Is it safe to paint the lumber for a raised vegetable bed with exterior latex paint?
I am building a raised planting bed for vegetables and need to know if exterior latex is safe to use on the inside of the bed. I don’t want the wood to rot so fast. I was looking at composite wood, but the price was prohibitive. Any help would be appreciated.
No, lumber is NOT treated with arsenic anymore, as of January 1, 2004. It was banned in all 50 states because arsenic is so toxic and just coming into contact with the lumber was making people sick, and killed some. Children were especially susceptible. They came into contact with it from play equipment and walking barefoot on treated decks. Arsenic readily breaches the skin/blood barrier.
So, no, I will not use any treated lumber in my yard. I will let the wood rot rather than risk my family’s health eating vegetables that are taking up heavy metals and toxins.
Exterior latex will work just fine on the lumber for your raised beds.
| Published on May 19th, 2010 | | Posted by admin |
May 19th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
just use landscape timbers. out here they are about 3 dollars for 8 feet of board. its treated so it wont rot for a good ten years
References :
small time farmer
May 19th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
You can use any latex paint or better yet, deck stain. Fruit and vegetables filter out all toxins that are in the soil. People use pressure treated lumber for raised beds all the time. Pressure treated lumber is injected with arsenic, but nobody ever dies or gets sick from it unless they burn it and inhale the fumes. That’s never good.
Hope this helps
References :
http://www.make-my-own-house.com/front-yard-landscaping-ideas.html
May 19th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Exterior latex will work just fine on the lumber for your raised beds.
References :