Using Green Treated Lumber Near the Garden
We've discovered that our 3 year old fence surrounding the vegetable garden area is made of green treated wood. Should we be concerned? Tear it down? What do you think?
Research shows that there is minimal movement of the arsenic, used in some green wood preservatives, into the soil. The studies showed that the material stayed within 9" of the treated wood. Make your first row next to the fence flowers. This will spruce up the vegetable garden and ease your concerns about the preservatives in the soil. Painting preserved wood (fences and edging) helps reduce leaching of the preservatives into the soil. Many gardeners use untreated naturally long lasting wood products or some of the "plastic lumber" for their landscape projects.
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