i'm going to start some raised-bed gardens, too. how 'bout if i use, instead of
pressure-treated lumber, i use composite decking? supposedly it's made of "wood
fiber and resins." it's more expensive, but i'd be buying one 16-foot board for
each box (4x4)--so that's around $27 per box. sound reasonable?

pat

i'm going to start some raised-bed gardens, too. how 'bout if i use, instead of
pressure-treated lumber, i use composite decking? supposedly it's made of "wood
fiber and resins." it's more expensive, but i'd be buying one 16-foot board for
each box (4x4)--so that's around $27 per box. sound reasonable?

pat

That does sound reasonable, but I've never actually built a raised bed
myself. Pressure treated lumber can
leach arsonic into the soil. If the composite stuff is reasonably inert
(and I believe it is) then you are good
to go. I will be using some rot resistant wood starting in about a week.

Patskywriter wrote:

i'm going to start some raised-bed gardens, too. how 'bout if i use, instead of
pressure-treated lumber, i use composite decking? supposedly it's made of "wood
fiber and resins." it's more expensive, but i'd be buying one 16-foot board for
each box (4x4)--so that's around $27 per box. sound reasonable?

pat


--

Frederick Theilig
http://members.cox.net/ftheilig
"Impermanent are all created things. Strive on mindfully."

That does sound reasonable, but I've never actually built a raised bed
myself. Pressure treated lumber can
leach arsonic into the soil. If the composite stuff is reasonably inert
(and I believe it is) then you are good
to go. I will be using some rot resistant wood starting in about a week.

Patskywriter wrote:

i'm going to start some raised-bed gardens, too. how 'bout if i use, instead of
pressure-treated lumber, i use composite decking? supposedly it's made of "wood
fiber and resins." it's more expensive, but i'd be buying one 16-foot board for
each box (4x4)--so that's around $27 per box. sound reasonable?

pat


--

Frederick Theilig
http://members.cox.net/ftheilig
"Impermanent are all created things. Strive on mindfully."

That does sound reasonable, but I've never actually built a raised bed
myself. Pressure treated lumber can
leach arsonic into the soil. If the composite stuff is reasonably inert
(and I believe it is) then you are good
to go. I will be using some rot resistant wood starting in about a week.

Patskywriter wrote:

i'm going to start some raised-bed gardens, too. how 'bout if i use, instead of
pressure-treated lumber, i use composite decking? supposedly it's made of "wood
fiber and resins." it's more expensive, but i'd be buying one 16-foot board for
each box (4x4)--so that's around $27 per box. sound reasonable?

pat


--

Frederick Theilig
http://members.cox.net/ftheilig
"Impermanent are all created things. Strive on mindfully."

That does sound reasonable, but I've never actually built a raised bed
myself. Pressure treated lumber can
leach arsonic into the soil. If the composite stuff is reasonably inert
(and I believe it is) then you are good
to go. I will be using some rot resistant wood starting in about a week.

Patskywriter wrote:

i'm going to start some raised-bed gardens, too. how 'bout if i use, instead of
pressure-treated lumber, i use composite decking? supposedly it's made of "wood
fiber and resins." it's more expensive, but i'd be buying one 16-foot board for
each box (4x4)--so that's around $27 per box. sound reasonable?

pat


--

Frederick Theilig
http://members.cox.net/ftheilig
"Impermanent are all created things. Strive on mindfully."

Don't use pressure treated lumber. I hope I'm not just stating the obvious.

greyebeard wrote:

I am getting ready to build a couple of 4 x 12 foot raised garden
boxes. Any pointers or suggestions. Mostly will be for tomatoes,
onions, garlic, and kitchen herbs ( cilantro, rosemary, oregano, etc
I live in north Texas, Dallas area

bob


--

Frederick Theilig
http://members.cox.net/ftheilig
"Impermanent are all created things. Strive on mindfully."

In article , greyebeard
wrote:

I am getting ready to build a couple of 4 x 12 foot raised garden
boxes. Any pointers or suggestions. Mostly will be for tomatoes,
onions, garlic, and kitchen herbs ( cilantro, rosemary, oregano, etc
I live in north Texas, Dallas area

bob

Check out this site: http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

I started 3 raised beds late last year but still got a decent crop,
not bad for a novice. This year I got an eariier start and things
are going like gangbusters. I suggest you try the 'soil' formula
mentioned on the web site: 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 coarse vermiculite,
1/3 compost....seems to be working great on my fourth bed that I
made a couple of months ago. Use lots of compost when planting each
new crop.

You can get fancy and put in drip irrigation connected to a lawn
sprinkler valve controller with a pressure regulator off a faucet.
All I do is plant, fertilize and harvest. No weeding or hoeing.

Good luck

--
SteveO