Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Organic Gardens

Railroad Ties in Garden Beds: Creosote Risk to Food Crops

Mark's new home has railroad tie beds. Ties treated with creosote/preservatives leach into soil. EPA warns against food crops near treated wood. Check: preservedwood.com/safety/epa_creo.html. Replace with stone, brick, or untreated lumber for edibles.

Organic Gardens: Using Railroad Ties in the Landscape: Creosote Concerns; Sourcing Quality Used Railroad Ties in San Diego County; Old Railroad Tie Beds: Creosote Risk to Food Crops & Testing Options; Quick Cosmetic Fix for Ugly Railroad Tie Retaining Walls; Rubber Railroad Ties for Playground Borders: Safety & Sourcing; Why Burning Railroad Ties Is a Toxic Hazard; Creosote Railroad Ties: Toxicity Risk and Safe Alternatives; Railroad Tie Landscaping: Rustic Reclaimed Wood for Garden Structure; Railroad Ties in Gardens: Safety Risks and Better Alternatives; Repairing a Disintegrating Railroad Tie Retaining Wall

Garden Articles

Building a Durable Low Retaining Wall: Why Trex & Landscape Timbers Fail

Retaining Wall Safety: Why DIY Walls Over 4 Feet Need Engineering

Matching New Railroad Ties to Old: Creosote, Stains & Alternatives

Covering Railroad Tie Terrace Walls in Los Angeles

Repairing & Preserving a Railroad Tie Retaining Wall

Creosote-Treated Landscape Ties Near Vegetable Beds: Risk and Mitigation

Creating Model Railroad Scenery: DIY Techniques and Household Materials

Plants

Acidifying Soil for Container Blueberries in Southwest Florida

Rehabilitating Salt-Affected Soil with Carbon: A Guide for Coastal Organic Farming

Diagnosing Yellowing Tomato Plants and Potato Leaf Dieback

Using Sugar for Weed Control: Myth or Method?

Lowering Soil pH in Large Areas: A Step-by-Step Approach

Railroad Ties in Garden Beds: Creosote Risk to Food Crops

Model Railroad Trees: Tips for Realistic Layouts