Hello,
I am interested in making raised beds in the garden. I have not done this before, so I have a couple of questions:
I am thinking of using wood due to cost, i.e. it is cheap. I see some people use pressure treated decking boards like these:
Is this the best timber to use?
Is there a danger of the preservative leaching into the soil? I was hoping to grow some vegetables to eat and do not want to poison myself!
Some web sites suggest putting a plastic sheet between the wood and the soil to prevent this contamination but other web sites do not mention it; is it necessary?
What is the best way to screw four pieces of timber together to make a rectangular raised bed? I was thinking that I would need to sue a piece of 2x2 in each corner and screw into these. Half of the 2x2 could be buried in the ground to anchor it.
However, is anchoring necessary: will the weight of the soil no hold it in place?
Do I need to 2x2 at all, as I have seen some beds where the ends have been butted together and just screwed through.
What is the best way of doing things?
Thanks, Stephen.