Are landscape timbers safe to use in vegetable gardening?

Brokn asks: Are landscape timbers safe to use for building a raised bed for vegetable gardening?
The tag says they are “treated to rejection” Does this type of pressure treated landscape timbers have toxins that will leach into our soil and will the vegetables grown in that area be unsafe to eat?

The timbers are Micropro AC2 if that means anything to anyone

The answer voted best is:

Answer by Lisa R.
Give your Local Lumber Yard a call and ask them. They would be better skilled to answer this question especially if you will be placing them where they will be in contact with food or water sources.
I don’t know the answer, but this is what I would do to find the answer.
Good Luck, Better safe than sorry :o)

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4 comments

  1. If you are really concerned about health issues. You want to grow organic. Then I would be a bit leerier. But I don’t know of any other timbers except maybe ceder that isn’t treated. Ceder is more expensive. If you don’t use some kind of treated lumber that wont last more than maybe 4 or 5 years.
    I totally agree on the health concerns. But why do they have to be a raised bed.?? Yes they look nice and neat and you don’t have to bend as far, but is it worth it ?

  2. No, they are not safe. They are treated, and the toxic metals will leach out of them and into the soil and migrate into your veggies. Or at least that’s the theory, and it makes sense. I wouldn’t want to test it. The whole idea of growing your own is to end up with healthier veggies, isn’t it?

  3. They have creosote in them which is kinda harmful a fix would be to put up tarps of the side of it and then fill the area with soil that would protect your plants. Its not that big of a risk anyway the creosote will naturally leave anyway. But if your just talking about treated wood and not railroad ties theres not really any danger from that. A little but not really enough to cause any real harm

  4. Call the place where you got them and ask.
    Most times you can use a plastic sheeting up against the logs then fill with your soil & it should prevent any problems. But it is always safer to know what you are working with.

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