Railroad Ties Safe For Plants

This used tie works great for nonstructural earth retaining projects where the appearance is not critical. However because creosote is toxic new ties can cause growth problems for plants that are sensitive to it. I asked him if they were treated wood and he said he didn t know.

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You can line your beds with plastic to prevent contact between the soil and wood if you like.

Railroad ties safe for plants. The epa has not approved creosote as a wood treatment for residential use. Creosote is a tar like substance used to protect the railroad ties against the elements. Product may vary by store. Regular lumber begins to break down within the first year if it comes in contact with the soil so many gardeners used to use pressure treated wood for gardening such as landscape timbers and railroad ties which is chemically treated to withstand the weather.

That they were there when he purchased the house. For your next decking project consider using the 7 in. The reason the epa has made illegal the use of treated railroad ties in vegetable gardens is the fact that they are treated with coal tar creosote a pesticide registered both with the epa and. If the wood is oozing black creosote or has an odor it shouldn t be used.

The previous owner had many garden beds and the one he used for vegetables had old timbers surrounding it that looked questionable. Make sure you understand the risks of using creosote railroad ties in your landscaping. The newer plant based creosotes that they are using on the majority of railroad ties now are far less toxic then the creosote that used to be used on railroad ties that has caused the majority of the belief of their toxicity. Railroad ties are common in older landscapes but are old railroad ties safe for gardening.

But is it safe. The creosote on the treated railroad ties is considered a toxic substance and can contaminate groundwater and soil. Railroad ties are not legal for home landscape use. You can find old railroad ties for sale even at garden centers which makes the question confusing.

Railroad ties are commonly used for landscaping and yard projects. Used creosote treated railroad tie. I recently bought a house just over the pennsylvania border in maryland. Railroad ties are treated wood steeped in a toxic stew of chemicals chief of which is creosote.

Creosote is a tarlike substance that has long been used as a wood preservative most commonly in utility poles fence posts and railroad ties. Railroad ties are treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote and chromated copper arsenate. Both of these chemicals are banned for residential use and they re potentially harmful to humans and plants. For your next decking project consider using the 7 in.