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There are many ways tobuild a raised garden bed . The cyberspace is crawl with interminable DIY ideas for theperfect designto meet your requirements and out-of-door décor . They can be of any shape , sizing , pinnacle , and material . From wood to metal and charge card to gem , hoi polloi retain to come up with creative agency to make garden above ground .
you could bribe materials to build your raise garden bed or scavenge for supply in upcycled or recycled building supplies . However , commemorate all put forward garden layer material are n’t suitable for garden .
5 Worst Raised Garden Bed Materials
A good raised garden bed should be made from fabric that are safe , durable , and easy to work with . The garden seam material you pick out should be safe around people , pets , plant , and soil . You do n’t need to spring up your crop , herb , and flowers in garden bed that are build with heavy metals and other chemical substance that leach toxin into the soil .
These toxins will eventually find their direction onto your plate , peculiarly if you ’re growing crops for consumption in your upgrade garden layer . Here are some raised garden bottom materials you should n’t utilise to grow your plants .
1. Methyl Bromide Pallets
mental image credits : Own Work via Creative Commons
There are many ways to repurpose Ellen Price Wood pallets . you could makevertical gardens , compost bin , garden article of furniture , and evenChristmas trees ! If you ’re plan to DIY invoke garden beds from wood pallet , keep an eye out for those mark “ MB . ”
Methyl Bromide ( megabit ) is a broad - spectrum pesticide that ’s exceedingly grave to human wellness . Topical exposure can cause skin irritation and burn , and draw out picture can cause pulmonary edema . If left untreated , it cause convulsions , comatoseness , and even death .
This is why you should n’t use MB - care for wood to build your lift garden layer to spring up harvest for expenditure . Although megabyte - treated wood kills kingdom Fungi , pests , rodents , and other worm , it has a disconfirming effect on the ground ’s ozone layer . If you must practice pallet , pick those marked “ HT . ”
hotness - cover ( HT ) pallet are desex for at least 30 minutes at temperatures above 132 degree Fahrenheit .
2. Styrofoam Coolers
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of late people have start using their old Styrofoam cooler as raised garden planters , but here ’s why it ’s a spoiled idea . Styrofoam coolers are made from polystyrene , a compound that the National Research Council in the US concluded to be a “ possible carcinogen ” in 2014 .
In 2018 , the World Health Organization reclassify it as a “ probable carcinogen , " prompting some organization to call for a province - blanket proscription on polystyrene containers . Polystyrene is harmful to animals , marine life forms , shuttlecock , and the environment , in general .
Since it is n’t biodegradable , large amounts of discarded Styrofoam products swim in the ocean , clot watercourse and sometimes defeat animals who accidentally ingest and pass on these formative fragments . In addition , Styrofoam can shift your soil ’s properties , increase its pH , and feign your plant ’s overall growth .
If you plan on employing earthworms to keep your soil healthy , eff that high exposure to polystyrene microplastics can significantly decrease their increment and increase their mortality .
Now , is Styrofoam a kind of charge plate ? Styrofoam is a foamed version of charge plate made out of vinylbenzene . You should also avoid using material that contain bisphenol A ( BPA ) .
All plastic products have a resin identification code that you should understand . If the turn reads 1 , 2 , 4 , or 5 , the charge card is BPA - free , but if it reads 3 , 6 , 7 , or says PVC , it contains BPA , and you should apply it with caution .
3. Railroad Ties
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Railroad affiliation , also known as railroad sleepers , are treated with creosote and CCA , both of which are shun for residential usage . Creosote is a combination of thousands of different chemicals , but the major ones are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs ) , phenol , and creosols .
Creosote is a thick , gooey , and fulsome liquidness that is highly inflammable . It ’s one of the most common pesticides people expend to keep the wood . While there are many DIY landscaping trends using creosote and CCA - treated railroad affiliation , you should n’t jump on the bandwagon . Prolonged exposure to creosote in railroad line linkup is linked to skin and scrotum cancer .
Also , do n’t burn creosote - treated woodwind ( in fireplaces or outside ) , as that could eject carcinogenic toxin into the gentle wind . When you use creosote - treated forest to build your raised garden bottom , the harmful chemicals leach into the soil , killing some plants and finally landing on your scale through the food you develop .
notice : If you have former railroad tie in your backyard that you desire to get rid of , check out your local laws about how to throw away them properly .
4. Pressure Treated Wood
Image acknowledgment : High raised beds in constituent veg garden via Flickr
Chromated Copper Arsenate ( CCA ) is a pesticide that was invented in 1933 and registered sometime in 1940 . Its popularity hit the roof in the mid-1970s , around the same time the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) was create .
EPA reviewed the safe and effectualness of CCA - treated wood and found that its arsenic ingredient poses a risk to humans , animals , and the surroundings . Mrs. Henry Wood treated with CCA has arsenic compound intend to rest within the wood .
Styrofoam boxes and pots from urban vertical garden in Hanoi, Vietnam. Kitchen vegetable and herbs growing on homemade tree branches trellis structure, self sufficient concept in Asia
Before January 1 , 2004 , CCA - cover Natalie Wood was approve for residential uses , but subsequently it was discontinued over arsenic picture . To preserve wood , Canada introduced another engineering called Alkaline Copper Quaternary ( ACQ ) for commercial-grade use sometime in 2004 .
Although ACQ is less toxic than CCA , it contains large amounts of fuzz that can strip into the soil inside and outside the raised garden seam . Since the soil in an ACQ - treated garden bottom will remain moist , atomic number 29 will leach into the filth and finally into your crops for consumption .
While your body need and receives small-scale amounts of fuzz from your food , consuming too much Cu can cause various health problems , including brain damage and liver nonstarter . It can be fatal if left untreated .
Copper is highly toxic to fish and maritime life , so you ’ll need to be extremely careful when discarding , recycling , or upcycling your ACQ - treated garden bed .
5. Cinderblocks
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fend off using cinderblocks made from ember or fly ash tree because this gunpowder contains traces of :
Coal ash tree is operose and stays on the ground , while tent flap ash is lighter and carried up by the smoke . According to the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) , prolonged photo or drinking water contaminated by ember ash ’s arsenic compound increases your risk of exposure of cancer , cognitive shortfall , behavioural job , heart problems , inborn handicap , or defective bone growth in nestling .
Although there is little evidence that flee ash or other grueling metals leach into the soil , you ’ll want to manoeuvre clear of cinderblocks to be safe . If you must apply cinderblocks , foot those made from concrete so you may DIY yourconcrete block - fire garden bed .
Good Raised Garden Bed Materials
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effective material wo n’t sabotage your wellness , wo n’t anguish fauna , and wo n’t destroy the environment in general . Here ’s a list of some good raised garden seam materials you may use to transform your backyard .
Galvanized Steel
Untreated Lumber
Raw Wood ( Logs , Branches )
Masonry
Brick
Galvanized Metal
Troughs
Wood
Natural Stone
Wine Barrels
I Beg Your Garden?
Raised garden layer are great for aged gardeners and those with mobility issues ; however , it ’s skillful to annul some material when building your garden bed . This is because the materials you pick out to establish your garden layer will play a monumental office in your and your industrial plant ’s health and the environs in general .
Hopefully , this clause was helpful to you . Leave your experience , sentiment , and inquiry in the comment section , and as always , please partake in !
Happy horticulture !
