Does pressure-treated wood contain toxics? Is it safe for my raised-bed vegetable garden?
Pressure-treated wood is truly a “wood for all seasons”… a rugged exterior building product that’s rot and insect resistant. If Noah’s ark was made from this stuff, it would still be cruising the Mediterranean! Treated wood is used for decks, mailbox and light posts, swing sets and playscapes, picnic tables, landscape ties, underwater dock pilings, oceanside boardwalks, telephone utility poles and, believe it or not, residential building foundations in some parts of the country! You can purchase pressure-treated wood as lumber, boards, posts, and even plywood! Its unique ability to fend off decay makes it ideal in any high moisture and/or ground contact installations. Yet, there is much misinformation, and, in some cases, disinformation concerning pressure-treated wood, its maintenance requirements, and its safety in common use. Let’s explore the story of pressure-treated wood, and together seek out the truth. What is pressure-treated wood? Over 70 years ago, Dr. Karl Wolman invented
