Grow Boxes

[Tidal Bonsai]

What material do you use for grow boxes?
The past two seasons I have used 2x8 and 2x4 Douglas Fir boards because that’s what I had leftover from my basement framing and veggie garden boxes. I was looking for something lighter, but still strong enough to hold big trees (5inch trunks). Any ideas?

I experimented with skinny pine boards, but they were too soft and flimsy.

 

[Paradox]

AFLAT5 - 15.75" Anderson Deep Propagation Flat - Stuewe & Sons

15.75" Anderson Deep Propagation Flat

stuewe.com

 

[Dav4]

WeatherShield 5/4 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. Standard Ground Contact Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine Decking Board 253919 - The Home Depot

Perfectly complete your outdoor projects with the help of this excellent WeatherShield Standard Ground Contact Pressure-Treated Pine Decking Board.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

AFLAT5 - 15.75" Anderson Deep Propagation Flat - Stuewe & Sons

15.75" Anderson Deep Propagation Flat

stuewe.com

I have two Anderson flats for smaller stuff. But I wanted to make something bigger than that. Thanks tho

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

WeatherShield 5/4 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. Standard Ground Contact Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine Decking Board 253919 - The Home Depot

Perfectly complete your outdoor projects with the help of this excellent WeatherShield Standard Ground Contact Pressure-Treated Pine Decking Board.

www.homedepot.com

I have seen pressure treated wood for garden boxes. Are there any chemicals that can leech out?

 

[River's Edge]

I use 1 by 6 cedar fence boards, additional strength can be obtained through construction design in corners, bottom rails and side handles.
For corner reinforcement simply place a 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 piece upright inside each corner. For bottom reinforcement simply place a rail in the centre and offset the drainage holes. Rails on all sides will strengthen the tops and bottom lengths if required. Fence boards are usually more economically priced and standard sizes for planning purposes and limiting the number of cuts required when making large numbers of grow boxes. This size typically works well for trunks up to 3 inches in size.

 

[Dav4]

I have seen pressure treated wood for garden boxes. Are there any chemicals that can leech out?

Everything leaches chemicals... but I’ve used this for years and not had any issues

 

[62veedub]

I use 1 by 6 cedar fence boards, additional strength can be obtained through construction design in corners, bottom rails and side handles.

Yep! This is what I used to do. Cedar resists rot and lasts longer, is less weight too. Fence pickets can usually be found cheap too.

 

[badatusernames]

what about old desk drawers

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

what about old desk drawers

Well ok, I’m sure these could be modified as long as they are deep enough and are solid wood.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[BuckeyeOne]

I have seen pressure treated wood for garden boxes. Are there any chemicals that can leech out?

They use to use arsenic to preserve PT wood. It was outlawed years ago.
They now use a copper based product.
I usually use PT that has been weathered outside for a year before using. No problems.

 

[misfit11]

Everything leaches chemicals... but I’ve used this for years and not had any issues

I've always wondered about this. Good to know, Dave.