What Type Of Wood Do I Use For Raised Garden Beds

The home depot carries a raised garden kit that is made out of cedar and is made in the usa.
What type of wood do i use for raised garden beds. A redwood raised garden bed however can last up to 20 years. I also use some pressure treated wood for various garden structures including large raised beds. The oils in red cedar yew and redwood lumber make it naturally resistant to rot. Other lumber such as black walnut white oak and locust wood are dense making them long lasting.
A cedar frame can last up to 10 years but one made of douglas fir may last only 5 to 7 years. This type of treated wood was banned years ago for household use. The best wood to use for your raised garden bed would be cedar. The durability of untreated wood used for raised beds largely depends on the type of wood used.
However while treated lumber will hold up better over time it can also leach harmful chemicals into your soil. The lifespan data above is derived in part from an ongoing study at osu that tracks the durability of treated and untreated posts in ground contact applications. Click here for full results. The wood that people worry about leaching chemicals into the soil is cca chromated copper arsenate pressure treated wood or old railway ties.
Juniper 6x6 landscaping timbers used for retaining wall raised beds and stairs. There is also a raised garden bed that is made from recycled plastic. Many new gardeners and even experienced ones turn to treated lumber when sourcing materials for raised beds due to its added protection against moisture and the associated rot and bug damage.