Best Type Of Wood To Use For Raised Garden Beds

When considering wood you could use whole logs or more commonly planks.

Best type of wood to use for raised garden beds.

Resting raised cedar beds on gravel instead of soil is a smart move because the gravel will drain water quickly away from the cedar and does not retain moisture. The con is that it s also expensive around 2 3 times the cost of cheaper wood. This naturally rot resistant wood is the best wood for raised garden beds due to its superior durability. For the interior of a raised bed a geotextile or landscape fabric can separate the bedding soil from the wood to wick moisture away from the wood and preserve its longevity.

Pressure treated lumber has been a controversial topic for many years. It is more expensive than others but worth the cost if you consider it can last up to 20 years. The lifespan data above is derived in part from an ongoing study at osu that tracks the durability of treated and untreated posts in ground contact applications. Click here for full results.

The wood that people worry about leaching chemicals into the soil is cca chromated copper arsenate pressure treated wood or old railway ties. The best of the best is cedar since it s naturally rot resistant doesn t require chemical treatments looks great and will last for 10 20 years. Organic raised garden beds. Redwood has been known to last for up to 20 years.

The purpose for chemical pressure treatment is to protect wood from rot decay and wood ingesting insects. Hemlock fir and pine are suitable materials for raised beds but aren t very long lasting. Cedar another rot resistant wood cedar can last 10 15 years and looks gorgeous. The main reason is that redwood is naturally rot resistant.

Planks over an inch 3cm in thickness will last longer and the best wood for raised garden beds is hard wood. Pressure treated lumber is an option. I also use some pressure treated wood for various garden structures including large raised beds. It s also the most affordable option.

Douglas fir douglas fir can last 5 7 years and is the cheapest of the types of wood used for raised garden boxes. Best wood to make raised garden beds redwood expensive but long lasting redwood raised garden bed. Other lumber such as black walnut white oak and locust wood are dense making them long lasting. This type of treated wood was banned years ago for household use.

The oils in red cedar yew and redwood lumber make it naturally resistant to rot. Amazon this wood makes perfect raised garden beds. Both cedar and redwood add a beautiful look to your raised bed garden while also employing a natural resistance to moisture bugs and rot. Juniper 6x6 landscaping timbers used for retaining wall raised beds and stairs.

Hence you can use redwood without having to treat it or apply any finish.