What is the best wood to make a raised bed out of?

Beryl
by Beryl
I want to put in a raised bed along my fence line that will be part sun and part shade but when it rains the end that is in the shade floods!!
  25 answers
  • Sharon Sharon on Jun 09, 2017

    Well here in Oregon we use cedar lined with black plastic.

  • Greg Greg on Jun 09, 2017

    I would use old pellets, just lay them down where you want it raised and fill them with soil you could cover so you don't see them. All the best with that.

  • Shep Shep on Jun 09, 2017

    Cedar and Cypress are very bug resistant for the termites in the south. I used pressure treated corner posts and corrugated sheet metal for mine. They should last an easy 20 years.

  • Honey Marlow Honey Marlow on Jun 09, 2017

    Cypress is like chewing gum to termites and that's why they don't eat it

  • Mindi Mindi on Jun 09, 2017

    Not sure where you live, but I'm in the south and I used saw mill cut 2x 10's of oak. they get a nice grey patina and should last 20 years or better.



  • Phyllis Phyllis on Jun 09, 2017

    What ever you use, don't use pressure treated wood. The preservatives that are used to keep the wood from rotting are not healthy for you. And, you will be getting those preservatives from the boxes into the plants you grow and then consume.

  • Joanne Joanne on Jun 09, 2017

    I used pressured treated lumber cheap and has lasted for 10 years so far however I am going to try corrogated metal for my next bed if I can figure out how to easily cut a sheet

  • Ssv13815748 Ssv13815748 on Jun 09, 2017

    Naturally durable wood like cedar is best. Avoid pressure treated - it's full of toxic chemicals that could leach into your vegetables.

  • UmaKathy UmaKathy on Jun 09, 2017

    Do not use treated lumber. Use redwood or cedar and line the bottom (ground) and inside of boards with landscape cloth.

  • Charly Charly on Jun 09, 2017

    The pressure treated wood today doesn't have chemicals in them. Instead they use a salt water mix to pressure treat the wood with. So it is safe to use.

  • Mo Mo on Jun 09, 2017

    Railroad ties if you can find them .They last forever

    • Dmotan Dmotan on Jun 09, 2017

      No no no. Please do not use railroad ties. The chemicals in them are so poisonous. They may last forever but it can take a toll on your life.

  • Bel4766801 Bel4766801 on Jun 09, 2017

    In England we use old railway sleepers when making raised beds for flowers or for growing veg.

  • Dmotan Dmotan on Jun 09, 2017

    New pressure treated wood is high in copper and/or borate. I would not use it for vegetable gardens. The thought of railroad ties is frightening. Please, please read and do your research before jumping off the bridge with this.

    Wood Pallets are the unknown. You don't know what is in them. Even if you line your bed with plastic and the wood isn't touching the plants, the chemicals in the wood will leach into your soil.

    Cedar and redwood would be your best choice.

  • Steven Steven on Jun 09, 2017

    There are a number of ideas to look at. I would use the Cali Bamboo BamDeck® 3G Wide Composite Decking. It'll last forever and it comes in a variety of colors

  • Connie Connie on Jun 09, 2017

    i used concrete blocks for my raised beds- sturdy and lasts forever. we put landscape fabric on the ground; 3 to 4 layers of paper on bottom and sides; then compost and dirt mixed. It made a garden that is nice and sturdy!! I don't have to worry about chemicals or rotting boards. We used split faced blocks so I get a nice look on the blocks.

  • Sharon Depatie Sharon Depatie on Jun 09, 2017

    I agree with Connie - concrete(cinder) blocks work great & mine have lasted 16 yrs. I used plastic on bottom of bed, wire to line the sides & filled with course gravel, then my soil. Just be sure to make the walls level, or it will look awful. I have the exact same yard layout & a flooding problem by the tree corner. A lot of gravel in that corner will really help & I didn't plant anything there, but used coloured mulch & placed several solar lights & a bird house with wind chimes. It's pretty & solves my problem.

  • Peggy Peggy on Jun 09, 2017

    I used pallets then painted the exterior. I stapled landscape fabric on the bottom and sides then placed on cleared dirt free of grass and weeds. Fill with top soil ten make a small slit into bottom of soil into the landscape fabric then plant whatever. Inexpensive and adds a pop of color to your garden.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jun 09, 2017

    Whatever you use, just put in enough gravel to get the soil level higher than the water level where the corner floods and that will make sure that whatever you plant will not drown its roots, and go from there for putting in enough soil for your plants. Adjust the height of the raised bed according to how much gravel you have to put down and the amount of soil needed. or, you could make the corner part of the bed higher to account for more gravel and put a lower one on each side that doesn't flood to give it a more unique look.

  • Rita Rita on Jun 09, 2017

    Mel Bartholomew (Square Foot Gardens) recommends cedar or redwood. If you want a less expensive lumber, make sure it is untreated and preserve the wood with linseed oil. Raised beds can also be constructed with brick, cement blocks, prefabricated stone, or large rocks.

  • Linda Linda on Jun 09, 2017

    I use cinder blocks. They are indestructible and easy to move. I even plant into the holes. You must situate your vegetable garden in full sun.

    • Beryl Beryl on Jun 10, 2017

      Yes I have cinder blocks on the otherside that is in full sun. I am unable to get down to clean or plant. this is why I am wanting raised bed up high soI would be able to clean and plant this would all be flowers.

  • Lydia Weikel Cox Lydia Weikel Cox on Jun 09, 2017

    Here in Central Pa, Amish and others use locust wood for fence posts hat last 30 yrs or so. I once read that an old fashioned method of treating wood that would be in ground, (clothes line poles, mailbox posts, fence posts) was to paint several coats of wood ash from fireplace and linseed oil. Was said wood treated so would last 50 yrs to a lifetime! Never got to try it myself.

  • Beryl Beryl on Jun 10, 2017

    Thanks for the info!!!

  • Jes22387171 Jes22387171 on Jun 10, 2017

    There are too many problema with wood so I used cinder blocks and draped painter's plastic inside and had the edges hanging over covering the blocks (punch some drainage holes inside the rectangles forming the beds (I used 5 down and 3 across and a second layer on top of the first so I didn't have to stoop to weed plus it would prevent flooding). The block are cheaper, last longer, and you could paint them a color and the fencing the same or a complementary color.

  • Twyla J Boyer Twyla J Boyer on Jun 14, 2017

    Plastic lumber like that which is used for decking gives the look of wood but doesn't rot and is impervious to bugs. I am uncertain about chemicals, so check with your local Cooperative Extension office if you want to be sure. They know pretty much everything about gardening.

  • Ava16287555 Ava16287555 on Jun 15, 2017

    railroad ties or cinder blocks