Anonymous wrote:I like the idea, but I don’t think you should use treated lumber to build garden beds, especially if it’s going to be a vegetable garden. Manufacturers use some pretty toxic stuff to keep their outdoor wood products free of rot and pests.

This, for plants its ok, but not vegetables. I would buy PVC boards. We used woods and termites got them after a few years and we had to switch.

Anonymous wrote:I repurposed my kid’s climbing structure into an arbor/trellis thing. I didn’t take it apart but instead took off all the plastic and metal rods, ladders, swings. That left a wood timber structure. I built a bench inside and then planted native wisteria and honeysuckle to grow up and over it. It’s a little odd, I must say, but it’s unique and it works!

Now that sounds pretty!

I repurposed my kid’s climbing structure into an arbor/trellis thing. I didn’t take it apart but instead took off all the plastic and metal rods, ladders, swings. That left a wood timber structure. I built a bench inside and then planted native wisteria and honeysuckle to grow up and over it. It’s a little odd, I must say, but it’s unique and it works!

Don't use it if it was pressure treated. They soak it in all sorts of chemicals to make it not rot in the ground.

I like the idea, but I don’t think you should use treated lumber to build garden beds, especially if it’s going to be a vegetable garden. Manufacturers use some pretty toxic stuff to keep their outdoor wood products free of rot and pests.

… to build several garden bed frames for growing veggies and flowers.

My kids are now teens and have outgrown their childhood play set. It’s one of those large high-end, solid wood structure brands and has held up better than expected.

Which brings me to my current repurposing idea: Taking the set completely apart and using just the wood timbers to build 3 ten-feet long, rectangular garden bed frames (no bottoms). The frames will go right back onto the already leveled and mulched area where the play set currently sits.

Looking for any been-there, tried that (re-using old lumber in the garden), regrets and lessons learned? Does the type of wood matter? Age? Fact that it’s been stained?

Any good websites with DIY frame plans that you or someone you know has personally had long-term success with?

Also, anyone think the ground needs to be prepped?

Finally, looking for places near NoVA to buy and have delivered the necessary bulk soil and amendments in the Spring.
Thanks!