Our company purchased some used pallet racking recently. As part of the deal we also inherited a hundred or so common fir 2 x 10’s and 2 x 12’s approximately 44″ long. We have no need for them here, so I thought they might be useful for raised veggie garden beds. The problem, of course, would be applying a preservative that would be non toxic and long lasting. Is this a pipe dream? If not, can anyone suggest a material to use? A trip to my local Lowe’s didn’t turn up anything. Thanks!
Erik
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Replies
Fir alone worked fine for me
Erik,
I just pulled up some raised beds that I built out of common 2x12s about 7 years ago and they were still solid about half way through. If you got the boards for free, I wouldn't hesitste to use them as is, and just know they're not going to last forever. Mine would have probably been servicable for another 2 or 3 years at least.
Of course the type of soil that's underneath them will have some effect. if you're on poorly draining clay you might not have as much luck as I did with my base of sandy soil. Still, if the wood didn't cost you much...
I'd just coat them with some sort of oil finish and watch 'em rot. Should last several years, and regular treated doesn't last much longer in that situation.
Ditto to what they all said...
I did the same..just used pine planks till they rotted and became compost.
Kinda goes along the lines of not using chemicals on your veggies..1/3 goes to the bugs, 1/3 to eat and 1/3 given away..
http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp238/dangerbrain2000/organic.jpg
By the time they rot, you'll either give up gardening or be ready to change your methods and layout.
Meantime, no worries about chemical contamination from the boards.