Can i use timer decking to make raised flower beds?Or will it rot?

Question

Can i use timer decking to make raised flower beds?Or will it rot?

Answer 1

Railway sleepers are good for making flower beds.

Answer 2

You can use decking boards to make built up planter, just line the inside with a thick plastic sheet, this stops the wood from rooting and also stops the mud/dirt from coming through the cracks and joints.

Answer 3

They'll be fine. I've even got photographic evidence on my website (March diary entries) of me taking apart an old raised deck to make some raised beds, and other things with all the rubbish I found underneath. All are still going strong:)

Answer 4

Mine are fine - made mine out of old decking bits left over.

One tip - treat with a good Swedish Oil before and allow this to dry - You can buy the oil (same as for the garden furniture) from Ikea for about £3.

If you can't get this oil - use some good quality timber fence paint -

Mine have been down for three years and have not rotted - just oil the fronts/sides/backs once a year.

Answer 5

Pressure treated timber decking should be able to be in contact with soil for many years before rotting.

Some people dislike the idea of using this stuff to make raised beds for vegetables because of concerns about the toxic chemicals impregnated in the wood leaching into the soil, but this obviously won't be an issue for you.

If you really want to maximise the life of the wood, maybe there's some way you can use plastic sheeting on the inside face of the wood?