Pressure Treated Lumber, Understanding Leaching, Use Some Logic: FM Garden Ramblings & Tour E-9

Arsenic was problematic in Pressure Treated Lumber 20 years ago. They now use a copper treatment. I use PTL without worry or concern. Please use the video to apply some logic when addressing the concern of leaching and your garden. The video below really demonstrates why I am not concerned about it. Yes leaching can happen but presence in the soil is different than presence in the plant tissue. You want ACQ treated lumber, if you want to ask, but that is what you find at the big box stores.

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1 Inch = 2.54 Centimeters
1 Foot = 0.3048 Meters
1 Gallon (US) = 3.78541178 Liters
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[THERUSTEDGARDEN]

My New Book: The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-Sufficiency in Any Size Backyard.

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[nellanddudley]

I use PT lumber for my raised beds. I did my research years ago (engineer here). I'm so pleased to finally see someone tackle this issue. Thanks for bringing logic to the issue!!

[lauriehines]

My husband has worked in the lumber industry for more than 20 years and his degree is in Forest products. He completely agrees with you and has been telling me this for years!

[PatricesProjects]

I wish The. Alberta Urban Gardener were still doing YouTube videos. I always enjoyed his experiments.

[kele]

I'm not worried at all about pressure treated wood or metal planters or panels. If I wanted something to worry about regarding the veggies I eat, I'd worry about the pesticides Big Ag uses on veg I have to buy because I can't grow it for whatever reason. I just do the best I can with what I have. I use reasonable due diligence and go from there. Nothing is perfect or pristine. I figure stress and acid rain would kill me long before anything leaching into my garden soil from reasonable material used for raised beds or edging.

[melissarose]

Thank you for posting this...I did my own research a few weeks ago and am using PTW for my new garden beds.

[musashinagatsubo]

Found this on the EPA website: "Effective December 31, 2003, chromated arsenical manufacturers voluntarily canceled virtually all residential uses of CCA, and wood products treated with CCA are no longer used in most residential settings, including decks and children’s playsets. EPA has classified chromated arsenicals as restricted use products, for use only by certified pesticide applicators."

[MinnieAcresFarm]

This is very helpful. We have to do the best we can but not let fears keep us from growing our own food at all. 🌱

[lanettelawrence]

Thank you for that helpful information on the use and knowledge of the pressure treated supplies.

[karenlatham]

I can't plant in the soil here because I'm in suburbia.. So I used raised beds and I used pressure treated wood because I don't want to replace it every year.
I'm doing quite well lol.
And my plants look really nice also..

Always great content thank you.

[backyardediblegarden]

Great information! So true, if ever there is leaching, like what you said it would be miniscule. Happy weekend!

[dreyno]

Thank u for this Gary! Certainly opens up more affordable options.

[nosaltiesandrooshere]

👍 Danke fürs Hochladen!
👍 Thanks for uploading!

[ARLITAGARDEN]

Thank you soo much for sharing your knowledge it help me cuz I am garden Lover

[fizzypop]

Thank you for your logic. Thank you for always making awesome videos!

[autumnagrella]

I worked for a wood treating company for several years. Not all wood that’s treated is equal. Please be careful buying treated lumber. Majority of copper treated lumber in North America does contain arsenic. The 3 most common types you’ll come across are ACZA (chemonite), CCA (chromium, copper, arsenic) and ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary). ACQ treated lumber is what you want to be using for raised garden beds. CCA treated lumber is often used for mass produced agricultural (specifically stakes for grapes and pistachios) but at differing levels of chemical potency. Please be informed before you purchase and use with caution. Always wash your hands after handling any treated lumber and do not mill/saw the lumber without a N95 mask on. DO NOT BUY FIRE TREATED OR FIRE RETARDANT WOOD FOR GARDENS the chemicals are not safe for consumption and will leach like crazy.

[bwolf]

Thanks for this video. I have to replace some beds and add new ones. I’ve been debating on what material to use and whether to buy expensive cedar. This content helped me and makes sense.

[urbangardenproject]

I have so many real world problems. I can't be bothered to stress myself about how much copper is in my garden.

[jeanpauldupuis]

On the one hand, old lumber might have arsenic. On the other hand, if it has been sitting in the weather for 20 years as a deck or fence or retaining wall, then how much free arsenic could possibly be left that hasn't already leached away? My newer raised beds are made entirely from new copper-treated 4x4s, but my oldest bed is made from very old treated 4x4s recovered from various old structures that came with the property. That wood probably had arsenic, but most of it is probably gone now. Moss and mushrooms now sprout from the timbers. The contained soil volume is huge and well drained. Leaching from old timbers doesn't worry me at all. The large maples on and around my urban lot probably drop an order of magnitude more arsenic on my beds each fall.

[ScottMSmith-cwnt]

AC2 green treated ground contact. Ok or. Not from Menards