3. Cypress
Cypress wood is another elegant option for making a raised garden bed. It is also a high-quality wood that can be used to make garden beds, alongside Redwood and Cedar. Natural rot resistance is another advantage of Cypress wood.
It also contains natural oil that can protect the wood from harmful environmental elements. It is durable and long-lasting. Cypress wood can last more than a decade, making raised beds durable.
Pros
- It is easy to use
- Great for beginners
- Excellent finishing qualities
- It is a beautiful color
- Rot-resistant
- Wood for sale
Cons
- It has a strong sour smell
- High toxicities
4. Pine
Pine is a great wood for making raised garden boxes. Pine is a softwood that has beautiful wood grain and other unique features necessary for creating raised beds. It is also very affordable and suitable for outdoor projects.
It is softwood but it is strong and durable enough to be used for raising beds. It can be used to support garden bed frames during drilling, screwing, sanding and screwing. For beginners in woodworking, it is simple to use.
Cons
- It doesn’t last for very long
- It is hard to work with
- Less durable
8. Wood Treated Under Pressure
For garden beds, you can use pressure-treated lumber. It can be an option depending on your needs and budget. This can extend the life of lumber.
It is resistant to decay and mold. These chemical treatments repel insects, bacteria, and fungi. Untreated wood may show signs of decay up to a year after being treated, depending on the wood type and quality.
Reclaimed or recycled wood is safe, but you need to be cautious. Recycling wood can cause long-term damage to soil and plants. Avoid pressure-treated woods or railroad ties chromated copper arsenate.
Things To Consider When Picking Wood For A Raised Garden Bed
There are several things you need to consider when choosing the right wood for your raised garden bed. Consider safety, durability, certification, cost, sustainability, and certification. Let’s talk about them below.
Durability And Resistance To Rot
The wood’s durability is crucial if you want your garden beds last for at least ten years. The lumber yards in your area will only last for 3-4 years. Choose wood that is naturally resistant to pests and rots.
FSC Certified
Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC, is a global organization that focuses on forest conservation through inspections and certification. Certified forests must adhere to strict international standards of environmental and socio-economic practices.
Sustainability
Because of their environmental consciousness, sustainability has become the norm in most countries. Aside from this, sustainable woods will likely be cheaper than imported woods.
It is safer to use locally-sourced wood from sustainable tree farm for your garden beds.
Safety
Consider the safety of wood for humans, animals, plants, and soil. Woods that are not safe for human consumption can cause contamination of food crops. Avoid treated lumber and reclaimed wood, especially if they are pressure-treated or have old railroad ties.
Price
When choosing wood for your raised garden, you should consider your budget. To save money, spend on long-term building materials instead of the cheapest and most immediate ones.
If you don’t plan to keep the garden beds for a long time, however, it is fine to use short-term wood.
Natural Wood Preservatives
Natural preservatives can be used to prolong the life of your wooden garden beds.
Tung Oil
It is a natural preservative made from tung tree seed oil. Although tung oil is more expensive than raw linseed oils, it is often mixed with chemicals that are not suitable for food crops.
Raw Linseed Oil
Raw linseed oil is another natural preservative. If you need to protect your wood from moisture, decay, or other microorganisms, it is more affordable.
Avoid Wood And Other Materials
When building raised beds, you should be careful with woods and other materials. These are the materials you shouldn’t use to build garden beds.
Recycled Wood
Recycling timber can be both eco-friendly as well as economically beneficial. It is unsafe to use wood from another source if you don’t know its origin.
It could have some chemical treatment or finish. Poor soil can also impact the growth of your plants.
Recycled Wood From Old Pressure Treated Timber
Chromated copper arsenate was the most popular home treatment in the 1970s for projects like raised gardens, decks and play areas.
Old Or Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood or old wood can be very similar to recycled wood. It is better to not use wood from unknown origins for your garden beds.
Old woods may have been stained or painted with toxic chemicals. These chemicals and older paints can cause damage to soil and plants.
Railroad Ties And Utility Poles
Utility poles and railroad ties can contain chemicals that could leach into soil, similar to old and reclaimed woods. This wood is also treated with creosote, which is not recommended for use in gardens.
Wood treated with creosote can be refinished and/or stripped. It can also cause cancer.
Concrete + Cinder Blocks
Concrete blocks and cinderblocks should not be used to build garden beds. This is because they contain galvanized steel, which is dangerous for plants. Concrete blocks can be fine but it is important to know how they are made.
Other Materials For Raised Garden Beds
There are many good options available, in addition to the top-quality woods listed above. Metal, plastic, and even masonry are just a few of the options. These options are durable and can last a long time.
Metal
Metal containers can be used as an alternative to wood. Aluminum and steel planters, cattle tubs, barrels and sheet metal can all be used.
Galvanized steel or galvanized metal can leach into the soil. It is therefore important to be familiar with the elements of the metal before you use it for plants.
Plastic
When making garden beds, plastics are a strong and affordable option. Plastic boards, barrels and planters are durable. Plastics are porous so you will need to make drainage holes.
Masonry
The most durable, but also the most expensive, materials for garden beds are bricks, cement blocks, and native stones.
Masonry materials are a great option if you want your garden beds to last longer then any other type of wood. Make sure to test the pH levels of cements.
Other materials worth considering
Apart from the above materials, you can also make use of recycled composite plastic lumber, concrete blocks or blocks, wood shavings composite lumber, metal stock tanks and felled logs. Straw bales are also available.
Each has its own disadvantages so be aware of these when you use them.
FAQ
Are raised garden beds water-tight enough?
Raised beds require a steady water supply. How much water is retained in the soil will depend on the size and width of the garden beds.
It is a good idea to ensure that your plants have constant water availability. Too much water can lead to wood rot.
Conclusion
It is easy to select the right wood for your raised garden beds. As long as you are aware of the important factors and the different types of wood, it will not be difficult. Below are the top choices and which woods to avoid. It’s your turn now to make the decision.
