Plastic Slit Safety
Use of treated lumber to build a vegetable garden?
We'd like to build a small, raised veggie garden out of some left over fence board pieces that are treated wood. However, we planned to line the inside of the container with plastic since we are aware of chemical leeching into the soil from the treated wood. Does anyone know if this is acceptable safety measures? We were going to space the bottom boards 1/4" apart and cut slits in the plastic at these spaces for drainage. All four interior sides would be lined with plastic but the top edges (1/4-3/8" thick) would be exposed unless we were to roll the plastic over the top of the edges and top with trim made from non-toxic wood.
Does anyone think this is not safe? Other natural rot resistant woods are out of our price range and we were hoping to be able to recycle these treated fence boards for something.
Thanks!
since you don't know the age of the boards, you don't know HOW they were treated or with what.... they've been phasing out the old type since 2004 and the assumption is that it's all gone now, from the stores..... but that's not helping you.... but your idea is the way to go.... line it with heavy-duty plastic sheeting, over the top too... maybe put a pretty 'cap' of painted wood over it?... plant marigolds all around the edge and then your plants won't be putting roots anywhere near the inside walls, either.... make the depth deep enuff that there's no reason for your plants roots to need to go into the subsoil under the walls.... were the boards painted when on the fence line?.... painting does help with the leaching problems....
I'm all for the use of the new pressure treated wood... we use it a the Master Gardener's trial gardens..... but not knowing anything about the wood you want to recycle this way, really makes me wonder if it's actually a good idea.... it would worry me.... even with the precautions you're taking.... think this over some more, huh?...like is your health worth the joy of recycling this way?.....
