Wood Treatment for New Veg Planters - advice please

neilrob1

Hi

I am about to buy two raised planters for growing veg, but the wood is untreated. 

I have seen various articles saying I need to buy an eco wood treatment, as other wood treatments could leak into the soil and then the plants.

However, I am having trouble finding any as nobody seems to stock it or it is not in stock e.g.

Seal-Once nonemployee Wood Sealer,

Ecoprocote Eco-Poly Finish & Sealer,

Seal It Green etc

Does anyone have any alternatives to these please - that are simple to apply and are availabe to buy?

Thanks

Fairygirl

A wooden planter needs lining with plastic anyway, so it really doesn't matter what you use to paint or stain it 
If you don't line it, the wood won't last, and it'll also drain too freely, which is already a problem with any raised container made of wood or any porous material 

neilrob1

Fairygirl said:

A wooden planter needs lining with plastic anyway, so it really doesn't matter what you use to paint or stain it 
If you don't line it, the wood won't last, and it'll also drain too freely, which is already a problem with any raised container made of wood or any porous material 

Okay but if I line it, will it stop any draining through the bottom?

Fairygirl

You need to make holes in it for drainage 

neilrob1

Ah right ! Okay - the plastic. Old soil bags or something thicker? I've got some weed control fabric which I never used - how about that?

Fairygirl

Old compost bags are excellent. Stapling them on is the easiest method. 
Most weed control fabric is porous, so doesn't really work. 

Obelixx

Old compost bags are fine for the inside but if your planters are large it may be better to buy black plastic by the metre from the big rolls in the DIY store.   As @Fairygirl says, staple it to the inside with a folded edge towards the wood to make it neater.  Make drainage holes in the bottom between the slats once fitted.

Even so, I would oil the entire thing, inside and out and leave it for a day before lining and filling.  You can buy teak oil which will do the trick but just as good, and cheaper, is light olive oil for cooking - not extra virgin - mixed with the juice of one lemon per litre of oil.   Brush it on and leave to soak for a day.  It will help keep water out.  Two coats are better than one with a day between each coat and you can re-apply to the outside on a warm, dry day every spring if you feel the need.

neilrob1

Thanks folks.

BobTheGardener

@neilrob1 I would also treat the wood before you line it.  Modern wood preservatives no longer have such dangerous chemicals in them and the plastic lining will prevent any leaching anyway, so best use belt and braces as untreated wood (assuming it's not a high quality Oak etc.) won't last long, even if lined.

Fairygirl

I do the same @BobTheGardener - with whatever coloured paint I have to hand for the inside, and I keep the good stuff for the outsides of any timber raised beds etc.
The new paints are all fine = they're not like the old creosote types.