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Vegetable Gardening

Replacing bed-sides

15 years ago

When I bought this house, it came with a vegetable garden (about 12x24 feet) that was built in a frame of pressure-treated lumber. A decade and a half later, the frame is starting to decay.

Is the arsenic in the lumber likely to leach into the garden? Should I replace it with something like concrete blocks? Any suggestions on how to proceed, for maximum health value?

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Comments (4)

franktank232
15 years ago
I've got painted pressure treated (the old stuff) for my raised bed and i'm replacing with concrete cinder blocks.
adrock430
15 years ago
Soil test will tell you
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ShenandoahJoe
Original Author
15 years ago
I never would have thought of that. I'd imagined soil tests were to tell me what ought to be there but isn't. Using them the other direction is a good idea. Thanks!
bejay9_10
15 years ago
I'd replace them with box-type, frame beds, that are about 3 ft. wide by 12 ft. long - 1 ft. deep (maybe several) to be easier to work with. Wider beds - such as 12 ft x 24 ft. invite "walking in" - soil impaction and disease spread.

Just my 2 c's.

Bejay

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