About 3 years ago, I built eight ( 8 ) raised beds all out of cedar for the neighbor. She started out growing vegetables and a few flowers. Now the boxes are almost all flowers.
Today, I'm finishing up ( 6 ) six new raised boxes for her. To save on cost, she decided that treated boxes capped with cedar would be fine. The cedar cap will blend the new, somewhat, with the old.
Boxes are 4ft wide and 10ft long. Personally, I think they are to wide and treated wood is wrong.
The customer is always right.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes002.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes003.jpg[/img]
Eric
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Customer is always right?
Last edited by DoubleDogFarm on Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- rainbowgardener
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Rainbow,
This is my gravel driveway. I just clustered them for the photo. I delivered them this evening and they will be placed tomorrow or next few days. I believe there will be enough room for a wheel barrow / garden cart.
I guess I'm a little spoiled, I like 3ft wide beds.
More pictures after they are installed.
Eric
This is my gravel driveway. I just clustered them for the photo. I delivered them this evening and they will be placed tomorrow or next few days. I believe there will be enough room for a wheel barrow / garden cart.
I guess I'm a little spoiled, I like 3ft wide beds.
More pictures after they are installed.
Eric
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denny27,
That's a good question, but I don't have a answer for you. The neighbor thinks the first eight boxes was 4 summers ago not 3. They still look pretty good.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes004.jpg[/img]
Treated lumber I believe is advertised at 20 years ground contact.
New boxes in place, but not leveled.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes007.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes005.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes008.jpg[/img]
Eric
That's a good question, but I don't have a answer for you. The neighbor thinks the first eight boxes was 4 summers ago not 3. They still look pretty good.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes004.jpg[/img]
Treated lumber I believe is advertised at 20 years ground contact.
New boxes in place, but not leveled.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes007.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes005.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Metal%20and%20Wood%20Garden%20Art/JacobsonBoxes008.jpg[/img]
Eric
- stella1751
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Wow, you do great work, Eric!
I think, depending on the person, 4 ft. is fine. I mean, like RBG said, it all depends on your reach.
As long as you can comfortably get to the center of the bed without stepping it, it should be fine.
Now, as far as the treated lumber goes, I know that with the old compound used to treat the lumber (Chromated Copper Arsenate), the chromium and arsenic could be uptaken by the plants if I remember correctly.
It's now treated with ACQ, (there may be other treatments as well). I'm not sure how that affects the plants.
Personally, I wouldn't want to use it...but that's just me.
I think, depending on the person, 4 ft. is fine. I mean, like RBG said, it all depends on your reach.
As long as you can comfortably get to the center of the bed without stepping it, it should be fine.
Now, as far as the treated lumber goes, I know that with the old compound used to treat the lumber (Chromated Copper Arsenate), the chromium and arsenic could be uptaken by the plants if I remember correctly.
It's now treated with ACQ, (there may be other treatments as well). I'm not sure how that affects the plants.
Personally, I wouldn't want to use it...but that's just me.
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Yeah, but just look at how many chemicals, once considered safe, were later taken off the market or restricted.DoubleDogFarm wrote:... They say it's now safe, but I still try to avoid it. ...
The raised beeds look beautiful. But, for my own peace of mind, I have to agree with you that I would not use the treated lumber for garden beds.