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Can You Use Treated Lumber for Raised Beds?

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You can use treated lumber to build your raised garden beds. Most people who intend to grow edible plants in their garden, such as vegetables, opt to line the raised bed with plastic.

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Treated lumber is wood that has been well treated with chemical preservatives. These preservatives help in prolonging the intended use of the wood as compared to the untreated wood.

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What is Treated Lumber?

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Despite the fact that pressure-treated timber is safe, it is not recommended for use in gardens meant to grow food crops. However, it can be used when an impermeable liner is placed between the wood and the soil.

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Is It Safe for Growing Food?

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Yes! Pressure-treated wood is safe for vegetable garden beds but with some precautions.

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Should Pressure-Treated Lumber Be Used in a Vegetable Garden?

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Instead of using CCA treated wood, you can use alternatives such as concrete blocks, plastic lumber, bricks or stones. You can also use wood treated with ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary ammonium) which contains no toxic chromium and arsenic.

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What Can Be Done to Reduce the Risks of Garden Uses of CCA-Treated Wood?

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