What type of sealant should I use in a square foot garden?
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Question by Marshall: What type of sealant should I use in a square foot garden?
I am building a 2X8 foot raised square foot (vegetable) garden. Using plywood and other random wood. Someone suggested I seal it with polyurethane or exterior house paint so that it won’t rot, but won’t that be bad for my vegetables?
Thanks.
What do you think? Answer below!
4 Responses to What type of sealant should I use in a square foot garden?
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Actually, whether you paint or polyurethane or not, wood will rot after a few years left out in the rain and snow. Wood that has been treated to resist rot (new processes don’t use arsenic or other harmful compounds) is a better source to use for a raised bed – it will last a lot longer. Make sure that you mulch your plantings with straw so that you won’t have to water as much and it will block weed production.
MasterGardner
November 17, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Redwood or cedar wood is the best. No toxins. no sealing needed. have had several beds last almost 10 years. With other types of wood, You can place a sheet of plastic inside staple to sides, and bottom. Cut off remaining. Have done this method. Last for a year or two.
Several Heavy thick plactic sheets layed together standing up, also can be used. With metal rebars on each side to hold in place. Metal sheathing. LIke a old kiddy pool bent in half, cut in half, cedar post and topped with wood for safety and a place to sit , works great for us. Been lasting for years.
The new thing to use is straw bales, with metal rebars hammered through them . We tryed some this year. The tomatoes and peppers, & potatoes, love it . Then as they break down we will till them in.
Rox C
November 17, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Even random pine will last for a few years. Polyurethane is fine, it’s inert and won’t get into the soil (though it may flake off, it won’t break down). Exterior paint will also work since there’s no lead in it any more (if any of your random wood has old paint on it, though, don’t use it unless you’re sure it’s not old leaded paint).
If you don’t want it to rot ever, and you’re sure you’re going to have your garden in the same place for some years, you might consider investing in Trex or a similar type of recycled plastic decking. I have a small bed made of that and it’s great! No painting and repainting, no warping, no rotting.
Ishtar
November 17, 2011 at 3:24 pm
I built 2 raised vegetable beds this year. I bought untreated 1×10’s and built the beds to 4×8’x10″. I used acrylic non VOC paint to seal them. I painted them in a nice Caribbean turquoise. They are holding up nicely.
I purposely bought untreated wood because even though they don’t use copper arsenate anymore, the pressure treated wood still has chemicals in it that I don’t want anywhere near my vegetables.
My compost bin was built with inexpensive 8′ sections of cedar picket fencing, douglas fir posts and hardware cloth. It hasn’t been treated yet and is still good after 3 years of harsh winters, a ton and a half of horse manure and water.
rmbrruffian
November 17, 2011 at 4:17 pm