I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
and my budget for this project is limited.
I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
years in an outdoor environment?
Thanks
Makes sense. It's not the wet alone that rots it out but rather the wet/dry
cycle. If it stays wet all the time it'll last longer then if its wet then
dried out.
"Fly-by-Night CC" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <6l50c.140953$jk2.568342@attbi_s53>,
> "Larry C in Auburn, WA" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Pine will last 4-5 years no problem. I live in the rainbelt so I should
> > know... The boards will definitely want to warp. The inside of the
boards
> > are sitting against the moist dirt so they are going to be wet 100% of
the
> > time, the outside will dry quickly especially in the summer.
>
> Hailing from the Portland, OR area, I agree. I put in 2"x12"x8' beds of
> standard building lumber 4 or 5 years ago and have seen very little
> deterioration. When you think about our climate, the inside surface of
> the wood is likely wet 100% of the time - given the 7 months or so of
> rain plus the 5 months of watering the Fall harvest.
>
> --
> Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company
> Offering a shim for the Porter-Cable 557 type 2 fence design.
> <http://www.flybynightcoppercompany.com>
> <http://www.easystreet.com/~onlnlowe/index.html>
I've got planter boxes made of doug fir going on 3 years. Though I don't
plan on staying in this house for very long, ( not enough shop space) I'll
probably take them out permanently before I replace them. I think they got
at least another 2 years left.
"Jon Endres, PE" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
> I used untreated white pine for my raised beds in the backyard. This will
> be their third summer, and while they are grey and dirty, they haven't
shown
> any overt signs of rot. I'd expect you'd get five years before
replacement.
> I wouldn't use treated wood anyway. Now, if I could find enough black
> locust to make those boxes - I think they'd outlive me.
>
> Jon E
>
>
> "brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
> > 7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
> > another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
> > and my budget for this project is limited.
> >
> > I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
> >
> > If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
> > last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
> >
> > I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
> > replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
> > years in an outdoor environment?
> >
> > Thanks
>
>
>
Yes, pine would last that long.
If possible use 2x stock, use screws in the corners, plus
plug the screw counterbore holes.
Also, because of the length-width, put in some braces mid-way,
or third of the way to stop the beds from bowing out.
Alternatively, stake the bed into the ground.
If using glue along with screws, use an exterior or marine
glue. The powder kind where you add water works quite nicely.
--
Think thrice, measure twice and cut once.
Sanding is like paying taxes ... everyone has to do it, but it is
important to take steps to minimize it.
There is only one period and no underscores in the real email address.
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
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Y'know, if you soaked lumber in the chemicals that make redwood or tropical
timbers durable, I'd bet you couldn't clear it through the health freaks.
"Roy Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> This is my vegetable bed. No way am I eating anything I grew in
> pressure treated lumber.
>
Pine will last 4-5 years no problem. I live in the rainbelt so I should
know... The boards will definitely want to warp. The inside of the boards
are sitting against the moist dirt so they are going to be wet 100% of the
time, the outside will dry quickly especially in the summer. Perfect
conditions for the boards to warp. You might want to consider 4-5 beds
instead of two and make each 3-4' wide. It's tough to plant, weed, and
harvest in a bed 7' wide. Screw the ends together and because the boards
are really going to warp you should reinforce the ends with metal corner
brackets (just a 90 degree piece of metal screwed to the inside of each end
and side).
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA
"brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
> 7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
> another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
> and my budget for this project is limited.
>
> I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
>
> If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
> last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
>
> I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
> replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
> years in an outdoor environment?
>
> Thanks
Why not concrete blocks? Easy to move/relocate and won't ever rot.
Alternatively you could build a mold and pour your own shapes.
"brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
> 7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
> another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
> and my budget for this project is limited.
>
> I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
>
> If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
> last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
>
> I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
> replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
> years in an outdoor environment?
>
> Thanks
I'm getting ready to do exactly the same project. I'm building mine out of
Brazilian redwood, which is not really redwood, but massaranduba. Three
times harder than red oak and extremely resistant to rot. Used a lot for
decking and guaranteed for 100 years against rot. I can buy it locally
right now from a distressed merchandiser for $2 BF. I've got a sh*tload of
it stockpiled.
Bob
"brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
> 7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
> another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
> and my budget for this project is limited.
>
> I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
>
> If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
> last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
>
> I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
> replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
> years in an outdoor environment?
>
> Thanks
I used untreated white pine for my raised beds in the backyard. This will
be their third summer, and while they are grey and dirty, they haven't shown
any overt signs of rot. I'd expect you'd get five years before replacement.
I wouldn't use treated wood anyway. Now, if I could find enough black
locust to make those boxes - I think they'd outlive me.
Jon E
"brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
> 7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
> another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
> and my budget for this project is limited.
>
> I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
>
> If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
> last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
>
> I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
> replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
> years in an outdoor environment?
>
> Thanks
Forget the wood, just pile the dirt into your rows, not as neat, but
works. 7 feet wide? Gonna walk on the beds?
brian wrote:
> I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
> 7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
> another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
> and my budget for this project is limited.
>
> I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
>
> If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
> last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
>
> I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
> replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
> years in an outdoor environment?
>
> Thanks
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Why not concrete blocks? Easy to move/relocate and won't ever rot.
> Alternatively you could build a mold and pour your own shapes.
>
If you do, be careful to check the soil alkilinity. The
concrete will (if new) leach into the soil the first couple of
years.
--
Where ARE those Iraqi WMDs?
On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 18:45:22 GMT, "Larry C in Auburn, WA"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Pine will last 4-5 years no problem. I live in the rainbelt so I should
>know... The boards will definitely want to warp. The inside of the boards
>are sitting against the moist dirt so they are going to be wet 100% of the
>time, the outside will dry quickly especially in the summer.
Lining the inside with 6 mil poly will help. If you live in a dry area it helps
the beds retain moisture as well.
>Perfect
>conditions for the boards to warp. You might want to consider 4-5 beds
>instead of two and make each 3-4' wide. It's tough to plant, weed, and
>harvest in a bed 7' wide. Screw the ends together and because the boards
>are really going to warp you should reinforce the ends with metal corner
>brackets (just a 90 degree piece of metal screwed to the inside of each end
>and side).
[email protected] (brian) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
> 7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
> another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
> and my budget for this project is limited.
>
> I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
>
> If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
> last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
>
> I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
> replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
> years in an outdoor environment?
>
If you can find paraffin cheap enough you can melt it in a double boiler
and use it to seal the wood, or at least the side of it that is against
the soil. Might make things last longer and paraffin is food-safe,
unlike tar or creosote.
--
FF
On 28 Feb 2004 08:35:30 -0800, [email protected] (brian) scribbled:
>I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
>7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
>another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
>and my budget for this project is limited.
>
>I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
>
>If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
>last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
>
>I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
>replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
>years in an outdoor environment?
Depends on where you live. I made some raised beds out of 4X4 rough
spruce dunning in 1991. They were rotten enough to need repair last
year & will need to be replaced in the spring. I also made some out of
4X4 doug fir the following year. No outward sign of rot yet.
I live in a semi-arid subarctic climate, and outside stuff is frozen
half the year, so YMMV.
Luigi
Replace "nonet" with "yukonomics" for real email address
www.yukonomics.ca/wooddorking/antifaq.html
www.yukonomics.ca/wooddorking/humour.html
In article <6l50c.140953$jk2.568342@attbi_s53>,
"Larry C in Auburn, WA" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Pine will last 4-5 years no problem. I live in the rainbelt so I should
> know... The boards will definitely want to warp. The inside of the boards
> are sitting against the moist dirt so they are going to be wet 100% of the
> time, the outside will dry quickly especially in the summer.
Hailing from the Portland, OR area, I agree. I put in 2"x12"x8' beds of
standard building lumber 4 or 5 years ago and have seen very little
deterioration. When you think about our climate, the inside surface of
the wood is likely wet 100% of the time - given the 7 months or so of
rain plus the 5 months of watering the Fall harvest.
--
Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company
Offering a shim for the Porter-Cable 557 type 2 fence design.
<http://www.flybynightcoppercompany.com>
<http://www.easystreet.com/~onlnlowe/index.html>
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (brian) wrote:
> I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
> 7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
> another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
> and my budget for this project is limited.
>
> I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
>
> If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
> last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
>
> I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
> replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
> years in an outdoor environment?
>
> Thanks
I put in some raised beds about 4 years ago (had 5 yards of topsoil
trucked in to fill them). I used 1 x 6 cedar planking from the borg.
The exteriors still look pretty good, but if you dig down to look at the
burried interior surfaces, there's a lot of deterioration going on
already. I figure I'll get another 4 years out of them then they'll
fall apart. I can only guess that pine would rot even faster.
This is my vegetable bed. No way am I eating anything I grew in
pressure treated lumber.
BTW, if you buy dirt, you want to buy the best topsoil they've got. The
delivery cost was slightly more than the purchase price. The cheap
stuff doesn't cost any less to deliver.
"brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I want to construct (2) raised garden/flower beds. Each approx. 8' x
> 7' 10-12" high. Everything I've read recommends using cedar or
> another naturally resistant lumber but all are relatively expensive
> and my budget for this project is limited.
>
> I also want to avoid pressure treated lumber.
>
> If I use standard pine for this project. How long would it typically
> last before it rots? How much would I expect it to warp?
>
> I'm only looking for 4-5 years of life for these beds and would
> replace them after that if needed. Will standard lumber hold up 4-5
> years in an outdoor environment?
Maybe, but in Houston it would last about a year or two. Termites or rot
would get it quickly.