Asked on May 10, 2015

Does the wood rot on raised beds?

Kath Blanco
by Kath Blanco
i live in Houston where the humidity and heat affects the wood.
  6 answers
  • Mari Dots Mari Dots on May 10, 2015
    When I lived in Kentucky, I wanted landscape timbers for my flower beds. It wasn't a good move, with the amount of rain and humidity there they rotted in about 3 years. rail road ties are the only thing I know of that won't rot for years but they aren't very pretty.
  • Diane Cliff Diane Cliff on May 10, 2015
    I live in Michigan and yes, the wood I used did rot. It took a number of years, but you have to use untreated wood so that's the result. I'm trying cinder blocks this year. I'm going to lay them on the long side with the hole facing upward and plant marigolds, etc. in that area.
  • Julie Beard Julie Beard on May 10, 2015
    rail road ties hold up great or pressure treated
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on May 10, 2015
    I used a stones for a base under the landscape ties for drainage. I lined the inside of the wood with poly. Did this years ago, and everything is still OK. But all wood will rot over time. Like the concrete block idea if it fits the look of your yard. You could stagger them like a mason, 2 blocks high, and place capping stones on top - on as large an area as you choose.
  • Josh Joslin Josh Joslin on May 10, 2015
    I use trex and make sure the support posts are on the outside
  • Mady Weiss Mady Weiss on May 10, 2015
    Yes. It will eventually rot.