Stop using pressure treated lumber for raised garden beds

I see folks at the big box stores grabbing green treated 2x6s for veggie boxes all the time, and those chemicals absolutely leach into your soil over time. Why risk feeding your family stuff that's meant to resist rot with arsenic and copper?

2 comments

2 Comments

andrew_miller901mo ago

Whoa, hold on, that's a really common mix-up! The old CCA stuff was bad news, but modern ACQ or CA treated lumber doesn't have arsenic in it anymore, you're right about that. Still, I totally get where @sarah229 is coming from, copper can definitely build up in the soil and hurt your plants, especially if you're growing acidic-loving things. For food I'd still grab untreated pine or cedar, even if you have to replace the pine every few years, it's way less worry for your family's dinner.

sarah2291mo ago

Actually the newer formulations don't use arsenic anymore, just copper and a less toxic fungicide. Still wouldn't put it in my veggie beds though, copper builds up in soil and can mess with plant roots over time. Better safe with cedar or untreated pine if you ask me.