The longevity of raised garden beds can be significantly extended by using quality, long-lasting lumber from the start. Cedar and redwood are two excellent choices for these materials, as they are both dense and durable. Douglas Fir porch posts, which can last closer to two years, can be treated and painted to extend their lifespan.
However, the longevity of untreated wood raised garden beds depends on various factors, such as exposure to elements, elevation, south facing location, and living proximity. If left untreated, Douglas Fir will decay in a few years, leading to dryrot in end grain, grain raising, major discolorization, and loose knotholes.
The type of wood used and whether it is treated or not can also affect the longevity of raised garden beds. If you use a good quality, naturally rot-resistant wood, and treat it properly, it should last longer than untreated lumber. Regular SPF construction lumber will rot quickly and only last 2-3 years, but painting it on all sides might extend its lifespan for another year or so.
Doug fir, a cost-effective option, can last up to 15 years when taken care of properly. When taken care of properly, fir raised beds can last up to 10 to 15 years. However, it is not as naturally rot-resistant as other wood species, but it is still a popular choice for raised garden beds due to its durability and affordability.
Untreated Douglas Fir in contact with the soil can last up to 10 years, while treated Doug fir in contact with the soil can double that time. While Douglas fir is strong and durable, it is not as naturally rot-resistant as some other wood species.
In conclusion, using quality, long-lasting lumber is crucial for extending the life of raised garden beds. By treating and treating the wood properly, you can ensure that your raised garden beds last as long as possible.
📹 How Long Do Garden Beds Last? – Garden Quickie Episode 133
Wood Raised Garden Beds Don’t Last Forever. We wish they did, but eventually weather and time take their toll. But how long do …
How long do Douglas fir raised beds last?
Hemlock is a popular wood for raised garden beds, fencing, and barn construction, with a lifespan of 5 to 7 years in the right conditions. It is locally preferred for outdoor and farm use due to its price difference from cedar or fir. Douglas Fir, also known as Doug Fir, is a locally available, cost-effective wood grown in the western states, often planted in New Hampshire. There are several grades of Doug Fir, with the most cost-effective grade being a “mill run” grade that allows for sound tight knots, which is approximately four times the cost of Eastern Hemlock.
What are the disadvantages of Douglas fir wood?
Douglas fir, a softwood, is more susceptible to damage from scratches, dents, and dings than harder woods. The Janka hardness scale indicates that Douglas fir has a rating of approximately 660, which is considerably lower than that of hardwoods such as oak and maple. This quality renders the wood problematic in areas with high traffic or in households with pets and children, where the floor is likely to encounter heavy or sharp objects.
How long does Doug Fir last in the ground?
Douglas Fir wood can last around 35 years with proper treatment and TLC. It is highly durable and can withstand various elements, including exposure to the elements at elevations, south facing areas, and near the sea. Owatrol offers a variety of woodcare finishes, including Douglas Fir, for cladding, fencing, and decking. All timber cladding is machined to profile on site from kiln dried stock. The team at Owatrol prides itself on providing top-notch timber products and excellent customer service, from initial enquiry to delivery of goods. Their project handlers are available to help with any queries or questions.
Does Douglas Fir rot in the ground?
Douglas Fir, a North American softwood species, is known for its strength, durability, and water and rot-resistant properties, making it a popular choice for outdoor projects like decking, siding, and framing. Its natural resins protect it from moisture damage and decay, giving it a distinctive aroma and color. Douglas Fir’s high density makes it resistant to wear and tear, making it ideal for structural applications like beams, posts, and joists. It can be easily worked with hand tools or machinery, and can be finished with oil or stain to enhance its color and protect it from UV rays.
What are the disadvantages of Douglas fir?
Douglas fir, a softwood, is more susceptible to damage from scratches, dents, and dings than harder woods. The Janka hardness scale indicates that Douglas fir has a rating of approximately 660, which is considerably lower than that of hardwoods such as oak and maple. This quality renders the wood problematic in areas with high traffic or in households with pets and children, where the floor is likely to encounter heavy or sharp objects.
Is Douglas fir suitable for outdoor use?
Douglas fir is a durable and versatile material ideal for outdoor projects like decks, patios, and fences due to its ability to withstand extreme weather conditions without rotting quickly. Cedar, with its distinctive reddish-brown hue, adds warmth and character to any room in your home and is often used in paneling or wainscoting. It can also be used as flooring, but proper sealing is necessary in water-prone areas. Cedar’s pleasant scent also helps keep moths away from clothing items stored within closets.
Is Douglas fir ok for raised beds?
Douglas fir is a durable, affordable, and environmentally friendly wood species that is commonly available for outdoor applications like raised garden beds. It resists warping, twisting, and splitting, and is resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage. Its natural beauty and warmth can enhance the overall appearance of raised beds, and its fast-growing nature makes it an eco-friendly choice.
However, Douglas fir is not as rot-resistant as other wood species like cedar or redwood, so it may require more maintenance over time to prevent rot and decay. Some Douglas fir lumber may be treated with chemicals to increase its resistance to decay and insects. If you prefer to avoid chemical treatments, look for untreated Douglas fir lumber.
Splinters can also occur in Douglas fir, which can be a concern for children or pets playing in or around raised beds. Additionally, its slightly acidic pH can lower the pH of soil, which may be a concern for plants that prefer neutral or alkaline soil.
In contrast, hemlock is a good choice for raised garden beds due to its durability, availability, affordability, aesthetics, and sustainability. However, like Douglas fir, hemlock may not be as rot-resistant as other wood species, so it may require more maintenance over time to maintain the condition of raised beds.
What is the life expectancy of Douglas fir timber?
The classification system for timber is based on a three-tiered categorization: The durability of timber can be classified as moderately durable (distress fir, 10-15 years), durable (oak and cedar, 15-25 years), or very durable (teak, greenheart, and jarrah, 25+ years). It should be noted, however, that the lifespan figures in the Class system are applicable only to timber in external, unprotected environments and do not take into account the effects of protected internal environments.
Does Douglas fir rot quickly?
Douglas Fir, a North American softwood species, is known for its strength, durability, and water and rot-resistant properties, making it a popular choice for outdoor projects like decking, siding, and framing. Its natural resins protect it from moisture damage and decay, giving it a distinctive aroma and color. Douglas Fir’s high density makes it resistant to wear and tear, making it ideal for structural applications like beams, posts, and joists. It can be easily worked with hand tools or machinery, and can be finished with oil or stain to enhance its color and protect it from UV rays.
How durable is Douglas Fir?
Douglas fir is a durable species with a life expectancy of over 35 years, making it a hardwearing species. Its high resin content allows it to be left untreated, allowing for natural weathering. The redwood color of Douglas fir is attractive, with variations of pink, brown, and cream depending on the tree cut. It is often left untreated and undergoes weathering, changing from reddy-brown to a striking silvery grey over time. Douglas fir is often characteristic with numerous knots and larger grain patterns, making it desirable for timber cladding clients.
📹 How long does untreated lumber last as a garden bed?
How long does untreated lumber last as a garden bed? That is a great question. I’m sure the answer depends on type of wood, …
I used 2×12’s and I soaked them with canola oil to keep away from using toxic chemicals and they are still functional after 10 years. They now look about the same as the ones in the article and I expect to get about another few years out of them. I am happy with the 10 plus years that the canola oil produced and just today I am experimenting with a coating of Crsico Vegetable Shortening on some untreated landscape timbers. I’m hoping that the veg grease will stay on the logs and soak in deep. My garden is in upstate N.Y., we get a lot of rain and cold winters.
I used untreated spruce 2 x 12 boards and they are into their 5th season now and just getting some wear and tear. I’m in southern Maine. I also have 3 long berms (no sides at all, just raised earth mounds) for my strawberry bed, asparagus bed and flower bed and they cost me nothing and are doing fine. I just rake up some of the fallen soil on top again each spring and add fresh compost, of course..
If they can be had Cedar is a great choice for long term. Anything in contact with the ground will eventually degrade. I managed to get some cedar from a friend who does remodeling at no cost and will be finally building some raised beds. Also going to line them with some corrugated material to allow a bit of air flow and keep the dirt away from the wood. I’m on the borderline about using wood treated with the newer methods. Definitely would use wood treated with the older methods.
I live in Mississippi and I’m certain untreated won’t last long at all. Termites are terrible. I’m learning toward treated but what I’m thinking is building some tables or platforms to sit pots on. After a couple of years removed the treated table top boards and repurpose for garden bed. I would be ok eating from a garden bed then once the wood has had time to dry out.
We scratched our head quite a bit on what to use for our raised beds. One thing we wanted to do at Dancing Sheltie Farms was do things (such as raise vegetables) as close to or under if possible the cost for buying them. Our planned 8 5×10 beds would have cost hundreds of dollars to build if we had used lumber so we will be using logs from the trees we need to fell for our pasture. One thing people often list as an excuse for not getting into gardening and things of that nature is that the cost is too high, we hope through trial and error to develop methods that cost less money and take less time than simply going to the grocery store.
Hi Blake! A few years back I put in raised beds using untreated lumber, the boards (2x?) lasted a good 6 to 7 years. Probably had to do with the colder climate up here in the north (Wisconsin) where I live. I’m just guessing, of course. By the way – I just watched the article where you put in the firewood log raised bed. Question I have is – what did you put on the ground before you added the mulch to the path? It looks like paper or was it plastic? I’m planning a garden overhaul next season so any information I can gather would be helpful. Thanks!
Planning to make some raised beds this spring. Will probably last a little bit longer because we don’t have the threat of termites at al here ! 🙂 I saw that some people treated their planks with cooking oil. A natural substance that wouldn’t give a negative effect on the plants you are growing like treated planks can give. Anyone got experience with that?
I have some treated compressed wood which I got from a garden centre, I used these to make beds for the last 6 years . The garden center was getting rid of them because they were changing the whole store design. Some of them are getting rotten but some are still good. There is some debate still around about treated or untreated wood. I do not know. Cheers
Here how we do it in the south to save the dough. If you want to use non-treated lumber outside in any capacity…do this. Mix 4 parts anti-freeze with 1 part boric acid. Use a sprayer and spray it. Anti-freeze must be the old bird killing Ethylene glycol formula. Lasts for decades. This one-two punch takes care of insects and decay.