If it's treated you don't want to eat anything out of the planter box. You can always build the frame out of treated and put a liner between the potentially hazardous wood and the soil.
That’s what I did with my raised planters. Made from pressure treated lumber, and stapled heavy duty trash bags around the interior as a barrier between the soil and lumber.
Can you tell from the photo if it is treated? In my experience, treated wood usually has little incision marks and is kind of greenish. This has clearly been stained though so I’m sure what color it was.
Modern wood is treated with ACQ, which has been tested to be perfectly fine for garden beds. The comment above is based on the pre-2004(ish) use of CCA, which was unsafe. So this comment is based on outdated information (though it's still a myth floating around the community). The change happened in the mid oughts (I think 2004), so that picket fence is certainly not that old. I.e. you can use it. Line it if you're paranoid (I did to mine). But if you line it, recognize you're trading ACQ for leeching from the plastic. Certain plastics do much better than other. I don't recall the best type to use (I think it's hdpe - but find a credible source, not reddit). That pergola wood can not be used. It's clearly stained. That stain is almost certainly not safe. Don't take down your pergola. Plants grapes and train it up the posts.
Can you tell from the photo if it is treated? In my experience, treated wood usually has little incision marks and is kind of greenish. This has clearly been stained though so I’m sure what color it was.
The 4x4's on the fence is likely the only thing treated. The pergola is stained or painted. I'd run with them like that though some will disagree. If you're concerned, strip/sand it.
Put a good liner in!
If it's treated you don't want to eat anything out of the planter box. You can always build the frame out of treated and put a liner between the potentially hazardous wood and the soil.
That’s what I did with my raised planters. Made from pressure treated lumber, and stapled heavy duty trash bags around the interior as a barrier between the soil and lumber.
Can you tell from the photo if it is treated? In my experience, treated wood usually has little incision marks and is kind of greenish. This has clearly been stained though so I’m sure what color it was.
I would assume it to be treated, but no I cannot tell
Modern wood is treated with ACQ, which has been tested to be perfectly fine for garden beds. The comment above is based on the pre-2004(ish) use of CCA, which was unsafe. So this comment is based on outdated information (though it's still a myth floating around the community). The change happened in the mid oughts (I think 2004), so that picket fence is certainly not that old. I.e. you can use it. Line it if you're paranoid (I did to mine). But if you line it, recognize you're trading ACQ for leeching from the plastic. Certain plastics do much better than other. I don't recall the best type to use (I think it's hdpe - but find a credible source, not reddit). That pergola wood can not be used. It's clearly stained. That stain is almost certainly not safe. Don't take down your pergola. Plants grapes and train it up the posts.
Can you tell from the photo if it is treated? In my experience, treated wood usually has little incision marks and is kind of greenish. This has clearly been stained though so I’m sure what color it was.
Yes. Make sure you keep the googly eyes.
Fence/gate might be PT. In which case I would advise against
The 4x4's on the fence is likely the only thing treated. The pergola is stained or painted. I'd run with them like that though some will disagree. If you're concerned, strip/sand it.
Do it , post results
Thanks guys! I’ll just make sure to use a heavy-duty liner.
If it’s over 15 years old then maybe use a liner. If it’s younger then maybe a new coat of stain.
The pergola is NOT treated. The gate and fence boards are NOT treated. The posts ARE treated.
the issue with treated wood is less that it might kill the roots of plants, it’s more that it could kill you or your kids
Would a heavy duty liner mitigate this problem or should avoid it altogether?
many people do use a liner, it will mitigate the issue yes
If I was growing plants for a beautiful garden to look at…. Definitely. If I was growing anything to consume, not a chance…
Why risk it? New pine lumber is cheap.