Looking for a new border for my raised beds. I was hoping to use something recycled since I like to keep my gardening efforts as green as possible.
Would logs be a stupid choice?? I am a little concerned about pests but I cant see how it would be any worse than recycled lumber.
Any thoughts??
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The Bearded Farmer
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I have a friend who does all of his that way. It works just fine! He used pine for a few, and he needs to replace those about every 3 years. On others he used cedar (which I think is a better choice) those have been going for 5 years and still looking good. And since cedar is a natural repellent anyway, pests aren't much of a concern.
If you don't use cedar, take the bark off if you can. Otherwise when the bark starts to loosen, that's where most of your pests hide. Also, if you can, use bigger (larger diameter) logs. It makes for a deeper bed without stacking.
If you don't use cedar, take the bark off if you can. Otherwise when the bark starts to loosen, that's where most of your pests hide. Also, if you can, use bigger (larger diameter) logs. It makes for a deeper bed without stacking.
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vebyrd36
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I like railroad ties. I then put down cardboard and newspaper followed be soil peat moss perlite and happy frog. Place ur plants then water. The moister level stays even. I'll be creating another one of these beds when the snow and cold is gone for my strawberries, onions and cannas that are in my library at the moment.
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DoubleDogFarm
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DoubleDogFarm
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I must remember this is the general Vegetable Gardening section and not the Organic Gardening section.-
DoubleDogFarm
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I think this is a very good idea. Like Jeff mentioned, I would use a spud and remove the bark, but it's not necessary.The Bearded Farmer wrote:Looking for a new border for my raised beds. I was hoping to use something recycled since I like to keep my gardening efforts as green as possible.
Would logs be a stupid choice?? I am a little concerned about pests but I cant see how it would be any worse than recycled lumber.
Any thoughts??
Eric
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DoubleDogFarm
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The Bearded Farmer
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I know it is, but when I read it all I could think of was an image of someone trying to scrape off bark with a potato.DoubleDogFarm wrote:Laugh it up fuzzballYou can laugh at my Ereek! joke but a Spud is a bark removal tool.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bark+spud&id=777F7C380AC7E6C7B54CB7C69FC3E7F6D21456D8&FORM=IQFRBA#x0y0
Eric
As far as treating the logs go, I wouldn't use much more than some kind of oil. Remember, whatever you treat the logs with will end up in your garden soil, and eventually, in you.
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applestar
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Yeah, we were on our way to the interstate and I saw that the railroad ties for a freight train tracks near the exit had been completely replaced -- stacks of old ties all along the tracks.
All I could think of was what kind of stuff must be soaked into them even as old as they are -- or ESPECIALLY as old as they are -- and hoping no one was thinking of making off with them for their gardens.
Don't be surprised if your logs start growing mushrooms. My garden enjoyed a burst of different fungi growths for a while. I still get what looks like turkey tail on the logs but it might be false turkey tail or something else. I don't pick any of them since I can't tell what they are, but let them go through their life cycles.
All I could think of was what kind of stuff must be soaked into them even as old as they are -- or ESPECIALLY as old as they are -- and hoping no one was thinking of making off with them for their gardens.
Don't be surprised if your logs start growing mushrooms. My garden enjoyed a burst of different fungi growths for a while. I still get what looks like turkey tail on the logs but it might be false turkey tail or something else. I don't pick any of them since I can't tell what they are, but let them go through their life cycles.
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greenstubbs
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My garden has been lined with RR ties for the last 10 growing seasons and I have never had a problem with anything bad happening towards my crops with whatever's been applied to the ties. I think they make a great border for a garden. I have 2 that are starting to fall apart and will have to be replaced after this season, but they were bad to begin with so no biggie.
With the Railroads going to and using concrete ties, what is supposed to happen to the old wooden ones? I'd rather see them going to better use than to get ground up, mixed with whatever and sold as potting soil or even worse, mulch.
With the Railroads going to and using concrete ties, what is supposed to happen to the old wooden ones? I'd rather see them going to better use than to get ground up, mixed with whatever and sold as potting soil or even worse, mulch.
real railroad ties were in ages past "preserved" with creosote.
creosote has some suspected health concerns.
"landscape timbers" are not really railroad ties. years back the CCA treatment for preservation was standard, CCA has been replaced with other preservatives which are supposed to be less "dangerous"
without some kind of testing, it'd be a guess as to what was used on (pretty much any) of the "older" stuff.
I side stepped the whole issue and used hickory timbers from a local saw mill. they'll last a good long time - and being real local, they're cheaper than any of the store/salvage yard offerings.
creosote has some suspected health concerns.
"landscape timbers" are not really railroad ties. years back the CCA treatment for preservation was standard, CCA has been replaced with other preservatives which are supposed to be less "dangerous"
without some kind of testing, it'd be a guess as to what was used on (pretty much any) of the "older" stuff.
I side stepped the whole issue and used hickory timbers from a local saw mill. they'll last a good long time - and being real local, they're cheaper than any of the store/salvage yard offerings.
"My garden has been lined with RR ties for the last 10 growing seasons and I have never had a problem with anything bad happening towards my crops with whatever's been applied to the ties. I think they make a great border for a garden."
There is a good chance that the railroad ties will out last you. Therefore you will not have to replace them. Your concern should be with the soil. If the creosote and whatever else is in those old RxR ties has leached into your soil in the last 10 years has now leached into your body from the vegetables you have consumed. The qoutes below are telling you something.
"As far as treating the logs go, I wouldn't use much more than some kind of oil. Remember, whatever you treat the logs with will end up in your garden soil, and eventually, in you."
"real railroad ties were in ages past "preserved" with creosote.
creosote has some suspected health concerns."
Seems like good advice.
There is a good chance that the railroad ties will out last you. Therefore you will not have to replace them. Your concern should be with the soil. If the creosote and whatever else is in those old RxR ties has leached into your soil in the last 10 years has now leached into your body from the vegetables you have consumed. The qoutes below are telling you something.
"As far as treating the logs go, I wouldn't use much more than some kind of oil. Remember, whatever you treat the logs with will end up in your garden soil, and eventually, in you."
"real railroad ties were in ages past "preserved" with creosote.
creosote has some suspected health concerns."
Seems like good advice.