Treated Wood for Food Arbor?
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Screaming Eagle
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Jul-25-2007 at 12:41pm
I'm contemplating an arbor for growing a pair of kiwis and perhaps other edibles. I'm envisioning 3 posts, an overhead beam and the heavy duty wire mesh (can't remember what it's called but it's stiff) between them. Should I be concerned about using treated wood for the posts: the vine would be in contact with it, plus one could end up touching it, touching the front and it ending up in one's mouth. If I shouldn't use treated wood, what would be recommended instead? I guess cedar would work but not sure how much more expensive it is--I'll have to price it. Thanks for any advice you can give.
Just living is not enough...one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower... -Hans Christian Anderson
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Jul-25-2007 at 1:39pm
Before 2003, it was not recommended to use pressure treated wood for edibles. Admittedly, the techniques to produce pressure treated wood are not as casutic now, but I would still stay away from using it on edibles, just to be safe.
Here's a link on discussing pressure treated wood. I would probably use cedar anyway for an arbor because I like the look better, although kiwis do grow fast.
Jeanne
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Jul-30-2007 at 12:11pm
If you do an arbor that has four sides to it you can use the post saddles and cement them in. That keeps the wood out of contact with the ground so cedar will last a lot longer. I heard cedar lasts 5 years in the ground but my mailbox arbor was put in place 8 years ago and no sign of rot yet. Of course what I don't see could be a different story.
Screaming Eagle
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Jul-30-2007 at 2:52pm
The post saddles and cedar sounds like the way to go. Thanks for the feedback!
Just living is not enough...one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower... -Hans Christian Anderson
Rainforest
Location: Washington, Olympic Peninsula
Posted: Jul-31-2007 at 6:25am
Here's a hint for using untreated wood. Get a couple cans of the spray on undercoating for cars. Put a good heavy coat on the part going in the ground. I have yellow pine that has been in soil contact for 5 years and still solid. You can do your own home treatment by using an oil base wood finish thinned with mineral spirits. Make a trough with sheet plastic and soak the lumber for 4 hours, then let dry.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
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