Comments on: Is Pressure Treated Wood Safe For Gardening http://blog.gardenharvestsupply.com/2009/05/27/is-pressure-treated-wood-safe-for-gardening/ Garden Harvest Supply sells home and garden products with the goal of providing high quality products at affordable prices. We also emphasize products that are safe for you, your pets and the environment. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:56:01 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Linde http://blog.gardenharvestsupply.com/2009/05/27/is-pressure-treated-wood-safe-for-gardening/comment-page-1/#comment-5242 Linde Sat, 30 May 2009 11:48:01 +0000 http://blog.gardenharvestsupply.com/?p=419#comment-5242 Your beds will be fine as is. Like Karen, I'd suggest not planting root crops near the edges. In fact, my suggestion is to plant marigolds along the edges! Also, be aware of the drainage in the beds. Leaching would be increased if water tended to stand rather than running off and out. If there's a section where you just HAVE to plant something 'too close for comfort', then pull back the soil, and line the inside with heavy-duty plastic. Keep it below soil line so that the sun doesn't degrade it. No disrespect to the Home Depot manager, but your best bet with answers to questions comes from your County Extension office! Your beds will be fine as is. Like Karen, I’d suggest not planting root crops near the edges. In fact, my suggestion is to plant marigolds along the edges!

Also, be aware of the drainage in the beds. Leaching would be increased if water tended to stand rather than running off and out.

If there’s a section where you just HAVE to plant something ‘too close for comfort’, then pull back the soil, and line the inside with heavy-duty plastic. Keep it below soil line so that the sun doesn’t degrade it.

No disrespect to the Home Depot manager, but your best bet with answers to questions comes from your County Extension office!

]]> By: Karen http://blog.gardenharvestsupply.com/2009/05/27/is-pressure-treated-wood-safe-for-gardening/comment-page-1/#comment-5224 Karen Thu, 28 May 2009 01:10:30 +0000 http://blog.gardenharvestsupply.com/?p=419#comment-5224 John, Your Home Depot manager is correct: any CCA lumber produced after 2003 does not contain arsenic. In the pressure-treating process, however, chromium and copper are still added as pesticides, so it is always wise to take some precautions when working with new lumber. After the first year any leaching will have subsided and the leaching is usually contained to the soil closest to the wood. Arsenic is naturally occurring and we consume small amounts of it daily. The type that was used was more toxic than the natural type but it is still in the foods we consume, as it is found in the soil. Studies have shown that the amount of arsenic that was found in carrots grown in control beds vs. raised beds was doubled but they were still trace amounts, 0.11 parts per million. Carrots, a root vegetable, are the worst since the plants store the arsenic in their roots. If you are concerned don't plant any root crops near the edges for the first year. Happy gardening! Karen John,

Your Home Depot manager is correct: any CCA lumber produced after 2003 does not contain arsenic. In the pressure-treating process, however, chromium and copper are still added as pesticides, so it is always wise to take some precautions when working with new lumber. After the first year any leaching will have subsided and the leaching is usually contained to the soil closest to the wood.

Arsenic is naturally occurring and we consume small amounts of it daily. The type that was used was more toxic than the natural type but it is still in the foods we consume, as it is found in the soil. Studies have shown that the amount of arsenic that was found in carrots grown in control beds vs. raised beds was doubled but they were still trace amounts, 0.11 parts per million. Carrots, a root vegetable, are the worst since the plants store the arsenic in their roots.

If you are concerned don’t plant any root crops near the edges for the first year.

Happy gardening!

Karen

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