using railroad ties for a raised garden bed?
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Question by D L: using railroad ties for a raised garden bed?
looking for feedback on using railroad ties for a raised garden bed. I love the rustic look and plus you can get them very cheap, and they will last for a long time. What are your thoughts on using them for garden? I do have a concern about the cresole used, will it harm the vegtables that I grow in it?
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8 Responses to using railroad ties for a raised garden bed?
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That’s creosote, not cresole! I don’t think it would hurt, I see people using these all the time in gardens. But if you have doubts, then just use regular 4X4’s, or those 3X4 landscape timbers.
itsjustme
December 15, 2011 at 7:23 am
I wouldn’t, because of the creosote. It can leach into the soil but can also cause reactions if you touch it while working in the garden. I wouldn’t even use them for simple flower beds.
It wouldn’t be worth the risk to me, because I wouldn’t ever be able to get over the creosote possibly leading to problems.
Chicken in Black
December 15, 2011 at 8:01 am
Not recommended for edibles. The chemicals do leach into the soil, and probably not good for the veggies – but more importantly – not good for you to eat contaminated veggies. (one of the leached ingredients of the creosote-treated ties is arsenic. Not Good.)
However. – many building centers, and garden stores, sell “Landscaping Timbers” – which are EXACTLY the same thing – except they weren’t recycled railroad ties (no chemical treatment), and they are safe for garden use. Very handy for raised beds.
Cat
December 15, 2011 at 8:04 am
I would be concerned too. If you are planting vegetables I would not eat them. There are many new products on the market today that you can find at your local home center. You can use some of the new composite decking materials instead of chemical infused RR ties.
jetsfan5569
December 15, 2011 at 8:37 am
Probably shouldn’t use these for edibles. Treated lumber also has chemicals in it that you should not have near edibles. If you want to use the railroad ties, use them for a place that you only want flowers, and landscape it so you don’t have to be digging around in it all the time (ie: perennials). You could do this, depending on the area you have, around the vegetable garden and then use safe treated lumber for the inner border closer to the veggies. Then you would get the look, and it would be more safe. Ask at the lumber yard or garden center about their treated lumber, most of it is supposed to be safe now.
Ultimately it’s up to you, just remember water travels underground so what you put in/on the ground is going to come out somewhere.
KJean
December 15, 2011 at 9:36 am
THEY WORK FINE I HAVE USED THEM FOR OVER 25 YEARS NO PROBLEMS=GARDEN =FLOWER BEDS =BORDERS
greg l
December 15, 2011 at 9:45 am
Over the years I have had a lot of raised beds. I use railroad ties (free where I live) for rose gardens and beds with flowers, driveway edging. I use lumberyard wood for edible gardens-vegetable and herb. The price of the lumber is my peace of mind not having to worry about the creosote from railroad ties leaching into the soil and my food. The lumber looks rustic in a couple of years unless you treat it, but I don’t want that stuff leaching into the soil either.
crispy
December 15, 2011 at 10:19 am
railroad ties , I think this is what is referred to here as railway sleepers, The one in NZ are Hardwood from Australia and other countries, No treatment used and these have supported railway lines for 50/60 yrs plus
We use them, when available , for raised beds and general landscaping although they are NZD$ 35/40 each, they are that hard you cannot drive a nail into them without bending it
Spectre
December 15, 2011 at 10:28 am