Non-toxic wood?

Irony

I am (was)thinking about a veggie raised-bed .But doing research last-night my brainwave hit a rock.All the wood seems to be treated with scary stuff:eek:,not suitable for edibles or am I being over cautious?
Sleepers,decking &gravel-boards are mainly treated with "tanalith E" is this safe?
B&Q have one heat-treated deck plank,is that more eco?
It must be 100% Bee friendly as I will be puttin it near to a hive that I'm getting
It will be 3ftX5ish, for few herbs,beans etc
Sun is out ,so catch up later.
TY.Irony

A._Badger

When I built my raised beds, when I moved house a couple of years ago, I took this up with the people from whom I was buying the wood (Alsford timber) who told me that the preservatives formerly used in the tanalising process, which contained cyanide, have been banned for some years.

This only applies to new wood, of course, and it won't cover reclaimed railway sleepers.

That said, people used railway sleepers for decades and I haven't heard of a rash of premature deaths as a consequence - though that doesn't mean no one has ever been harmed by their use.

In essence, you should be OK using new wood.

Hope that helps.

wallbash

am I being over cautious?

Yes ! or as its necessary to post more characters , Yes again.

ALIBOBSY

Newer woods are pressure treated so the chemicals should not leach out of the wood, but also the horrid posinous chemicals they use to use have been banned for some time anyway.

If you worry at all you can line raised beds with plastic sheeting or plant away from the edges. Far less of a risk than most non organic veg in the shops and even that has been tested to show very low levels of pollution.

ali x

ALIBOBSY

BTW we used B&Q decking boards for ours when on offer. We have had no issues and our garden was full of bees all summer so I assume it didn't effect them either.

ali x

Irony

I'll have a look at B&Q + Wickes tomorrow.

Playing with the idea of pvc soffit/fascias,just need to think about joining the right angles.Scaffolders boards poss if I can find some.

lufoo7

we used scaffolding boards, then you can treat them with stuff of your choice. we are quite lucky as one of the plot holders on our site is a scaffolder and he sells the old boards for £2 each

Lotus-eater

Irony wrote: »

or am I being over cautious?

Well I don't ever think you can be too careful with what you put in your mouth, so I don't think you are being over cautious.
As said, the really bad stuff has been removed from the pressurising treatment, but older wood will have them in them.

Irony

All done.Went with B&Q 6ft green gravel boards £3.25,tanalith E treated, which should be safer then older preservers. Put it together L-shape & 3 compartments'Just need to decide on crops! Thank you all.Irony X

Sunnyday

I`ve just been looking at the very same thing as i`ve managed to get some of the reduced £1.98 decking boards from B&Q for my raised beds and was wondering if i have to line them or not.

Plenty of info here http://www.archtimber.co.uk/preston_qa.htm

I`ve decided against lining them after a good read, can`t believe the bargain price :j

SD

matt987106

just line the insides of the rasised bed with plastic sheeting

that way your soil will not touch the wood

job done