Garden Border

Derby · February 17, 2013

I finally convinced my husband that two tomato plants per person (counting the toddler and dog) is insufficient! We're expanding the garden as soon as it warms up.

Our garden is currently bordered by badly crumbling railroad ties. Our soil is less than ideal so we end up doing a fair amount of amendment most years. The height on the ties has been helpful for keeping that process contained.

I've read that used railroad ties or pressure treated lumber may leach dangerous chemicals into the soil. It seems like raw timber would crumble in no time. I'd love to get recommendations on what you have used or what you would never use again.

Paul R · February 18, 2013

My neighbor uses the plastic deck boards, 5/4 x 8", a little expensive, but lasts for years.

Paul R

tjcnok · February 18, 2013

Blessed with an abundance of sand stone. Makes great garden borders and is going to last much longer than me.

Father'sDaughter · February 18, 2013

I snagged a bunch of the plastic raised bed kits on clearance at Home Depot a few years ago for about a quarter of what the normally sold for. They're holding up pretty well, but I am starting to get some bowing in a few spots. If I had to do it over again and money wasn't an issue, I think I would choose concrete retaining wall blocks.

Not only would they be more permanent, I would also have something to stand on to reach the taller plants. Balancing like a tightrope walker on the narrow edge of a board is do-able, but one of these days I know I'll fall and probably take a couple of plants down with me!

Tapout · February 23, 2013

Hi derby, I am kinda in the same boat as you. I am going to plant in 5 gallon buckets and in ground this season, but eventually turn the in ground portion into a raised bed. I thought about what to use for edges that would be cheap, and came up with a few ideas.

Block seconds:

Block companies usually sell seconds. A second is something that doesn't meet the quality of a first. I used to work with masonry.

Logs:

If you have access to woodlands and have permission to cut, logs work well and last for years. You just notch the ends and stack them like a log cabin.

Old barns that are falling down:

You can ask the owners if you could use some of the lumber for your project. Most barns are made from oak.

Used pallets:

A lot of places toss used pallets out and don't mind giving them away.

Doug9345 · February 23, 2013

For pallets one place to get pallets with longer pieces is a farm equipment dealer. They'll have their spring equipment come in very soon and it comes in wood and cardboard containers.

Tormato · February 23, 2013

Be careful.

There still might be pressure treated wood around made with copper arsenate. Also, wood pallets are sometimes treated with "who knows what".

But then, I use 100+ year old bricks, and other than local clay and some sand, I have no idea what's in them.

Dr. L

ve Apple

bower · February 23, 2013

If your railway ties are crumbling, that's the worst condition for maximum leaching, good idea to remove them. On the plus side, growing tomatoes or peppers in arsenic-contaminated soil is less hazardous than growing root crops or leafy greens, which take up more metal into the edible portion.

I use rocks because we have lots of them. (Oh, lots!)

I've also used old pieces of 2X6 that were treated with linseed oil: they last fairly well, and when they start to rot I use them around the compost pile and let em decompose at will, then burn the old scraps and start again....

Best to use gloves when removing the ties, try to get all the crumbly bits, and treat it as you would any hazardous waste.

Father'sDaughter · February 23, 2013

Another source for blocks/bricks is Craigslist. I often come across ads for stuff like this that someone has sitting on their property and needs them to go away. They're often either free or super cheap if you have a way to transport them.

janezee · February 25, 2013

I've been using untreated 2 by Douglas fir. 3 years, and no sign of wear yet. I use soaker hoses with.

j

TightenUp · February 25, 2013

i just dug out a new garden bed and stacked to sod on top of each other to form about a foot high wall around the garden. not sure this is a long term solution but its working for now.

NewWestGardener · February 28, 2013

I doubled Hardie Plank (cement boards for siding) boards for mine, painted with exterior latex, and lined with landscape fabric, it's been 3 years, no sign of wear and tear, I think they will last forever until I am bored with them, then I will just repaint them to a different color. The stuff is cement that carries a 50 year warranty as sidings, good stuff. I will use them again.

February 17, 2013	#1
Derby Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central IL (5b) Posts: 20	Garden Border I finally convinced my husband that two tomato plants per person (counting the toddler and dog) is insufficient! We're expanding the garden as soon as it warms up. Our garden is currently bordered by badly crumbling railroad ties. Our soil is less than ideal so we end up doing a fair amount of amendment most years. The height on the ties has been helpful for keeping that process contained. I've read that used railroad ties or pressure treated lumber may leach dangerous chemicals into the soil. It seems like raw timber would crumble in no time. I'd love to get recommendations on what you have used or what you would never use again.

February 23, 2013	#7
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Be careful. There still might be pressure treated wood around made with copper arsenate. Also, wood pallets are sometimes treated with "who knows what". But then, I use 100+ year old bricks, and other than local clay and some sand, I have no idea what's in them. Dr. Lve Apple

February 25, 2013	#11
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	i just dug out a new garden bed and stacked to sod on top of each other to form about a foot high wall around the garden. not sure this is a long term solution but its working for now. __________________

February 18, 2013	#2
Paul R Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Avilla IN Posts: 300	My neighbor uses the plastic deck boards, 5/4 x 8", a little expensive, but lasts for years. Paul R

February 18, 2013	#3
tjcnok Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 19	Blessed with an abundance of sand stone. Makes great garden borders and is going to last much longer than me.

February 18, 2013	#4
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I snagged a bunch of the plastic raised bed kits on clearance at Home Depot a few years ago for about a quarter of what the normally sold for. They're holding up pretty well, but I am starting to get some bowing in a few spots. If I had to do it over again and money wasn't an issue, I think I would choose concrete retaining wall blocks. Not only would they be more permanent, I would also have something to stand on to reach the taller plants. Balancing like a tightrope walker on the narrow edge of a board is do-able, but one of these days I know I'll fall and probably take a couple of plants down with me!

February 23, 2013	#5
Tapout Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 355	Hi derby, I am kinda in the same boat as you. I am going to plant in 5 gallon buckets and in ground this season, but eventually turn the in ground portion into a raised bed. I thought about what to use for edges that would be cheap, and came up with a few ideas. Block seconds: Block companies usually sell seconds. A second is something that doesn't meet the quality of a first. I used to work with masonry. Logs: If you have access to woodlands and have permission to cut, logs work well and last for years. You just notch the ends and stack them like a log cabin. Old barns that are falling down: You can ask the owners if you could use some of the lumber for your project. Most barns are made from oak. Used pallets: A lot of places toss used pallets out and don't mind giving them away.

February 23, 2013	#6
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	For pallets one place to get pallets with longer pieces is a farm equipment dealer. They'll have their spring equipment come in very soon and it comes in wood and cardboard containers.

February 23, 2013	#8
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	If your railway ties are crumbling, that's the worst condition for maximum leaching, good idea to remove them. On the plus side, growing tomatoes or peppers in arsenic-contaminated soil is less hazardous than growing root crops or leafy greens, which take up more metal into the edible portion. I use rocks because we have lots of them. (Oh, lots!) I've also used old pieces of 2X6 that were treated with linseed oil: they last fairly well, and when they start to rot I use them around the compost pile and let em decompose at will, then burn the old scraps and start again.... Best to use gloves when removing the ties, try to get all the crumbly bits, and treat it as you would any hazardous waste.

February 25, 2013	#10
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	I've been using untreated 2 by Douglas fir. 3 years, and no sign of wear yet. I use soaker hoses with. j

February 28, 2013	#12
NewWestGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 564	I doubled Hardie Plank (cement boards for siding) boards for mine, painted with exterior latex, and lined with landscape fabric, it's been 3 years, no sign of wear and tear, I think they will last forever until I am bored with them, then I will just repaint them to a different color. The stuff is cement that carries a 50 year warranty as sidings, good stuff. I will use them again.