I wanna know too!
What kind of wood did you use for your raised beds?
What kind of wood did you use for your raised beds?
Was it treated wood or natural? If I buy treated lamber wood in let's say Lowes - I don't even wanna know what kind of chemicals they used to treat it with. But if I used untreated wood - how long is it gonna last before it falls apart?
Also, do you use plastic on the sides - inside the beds? There is so many "recipes" out there for so many types of raised beds - what does work best for you?
Also, how deep/high do you make them? Do you have some very high ones for deep-rooted vegetables?
Was it treated wood or natural? If I buy treated lamber wood in let's say Lowes - I don't even wanna know what kind of chemicals they used to treat it with. But if I used untreated wood - how long is it gonna last before it falls apart?
Also, do you use plastic on the sides - inside the beds? There is so many "recipes" out there for so many types of raised beds - what does work best for you?
Also, how deep/high do you make them? Do you have some very high ones for deep-rooted vegetables?
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We used untreated pine from Lowes. Dh made 2 4'x4' boxes, about 1' deep. We haven't planted any root veggies... well aside from beets but they're more for the greens.
We didn't line it w/anything, but we read that you can make a solution of flax oil & charcoal & paint it on. We didn't do that, however.... I guess we'll just have to see how long they hold up!
We didn't line it w/anything, but we read that you can make a solution of flax oil & charcoal & paint it on. We didn't do that, however.... I guess we'll just have to see how long they hold up!
We put in an untreated cedar bed last year and added to it with untreated pine this year. The cedar is great, looks good as new. We didn't line the bed either time. Our lumber is 8 inches high and sunk about 2-3 inches into the ground.
just a lurker here, but we have two non-treated raised beds in our yard - they are about a foot high (two 6x6 pieces, with another below the surface). dh says that even non-treated wood should last a good number of years - "at least until your kids are in high school."
Quote:
I've read that the cedar wood is the best one. It does not decay that easily.
Originally Posted by kate~emmasmom just a lurker here, but we have two non-treated raised beds in our yard - they are about a foot high (two 6x6 pieces, with another below the surface). dh says that even non-treated wood should last a good number of years - "at least until your kids are in high school." |
I've also heard cedar holds up well. We actually used stone for ours though because dh is fussy.
Our garden bed is about a foot higher than the surrounding grass. It is edged with stone. It was already there when we moved here, but it looks like they just used regular rocks from the woods in back of the house.
Quote:
I wish we had an easy access to stones too. I'd build it from rocks too then.
Originally Posted by OakBerry Our garden bed is about a foot higher than the surrounding grass. It is edged with stone. It was already there when we moved here, but it looks like they just used regular rocks from the woods in back of the house. |
I wish we had an easy access to stones too. I'd build it from rocks too then.
We used untreated redwood. The beds are about 6 yrs. old and seem to be holding up pretty well except in spots where DH stepped on the benderboard!! (the beds are curved).
Loree
Loree
My untreated pine beds have been going strong for six seasons.
I've been wondering about this, too. We hope to put in raised beds either this summer or next spring. Too late to plant a lot, but at least they'll be around for next year!
So what I really need to remember at the lumber yard is "untreated, untreated, untreated..." It will be my little mantra...
Thanks!
So what I really need to remember at the lumber yard is "untreated, untreated, untreated..." It will be my little mantra...
Thanks!
I used untreated 1x10s to make my 4' by 4' bed. As they wear out I plan to replace them with cedar. I'm also planning to add more beds.
We use cement blocks with stacked dry (no morter), Most of the beds are 2 blocks high. We were lucky and my hubby was working at a place that tore down part of a building so all the blocks were free, Our garden is on a hillside so it works out really good. We use scrap lumber (untreated) to make the paths more managable, depending on where you live there may be a sawmill around that you can get slabs from for free or next to nothing. You can also use logs in the round instesd of lumber if you have acess to trees or branches you can cut or haul.
in our last home, we used cinder blocks that were left there from the previous occupants. THey worked very well, and the little holes were perfect for planting annual herbs and marigolds. Like bestla, our garden was on a hillside. We did use planks one year, but the slugs were unreal so we took them up and just used mulch.
In this garden, we just have used the raised bed method described in Lasagna Gardening, and I cant say enough good things about it!! If I ever do make more "real" rasied beds, I will likely use some whole logs from the trees in out back yard (mostly pine, and mosty of even diameter). The people who lived here before used some pine logs to edge a long garden along 1/2 of the property line, and it looks nice
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And geeze, Lorree, I wish you lived near to me, we have 2 acres of rocks :LOL
In this garden, we just have used the raised bed method described in Lasagna Gardening, and I cant say enough good things about it!! If I ever do make more "real" rasied beds, I will likely use some whole logs from the trees in out back yard (mostly pine, and mosty of even diameter). The people who lived here before used some pine logs to edge a long garden along 1/2 of the property line, and it looks nice
And geeze, Lorree, I wish you lived near to me, we have 2 acres of rocks :LOL
I don't know if this helps or not.....BUT we have an untreated cedar fence and the company that put it in said if left as is (without being sealed) it will last 50+ years. I am interested in building raised beds as well.....I hope it will deter my kids from, er, "weeding" as much! :LOL
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