Selecting the correct type of treated wood can reduce risks to people and the environment. Some preservatives can leach into soil or water and be taken up by plants. Touching treated wood may also leave residues on the skin. Consider that some treated wood may protect against both mold and insects, and some may only protect against molds.
Consider these tips when using treated wood in the garden or home:
- Some types of treated wood are not approved for use at home. Check that the wood type is approved for your project by reading the label attached to the wood.
- Consider using wood that is naturally resistant to decay. Other options include synthetic lumber, bricks, concrete blocks, or stone for building projects.
- Consider wearing gloves when handling unsealed treated wood to reduce exposure to your skin.
- Consider wearing a dust mask while cutting treated wood to avoid breathing treated sawdust. Even dust from untreated wood can irritate a person's airways.
- Never burn treated wood. Toxic chemicals can be released in the smoke.
- Consider sealing wood with a specialized sealant or paint. This barrier keeps chemicals from leaching out of wood and into soil.
- Using a sealant can reduce residues that transfer to the skin when people handle treated wood.
- Wash dirt off of vegetables grown in beds with treated wood. The soil can have higher amounts of wood preservatives than the vegetables themselves.
- Consider placing edible plants further away from the edges of treated planters. Soils right next to treated wood are likely to have higher amounts of chemicals from the wood.
Additional resources about home use:
- Select the right preserved wood for your project - American Wood Protection Association (AWPA)
- Information for Homeowners on Treated Wood - American Wood Protection Association (AWPA)
- Paint, stain, varnish, or preservative? It’s your choice - USDA Forest Products Laboratory
- Wood Handbook, Chapter 15: Wood Preservation - USDA Forest Products Laboratory
Additional resources about garden use:
- Toxicity Concerns about Raised Bed Construction Materials - Iowa State University Extension
- Treated Wood in the Landscape - Clemson Cooperative Extension
- Treated Wood on Organic Farms - University of Tennessee
- Landscaping and gardening in arsenic and lead contaminated soil - Washington Department of Ecology
If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email us at npic@ace.orst.edu.
Last updated April 20, 2023
