This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Elgin Freeman's on raised beds

I would make the beds 4 x 12. This is what we have. We also have a 5x8
raised bed and let me tell you, that extra foot is really annoying. I can't
reach anything in the center square so I always have to ask my partner to
harvest or plant. Also DO NOT use any sort of pressure treated lumber as it
is treated with Arsenic as well as a few other chemicals you won't want to
ingest and which may, if it leaches in high enough quantities, immediately
kill your plants. . I would avoid using wood anyway since if it is not
pressure treated it will decompose quickly and more trees will get cut down
so you can replace the rotted wood. We are looking into using recycled
plastic lumber for our new raised bed, but the other raised bed has cinder
blocks.

>My builder used pressure-treated lumber that's shaped pretty much like RR
>ties but is blond and looks just like uncured wood to the naked eye. (The
>blond color was an unexpected bonus; we have a blond house....)  The label
>on each board says "wolmanized," but other than recognizing this word as a
>derivative of the Wolman Co., which makes deck sealers and finishes, I have
>no info on what it means to be wolmanized.

To fight the weeds, turn the soil under the raised bed over by one shovel
full so the top layer is on the bottom then just add the soil into the
raised area and the weeds should be adequately squelched. I wouldn't used
the plastic because 12" really isn't deep enough for a lot of roots --
especially tomatoes which can reach 6+ feet, corn, peppers. Plus I'd think
you'd be causing a major drainage headache.

Goodluck,
Natalie

Natalie McNair-Huff
Happily Gardening in Tacoma, WA Sunset zone 5; USDA Zone 7/8
Publisher/Editor Mac Net Journal http://www.blol.com/web_mnj/
References:
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index