Warning about using old pressure-treated wood for raised beds after my neighbor's garden in Portland had a soil test

The test showed arsenic levels from wood treated before 2004 were leaching into his vegetable soil, so now I only use cedar or new, labeled safe-for-contact lumber.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jake2d ago

I built three beds with old railroad ties about ten years ago. I figured it was fine since everyone did it back then. Seeing a real soil test result from Portland with actual arsenic numbers is a real eye opener. It makes you stop and actually look at what you're putting in the ground. I'm switching to cedar for any new beds from now on. That old wood just isn't worth the risk.

william4072d ago

Honestly, your garden's probably glowing by now.