PtW For garden beds

Photo by Viance Can pressure treated lumber be used for raised garden beds?

While there is scientific consensus that treated wood can be used for garden and vegetable beds, the information below explains what chemicals are used in Viance ground contact treated wood for residential use and the results of numerous scientific studies.

The American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) specifies the use of treated lumber for horticultural purposes to be Ground Contact. In the AWPA Book of Standards, copper azole (CA) and alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) are listed preservatives for Ground Contact use in residential applications. CA is widely available under the brand name Preserve and is sold at 84 Lumber and independent lumber dealers across North America. ACQ is being replaced with CA-C or CA-B, prompted by the demand for quaternary needed in cleaning products due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

CA and ACQ preservatives contain copper, the primary fungicide and termiticide in Viance’s Ground Contact product. The fungicide prevents soil fungus from attacking the lumber and works to deter insects, including termites. Copper is also a common fungicide for food crops used by consumers for growing vegetables and is a disinfectant in swimming pool chemicals.

Of interest to the home gardener is whether any of the preservative components in treated wood used to construct a raised bed garden could render the food crop unsafe for consumption. The available evidence suggests no.

New Research Study in Progress

Dr. Gerald Presley, assistant professor at Oregon State University, began a small-scale study in 2020 on metal leaching in treated wood garden boxes. After one year, the data shows no difference in copper (Cu) content in vegetable matter harvested from treated or untreated boxes. Dr. Presley will plant each year, rotating crops, and monitor metals over a four- to five-year time period. The goal is to annually sample soil and crops to build a large, long-term dataset on many vegetables over the life of a garden box.

Dr. Presley explains, “We still have a few more samples to process from year one, but from what we see now there does not appear to be any measurable impact of treated wood garden boxes on metal levels in vegetables.”

Annual data from this study will be presented at the AWPA meeting and published in the proceedings. Data will also be available to members of the Environmental Performance of Treated Wood Research Cooperative in annual reports.

Prior Research

John Harrison, president of JRH Toxicology, a consulting firm specializing in scientific advice to the industry and government, writes in 2017 that CA and ACQ have been carefully evaluated for safety and registered by the Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for use in residential construction applications. He stated in a bulletin

titled Treated Wood in Raised Bed Gardening, “Scientific evidence and data have shown that using pressure treated wood for raised bed or box gardening is safe to adults and children in terms of the plants grown and used in these containers.”

He further explains, “All chemicals in consumer products have a toxicity and most are very low, so they are not a problem, especially those regulated by the federal government. This is also the case with currently registered wood preservatives that contain copper. In fact, small amounts of copper are necessary for human and plant life and termed “an essential trace element.”

Dr. Scott Leavengood, associate professor, College of Forestry at Oregon State University, and director of the Oregon Wood Innovation Center, authored an article for the OSU Extension Service, titled “Raised Bed Lumber, Pressure Treated Safe?” In this article, Leavengood gives his opinion that the consensus among researchers is that the low levels of chemicals in preservative treated wood that leach out of the wood into the soil are likely to be taken up by the plants only in very small amounts. There has been no evidence to suggest that the level of the chemicals is significant enough to be of concern for human health.

In a 2014 study, wood research scientists Love, Gardner and Morrell at Oregon State University found that in growing radishes, carrots and potatoes in a copper azole treated Douglas-fir planter, the copper levels were not higher in roots or tubers of radishes, carrots or potatoes compared to beds constructed from untreated wood. They also stated that when people are concerned about the migration of wood preservatives, they can use polyethylene (plastic) to line the inside of the planter. Their scientific results indicated that although plastic lining is “not entirely necessary,” it can be used if there are safety concerns. The use of a plastic barrier will also extend the life of the preserved wood and help keep the raised bed garden soil within the bed area. For proper drainage, the plastic material should not be used underneath the raised bed garden.

Safe practices for working with treated wood recommend treated wood not be used where it may come into direct or indirect contact with drinking water or a component of food, animal feed or beehives. The USDA prohibits treated lumber for soil contact use in their certified National Organic Program published in 2011. The updated draft dated September 5, 2018, states that CA and ACQ are not currently allowed because they are not included on the National List of allowed synthetic materials (7 CFR part 205, page 425).

Viance recommends for those who have concerns to line the interior walls only with heavy plastic sheeting. There have been no justified claims that today’s treated lumber causes any negative effects from leaching into the soil.

– Edie Kello is director of marketing for Viance (treatedwood. com), an industry leader in the development of wood treatment technologies and services. Reach her at ekello@viance.net.

New series details green benefits of treated wood

ConsuMers are becoMing more aware of the environmental impact of the products they are buying. For preserved wood, a new series of information sheets will help answer those questions and increase the public’s understanding of the green benefits of this wood.

PreserveWise is a new series of publications developed by WWPI that provides critical information on how preserved wood is an environmentally friendly choice for building materials.

The first in the series, “Sustainability of Preserved Wood Products,” was released in early March. The twopage guide reviews why wood offers many advantages over other materials, from the sustainability of our forest resources to the longevity of preserved wood in service. It notes that pressure treating wood products can keep in place for decades, long enough to grow a new tree that can become a replacement.

Three more titles are planned in the series. These include preserved wood and carbon sequestration, life cycle assessments comparing materials and the safety of today’s preservatives.

The PreserveWise sheet on sustainability can be downloaded at no charge from the online technical library at www.preservedwood.org.

NEW SERIES of info sheets digs deep into the environmental benefits of pressure treated wood

Woodgrain to Acquire Huttig

Woodgrain Inc., Fruitland, Id., has agreed to purchase national distributor Huttig Building Products, St. Louis, Mo., in an all-cash transaction valued at $10.70 per share, or approximately $350 million including the assumption of debt.

The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2022, is subject to regulatory approval and was unanimously approved by the Huttig board.

Woodgrain is a leading millwork company, with six divisions and over 30 manufacturing and warehouse facilities in the U.S. and Chile.

Huttig, now in its 138th year of business, is one of the largest domestic distributors of millwork, building materials, and wood products, with 25 distribution centers serving 41 states.

Brooks Using UltraArm NXT

Brooks Manufacturing has begun production of crossarms with Viance’s UltraArm NXT at its manufacturing facility in Bellingham, Wa.

Serving utilities across the country, Douglas fir crossarms will now be treated with the environmentally advanced UltraArm NXT with DCOI. DCOI is the active ingredient, whose properties are also used in Ecolife residential decking, marine antifouling paint, shower curtains and many other consumer products.

Shannon Terrell, Brooks president and CEO, said, “UltraArm NXT offers an environmentally advanced preservative that aligns with our mission to provide the highest quality crossarms in the industry. Brooks’ wood products originate from sustainable forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.”

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NEWS Briefs

Ojai Lumber Co., Ojai, Ca., celebrating its 75th anniversary, is now for sale with the coming retirement of owners Richard and Sheryl McArthur.

Sustainable Green Team,

Ltd., Apopka, Fl., is taking over the former Interfor mill sites in Forks and Beaver, Wa., hoping to be up and running within two years.

Building Material Distribu-

tors, Galt, Ca., will distribute Spartan Railing’s frameless glass railing system to dealers in California and select counties in Nevada.

Beacon opened a new OTC (On-Time and Complete) hub in Pico Rivera, Ca.

Ipé Woods USA, Salt Lake City, Ut., opened a new warehouse and contractor showroom in Kennesaw, Ga.

LP Building Solutions finalized

the sale of its 50% equity interest in two Canadian joint ventures that produce I-joists to Resolute Forest Products.

CRH plc agreed to sell Oldcastle Building-Envelope to KPS Capital Partners for $3.45 billion.

Cornerstone Building Brands

agreed to be acquired by affiliatesof Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.

Stanley Black & Decker, New

Britain, Ct., is pursuing repurchase of $2 billion in company’s common stock.

American Wood Council

has released an update to the mobile apps and web-based Maximum Span Calculator for Wood Joists and Rafters to include the design values as found in the 2018 National Design Specification for Wood Construction Supplement.

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TAL Holdings Buying Orofino Builders Supply

TAL Holdings, Vancouver, Wa., has agreed to acquire five-unit Idaho dealer Orofino Builders Supply, including five locations in Grangeville, Kamiah, Lewiston and Orofino, Id.

Last year TAL entered Idaho, as well as Montana, when it bought four Badger Building Centers.

“Finding the right partner was very important to us,” said fourth-generation owner Will Crockett. “TAL understands the importance of upholding our legacy while at the same time investing in continued growth. We are excited to benefit from the resources and scale of a larger organization.”

The chain was founded in 1928 by his great-grandfather, Oren Crockett.

The yards are expected to open as part of the TAL family on April 11. Orofino’s individual locations currently operate under several names. In the coming months, all five will transition to the Best Built Builders Supply banner.

“The change, which was initiated by Will and his team before acquisition discussions began, will unify the brand and create consistency for employees and customers,” Blair said. “We will continue to use the Windows, Doors & Store branding for design centers as a sub-brand of Best Built Builders Supply.”

TAL currently operates 19 locations including Badger Building Center, Bayview Building Supply of Elma, Browne’s Home Center, Gerretsen Building Supply, Lake Chelan Building Supply, Marson & Marson Lumber, Midway Building Supply, Mount Vernon Building Center, and Tum-A-Lum Lumber.

Metrie to Acquire EL & EL

Metrie, North America’s largest manufacturer and distributor of MDF millwork solutions, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Chino, Ca.-based EL & EL Wood Products Corp., two-step distributor of moulding, millwork, and door products across the Southwest U.S.

“Metrie is growing,” noted president and CEO Kent Bowie. “However, we (previously) had a relatively small distribution footprint in California, the fifth largest economy in the world. This acquisition strengthens our efforts to provide the millwork industry with innovative solutions and will solidify our leadership position for customers across all North American markets. Importantly, Metrie and EL & EL share similar values and approaches to our service offering. We are both family-owned and have been nurturing our customer partnerships for generations with a long-term view to success.”

“This transaction is the perfect one for the EL & EL team,” agreed EL & EL president and chairwoman Cathy Wong. “We have been family-owned for more than 50 years, and we want to ensure the excellence of operations and customer service, for which EL & EL is rightly proud, continues long into the future. It is time for me to pass the baton forward. We know that Metrie will take great care of that service promise and continue to grow the business and the relationships with our customers across the Southwest.”

Based in Vancouver, B.C., Metrie operates six solid wood and MDF manufacturing facilities, plus 24 distribution centers in the U.S. and Canada.

Bond Will Fund Big Plans for Arizona’s NewLife

NewLife Forest Restoration LLC, Bellemont, Az., has raised new funding to scale its forest restoration activities and reduce the incidence of catastrophic wildfires.

The company closed a $200-million “sustainability-linked” bond financing to fund the expansion of NewLife’s wood products manufacturing facilities and forest restoration capacity, enabling a significant increase in annual acreage restored. The bond issued by the Arizona Industrial Development Authority is one of the first of its kind in the U.S. “green bond” market and mandates specific forest restoration targets.

“These funds transform our company’s ability to lift Arizona’s forest restoration efforts to the much-needed level of scale,” said NewLife CEO Ted Dergousoff. “Not only will we accomplish our core mission, which is to restore the health of the forests and prevent wildfires, but we will make the whole industry sustainable and profitable.”

NewLife will use the proceeds of the bond to complete the build-out of its 425,000-sq. ft. industrial facility in Bellemont, which will include a new highspeed sawmill, planer mill, and dry kilns. It will also double the capacity of its engineered wood products plant and significantly expand the capacity of its Lumberjack sawmill near Heber, Az.

Production from the new sawmill will commence in the next six months and scale to full capacity in 2023.

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