Q: What kind of wood are the beds made of?

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A: Our standard garden beds are made of SPF lumber, which stands for Spruce/Pine/Fur. This is unfinished wood that doesn't contain any chemicals which could leach into your garden bed. 

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The advantage of using SPF lumber compared to more rot-resistant wood like cedar is cost. It's a lot less. However, that's not the only advantage - standard SPF wood is commonly available in thicker dimensions. We build our beds with 2" thick material, with lumber like 2 x 4's and 2 x 6's. 

It's very difficult to find cedar in the mid-west, and very expensive (more than three times the cost of SPF lumber.) And, the most commonly available 6" wide board for the cedar is actually 7/8" thick. It requires more support in its design than the SPF lumber bed.

 

I haven't seen any designs that have a ledge like our beds. In 2021, lumber prices are extremely high already, and as a small local business, we are not able to purchase and inventory cedar.

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Q: How can I treat my bed to make it last longer?

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There are a number of options for helping your raised garden bed to make it last longer. Our beds are sanded and clean and accept treatments well.

 

1) Shou Sugi Ban - Preserving wood with fire

In this method, you burn the top layer of the wood to create a charcoal barrier to water, then apply boiled linseed oil. This is an ancient method of wood preservation that is well documented.

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2) Gardener's Waterproofer for Garden Beds

There are special products made just for treating wood in raised garden beds that you just apply with a brush. Check out Gardner's Supply Company to purchase. You can also get this at Vermont Natural Coatings. One quart should work for an average bed.

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3) Other Exterior Stains and Polyurethane

These are not made for vegetable gardens, however, some people apply them to the outside of the boxes only.