Type of Wood Raised Bed Planters

Hardwood or Softwood

• Hardwoods are a good choice for making raised beds. Hardwoods can handle the change in weather much better than some of the softer woods. Oak or cherry are just a couple of the options you have when it comes to hardwoods. Softwoods have a tendency to deteriorate quicker when left out in the elements. Pine is especially notable for rotting quickly, especially when it gets and stays damp, which is one of the features of a garden. Pine and other softwoods may cost a little bit less at first, but they will need replacement sooner.

Cedar

• While cedar is a softwood, it does make an ideal choice for raised beds. Cedar comes in planks as well as landscaping timbers. These planks and timbers come in 6- to 8-foot lengths, which make them an ideal size for building a raised bed. If they are too long, simply cut them in half to make smaller beds. One of the characteristics of cedar that makes it useful for raised garden beds is that it can take the elements, unlike many other softwoods. Another reason is that bugs do not care for it. Cedar helps to keep bugs out of your garden and termites will not chew up the bed.

Pressure Treated

• Over the years, manufacturers have made three types of pressure treated lumber. You must be familiar with these before buying anything. One type is CCA (chromate copper arsenic), which is the original pressure treated lumber. CCA is treated with chemicals, including arsenic. Because of the arsenic, this wood is not suitable for growing vegetables, herbs or fruits. However, starting in 2004, manufacturers began phasing out this treatment. Another is ACC (acid copper chromate). While it does not use arsenic, it is also dangerous around food sources because of the chromium. A third type of pressure treated wood is ACQ (alkaline copper quat). ACQ is safe and actually licensed to use around garden beds.

Composite

• Composite is a wood of sorts. Composites are a conglomerate of wood pulp and synthetics. The downside to using a composite is that it can cost you two or even three times the amount of other lumber. The upside is that you will probably never have to build raised beds again. Composite needs no special treatments throughout the years, which in the end can actually save you money and give you good looking raised garden beds.