TierramadreLandscape.com

It depends on what you are using 3X4 pressure treat or 8X8 railroad ties. It also depends on if you are stacking them.

there are a couple of ways.
you can use 12" spikes form your local home improvement store for a single layer of 3X4 pressure treated. first drill a hole in the timber then hammer the spikes into the ground. If the ground is not solid or gets real muddy you may want to put about 3 " of lime stone under them.

for larger timber in stead of spikes use Re Bar that's the steel bar used to re-enforce concrete. again you local home improvement store should carry it. Cut them so that they are about 12" longer then the thickness of your timber. Drill holes in the timber about the same thickness as the re bar. Hammer the re bar though the hole into the ground.

2006-05-02 10:29:45 by kth37

Landscape Timbers allow grass to grow under, over and through. Landscape timbers are not the best option.

I wonder if it has all leached out yet? I live in north Texas we get a good rain now and again. As of today I have my tomatoe plants and squash plants surrounded by the same wood.
Byron, you got me thinkin' now! It was an old issue of Organic Mag that I read that in. 36 inches huh?

My feeling about PT lumber

1. It was discontinued in my lumber yard circa Sept 2001 It was on 20-20 that this stuff has been discontinued

As far as being in playground equipment, Myself and 12 other local carpenters went to a town meeting and asked them not to use PT lumber on our local playground, but the yuppies knew better, $80,000 wasted.

2. The replacement treated lumber has exactly the same installation instructions, IE Google, breathing protections, change clothes, wash etc. ad nausium

3. Organic gardening Mag. claims that Arsenic migrates 36" horizontally in veggie garden

3. Some thoughts to consider
A. Phosphate P Atomic weight 30.9737
B. Potassium K Atomic weight 39.0983
C. Calcium CA Atomic weight 40.078
D Arsenic AS Atomic weight 74.9216

If fertilizer has to be applied within 6" of a plant, In my mind it means that it will not migrate 36"
How does a heavy metal at almost 2x the atomic weight migrate 36"?????

If AS is applied under pressure, how is it released with no pressure ???

Which plant uptakes what metal under what conditions and how much?

I am aware that tomatoes will uptake aluminum IF the soil pH is around 5.5

I am not a scientist but this el crapo don't add

2007-05-24 09:50:01 by La Cucaracha

Price: $34.95

The tag says they are "treated to rejection" Does this type of pressure treated landscape timbers have toxins that will leach into our soil and will the vegetables grown in that area be unsafe to eat?

The timbers are Micropro AC2 if that means anything to anyone

I'm not an expert so I don't know what "treated to rejection" means but pressure treated generally means chemically treated against insects. So I would assume used in a garden would be about the same as spraying for insects. So here's a site with articles that might help you decide.

2008-04-15 16:47:40 by Brokn

Price: $19.95 $13.57

There are landscape timbers around it already, it is 5x5 and full of tall grass-not too high off the rest of the ground. How do I get rid of the grass and get it ready for a vegetable garden next spring?

step-by-step please...i am willing to read long answers!

Dig up the soil, add compost & decayed leaf mulch to the soil along with either Gypsum or lime. Gypsum won't change your soil Ph. Lime makes the soil less acid. Both make the soil less compact & makes it drain better. You can add sand to the soil too, if you have a lot of clay. Lay down a thick layer of newspapers to kill the grass, then lay a thick mulch on top of it. Or you can lay down plastic or some material that suffocates weeds & that you can poke a big enough hole to put in a plant when you're ready.

I usually dig up an area ahead of time before winter. The freezing & thawing helps kill the weeds, then I add the compost & gypsum or lime. When it's time to plant, I dig up a big enough area for each plant, remove any huge compacted clumps, & replace it with topsoil or compost. Sometimes I add some peat moss for acid-loving plants. Then I put in my plants & add mulch around them.

Here's a forum you may enjoy, on how others have made a garden in a raised bed:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load /soil/msg0221102423083.html
Good luck! Hope this helps.

2007-08-09 13:04:55 by BonesofaTeacher

Hello. I am selling my home. The termite inspection showed termites in the landscape timbers in the garden. This is right next to the house where the landscape ties (2) are a couple inches from the cement foundation. The report showed no termites in the home. They gave an estimate of $1500 to treat the entire house.
What is my responsibility to the seller since the termites are just in the garden? I want to be fair, but not overspend for termite removal during the winter (Delaware) when termite companies want business. Thanks.

I am unsure of the laws in Delaware, but in other states the termites must be in, on or under the structure. Termites in mulch near the structure or in timbers that do not contact the structure do not meet that criteria. A Wood Destroying Insect Report should make it clear where the termites were found.

Regardless, I would not suggest that you hide the problem, ignore the problem or do it yourself. Most people do not know how to properly treat for termites. It is not like treating for ants or other insects. Removing the timbers and spraying the mulch may kill termites on the surface, but the colony is deeper in the ground.

A pest control company can only inspect visible areas of the structure, so termites could be in the structure in an area where the inspector couldn't see (i.e. in a void, under a slab or within a wall).

If you try to hide the problem, ignore it or do it yourself, then it could be a liability for both you and your realtor if you are both aware of the termites. All it would take is for the buyer to do some remodeling and discover hidden termites or their damage to cause a lawsuit. I am not trying to scare you, but I have seen these situations occur.

The seller is not required by law (at least where I live) to pay for such treatment but most lending institutions would require it be done prior to their passing money to the closing table. Most buyers would want it paid for by the seller. You could refuse, which might mean the sale falls through, or go ahead and get it treated.

I would suggest getting several estimates (at least three) from licensed pest control businesses. There are products (nonrepellents) that are labelled for exterior perimeter treatments with limited interior treatments in areas such as crawlspaces, basements, etc. If the termites are only in the mulch areas, then this might be adequate for your situation.

Your state's regulatory agency may be able to give some guidance. If your unsure what agency it is, then contact the cooperative extension agency in your county. They should be able to help.

2007-02-18 05:48:08 by Jon L