If you have decided to get a wood garden bed you have three choices of timber. Cypress, Red gum and Treated pine ACQ is considered the "safer" alternative to CCA treated pine. (Do NOT use CCA treated pine)
The Cypress we use is sustainably grown here in Australia, it’s the highest durability rating of all timbers according to the CSIRO "class 1" Cypress is naturally very resistant to both rot and insect attack. Cypress is the organic environmentally conscious gardener’s choice. Cypress Wood garden beds ar
e the best choice in my opinion.
Red gum wood garden beds come in a close second. Red gum is a very durable wood that is highly rot resistant the CSIRO also rates this as a "class 1" wood. The red gum we use is sustainably harvested from non old growth.
Many people still love to use treated pine, if the plan it to make a wood garden bed for growing vegetables I would stay clear of it and stick to some of the natural alternatives. Although ACQ treated pine is supposed to be suitable for this application. ACQ wood is not to be confused with the CCA. CCA treated wood is not suitable. ACQ is usually made form plantation pine, so is a sustainable wood.
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Wicking beds
We now stock wicking bed boxes, these are a great alternative to high drainage sand. Garden beds require less fill and can hold more water, lasting longer between the hot weeks in the peak of summer.
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