Safe Landscaping Timbers

If you are looking to frame up your landscape or build elevated garden beds, be certain the wood has not been treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA, a pesticide) or creosote (a preservative). Both are known health hazards. An EPA mandate bans manufacturers from treating wood for residential uses with CCA, but it is still found on all types of pressure-treated lumber. More information on CCA is available at www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/cca_qa.htm. Visit www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/creosote_prelim_risk_assess.htm for more information on creosote, found mostly on railroad ties and utility poles.

Look for landscape timbers that are untreated or treated only with borate. Or opt for composite lumber made of wood or recycled plastic. Another great option for planting bed construction is to buy the kits of untreated cedar from Gardener's Supply, www.gardenersupply.com.