Do you treat your lumber for raised bed with anything?

[amcal]

My dad just built me a raised bed with pine planks. I know cedar is better but, it was crazy expensive. So, I know pine won't last as long but, I was wondering if I should treat the wood with anything? Mineral oil or anything to help it last longer? I'm in Phoenix so I worry about the extreme heat.

I know a friend made her's out of redwood and treated the outside with linseed oil. Should I do that with the pine? Or just leave it untreated?

[luv-my-boys]

waiting and watching. We are doing similar raised beds as we are moving in 2 yrs so really we only need them here for 2 seasons but I'd still like to protect them some from the heat/rain.

[steffanie3]

I did some of my beds with cheap rancid flaxseed oil (lineseed is flax from my understanding) last year, I don't think I can really tell a difference this spring from the ones I didn't do, it was kind of an experiment since I had it on hand. Maybe time will tell.

[jentilla]

We bought a new house last July and constructed 16 new raised beds for our garden out of pine. I'm getting ready to treat the outside of them with milk paint which is non-toxic and will help them last longer. They will still eventually deteriorate, but it will help keep them around longer.

[luv-my-boys]

Originally Posted by jentilla

We bought a new house last July and constructed 16 new raised beds for our garden out of pine. I'm getting ready to treat the outside of them with milk paint which is non-toxic and will help them last longer. They will still eventually deteriorate, but it will help keep them around longer.

hmmm...milkpaint? Do you mind sharing what you use or do.

[phoenix78]

Heading into Season 4 with untreated pine beds and all have held up fine. I was told to expect only 2 years out of them but so far so good! Milk-paint is a good idea though, hadn't thought of that!

[Shellie]

I'm on season 2 with untreated pine beds, near Phoenix as well. They are holding up great. I'm about to build a couple more.

[Daffodil]

2 years sounds like a crazy low estimate. I have a couple of untreated pine cold frames that are 6 years old and still okay. I also have a compost bin made of pallets that, after 6-7 years, is finally getting close to needing replacement, but probably could last at least another year.

[limette]

Ours are spruce and we are coming up on year 5 and they were fine last year and should still be fine for this one. I wouldn't treat them with anything.