Wooden planters for veg, what treatment for the wood?

[Ihavenojob]

Knocking up some planters from decking (new boards). I will be lining them with weed supressing fabric, what else should I treat the wood with ?

 

[Why Not Indeed]

I think you want something waterproof to line the sides with. The soil will have to be moist to suit the plants but that won't suit the timber. I would be concerned about contaminating the soil with whatever you paint the timber with.

 

[scbk]

If it's sold as decking I assume it's pressure treated softwood?

Some people don't like to use treated wood around vegetables

 

[Captain Nemesis]

I think you want something waterproof to line the sides with.

You risk the soil becoming very waterlogged.

The soil will have to be moist to suit the plants but that won't suit the timber. I would be concerned about contaminating the soil with whatever you paint the timber with.

And as per scbk concerns about using pressure treated?

Recalimed scaffold boards. Itll be a good few years before they rot away.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

You risk the soil becoming very waterlogged.

That's why I said sides, not bottom.

 

[Diver Fred]

Leave a narrow gap (1/2inch/15mm) between 2 of the bottom boards. Line the boxes with DPC threading a section through the gap, once fixed in place cut a slot in the DPC protruding through the gap as drainage.

 

[Captain Nemesis]

That's why I said sides, not bottom.

OK

 

[Ihavenojob]

Reading a bit more, it seems modern pressure treated wood is safe, it just doesn't sit well with people who want the organic lifestyle. I will be lining with weed suppressant membrane, but I have also given the interior a coat of yacht varnish that I had laying around, should be better than nothing. All this cash I've splashed out, just to grow a few quids worth of veg.