Railroad ties
oosul
16 years ago
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russh_nepa
16 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Used railroad ties to create raised garden/what to do now?
Comments (41)"It stands to reason, that if the creosote affects the soil biology, it would affect the nutritional density of the plants themselves. " And there is the flaw in the argument that has been repeatedly tested and repudiated. The maximum effect on any soil biology by any plant-based creosote toxicity remaining in the commonly used old RR ties consistently tests out as as little as 0.5" to a max of 6" max and that that range declines rapidly with exposure. 6" is the margin of spacing that is OMRI recommended when using them. Nor is there any scientific proof that the affected soil biology in any way affects the plants grown in it. This is an old issue, just like the claims made against pressure treated wood use, based on old practices that have long been discontinued and unsubstantiated claims of contamination. Keeping the argument alive and rehashing it over and over again only serves to confuse and create apprehension among new gardeners who chose to make their beds out of old RR ties. It is a personal choice. Don't use them if you don't wish to. Dave...See More100 year old railroad ties - safe?
Comments (4)loveapplefarm: Just as a point of fact, NO chemically treated wood is allowed in the production of organic or certified organic products. When your property/farm is inspected for certification, believe me, it's one of the FIRST things they look for. Thankfully, when we buy certified organic produce, we KNOW it was not grown in a bed surrounded by railroad ties or other chemically-treated wood. What is your motivation for wanting to use such material--because it's free, or cheap? If you think it through, even free material which has been injected with a known carcinogen, could be hazardhous to your (and your family's) health, and really not worth the risk. Organics is based on working with natural products. I, personally, wouldn't want that stuff anywhere on my property, whether it involved food production, or not. I have a friend who grows Kiwi Fruit in Southern California, and (because he works for the power company and gets them free) uses pieces of telephone poles for the poles in his trellis system. As much as I like Kiwi Fruit, I have to pass on the bushel of them he tries to give me each year....See MoreRailroad ties and raised beds
Comments (25)Just remember, RR ties get to be heavy after a while. If you are lifting them and they're light-weight, the core's already been eaten out by termites. RR ties are fine in some areas, I don't recommend them around your house just because of the termite vector, especially here in the south. If it's a large, mounded bed, veggies up in center where water's always washing down really isnt a problem. But I would not plant veggies immediately behind RR ties. At least a few rows back where you have maybe marigolds and garlic and onions in front as pest deterants would be the minimum distance I'd put tomatoes back from RR ties, just knowing cresote chemistry and leaching. But again, a raised bed with mounded soil will limit much of the back-leaching and instead have it flow down and away from your plants anyway. The more vertical clearance past the RR ties down to the ground the better, as it will encourage a 'safer' removal of the cresote. Otherwise, busted up concrete and hauling off rocks from construction sites works for me. I've only bought some cobblestone pavers to edge out central areas I'm around a lot, and use the rougher stuff elsewhere....See MoreWhat is your opinion on Railroad ties?
Comments (2)This is from an EPA document 6. Are railroad ties safe for me to use for landscaping around my home? There are no approved uses of creosote to treat wood for residential use. The Agency is aware that creosote-treated railroad ties are being used in the residential setting for landscape purposes and, in some instances, as a border around gardens. Such uses in residential settings are not intended uses of creosote and have not been considered in the preliminary risk assessment. If you do have creosote-treated wood in your yard, you are reminded to consult the handling precautions outlined above in this document....See Morepeggy_g
16 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
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16 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
16 years agofranktank232
16 years agojustaguy2
16 years agotrubbadubbadoo
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13 years agoabinc_aol_com
13 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
13 years agoabinc_aol_com
13 years agojolj
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9 years agodavid52 Zone 6
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20 days agojolj1
20 days agotsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
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19 days ago
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