You could use other things such as brick, block or stone if you wanted too. However pressure treated lumber can be used, just keep any plantings at least a foot away from the wood, 2 feet if possible. PT wood contains arsenic that might leech into the soil and be sucked up into the plants, though that leeching drops off dramatically within a handful of inches from the wood. The arsenic
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doesn't "migrate" too far, but you don't want plant roots to grow out close to the wood either.
Many years ago we made a raised bed beside our driveway- on our small dark front lawn I wanted an all white garden. The first year- the white impatiens were lovely- thereafter NOTHING grew in that thing-and I do believe the toxins (at the time I didn't know about that stuff) leaked out onto other parts of the plot.
I use cinder blocks, cheap, easy, 8" of good compost should be good enough for most veggies, make them 2 rows high (supported by rods) fill the holes-grow marigolds (to repel bugs). We also have coated fencing running across part of the garden (fence posts in holes of blocks) to use as support for tomatoes, cukes, etc...
You could use other things such as brick, block or stone if you wanted too. However pressure treated lumber can be used, just keep any plantings at least a foot away from the wood, 2 feet if possible. PT wood contains arsenic that might leech into the soil and be sucked up into the plants, though that leeching drops off dramatically within a handful of inches from the wood. The arsenic ...»