds up, but it allowed me to have good coverage and treatment, looked nice upon building, and avoid using plastic liners in the garden.

[Yankeesista]

Thank Gardener Scott for this informational gardening subject! Truly appreciated! Take care my friend!

[ashleymarie]

Scott you just saved me so much money...

[williamwaters]

Very interesting. That is a good ides to put the plants a few inches away from the wood.

[dragonshadow]

Hey Scott thanks for the video I am just about to get my raised beds built-in and have been wondering about this very subject so it has been handy I will be growing organically so your video has helped me big time many thanks.

[janicejurgensen]

Once again, thank you for being so clear and explaining so thoroughly about the wood. I have an accidental bed not treated and 2 that are treated. I agree with your findings.

[brianseybert]

Room for one more raised bed where a tree stump used to be. Will be using cedar fence pickets vertically as the ground is so uneven. Most of my raised beds are untreated, the costs were prohibited for treated lumber at the time. I did line the interiors with house wrap, stained and sealed the exteriors. I will try and nurse them along and hopefully get some good years out of them.
Thanks for your research and spreading gardening knowledge.