Lumber for raised beds

 

I want to make some raised beds for gardening.  I'm going to use pipe
supports, which I have a lot of.  I want to make 4' x 12' x 12" deep or so
beds.  What would be a good lumber for this?  I want something that is going
to last for a while, although I know nothing lasts forever.

Steve

--
"...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere
critic-the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly,
not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done."
Theodore Roosevelt 1891

 

wrote:


I use rough cut cypress.  5/4 thickness, 6 in width.

I have had some in contact with the soil for 15 years and still good.

Charlie

 

If you have a local lumber mill, go for locust. It's a tough wood that's
been used many years for fence posts and has a proven track record. I had my
boards cut to 8-inch width. My beds are deep enough to grow very good and
long root crops (carrots and parsnips) in those beds. There are a couple of
boards that have warped a llittle, but it's only cosmetic. I've had my beds
in place for five years now and they look good. Life expectancy for the
locust boards is probably 25 or 30 years. . . I hope I live to see them rot.

 

I forget whats its called out I changed mine out to the plastic wood stuff
Lowes sells. They will last forever and they look good. Its not cheap put my
other ones rotted away. They use the stuff for decks and you see it on boat
docks.

 


I found using treated lumber works well it use use the trea cotta clay
inserts so the dirts does not come into contact with the wood.  You
can also look at composite lumber as well.  This stuff does not rot
but will color fade a little. Good luck with your boxes.
DaveP