Content
- Which wood is particularly suitable for the raised bed?
- Softwood or hardwood? These are the differences
- Which is why hardwoods are better suited for raised beds
- The best types of wood for the raised bed
- larch
- Douglas
- robinia
- Oak
- Tips
Hardwood is better suited for raised land than softwood
Which wood is particularly suitable for the raised bed?
Raised beds can be built from many materials. However, wooden flower boxes are particularly popular - they are quick and easy to build, low in price and flexible in design. If the raised bed is to move to another location at a later date, a raised wooden bed can easily be removed and rebuilt elsewhere. However, not all types of wood are suitable for it.
Softwood or hardwood? These are the differences
Basically, a distinction is made between softwood and hardwood, whereby the former are usually conifers and the second are deciduous shrubs - exceptions of course confirm this rule, because also wood species such as linden, poplar or willow belong to the softwoods. On the other hand, comparatively hard softwoods exist, for which the European larch is a very good example.The main difference is the density of the wood - the lighter it is, the lower its density and the softer it is. A species of wood belongs to the softwoods when its density (that is, the density of dried wood) is less than 0.55 grams per cubic centimeter.
Which is why hardwoods are better suited for raised beds
Soft wood species are mainly used indoors as well as for the construction of furniture and instruments. With a few exceptions, they are not suitable for raised bed construction. Although softwood is cheap and easy to work with, it also lacks durability and rotting quickly under unfavorable conditions. As raised beds are constantly exposed to high humidity, a frame made of soft woods decomposes within a very short time. However, you have much longer pleasure in a model that you make hardwood. These woods are much more robust and durable, albeit more expensive. The purchase price, however, pays off quickly due to the longer shelf life.
The best types of wood for the raised bed
The best types of wood for a stable and robust raised bed are above all these:
larch
In the trade, the Siberian larch is sold, which is significantly more robust and durable compared to their European relatives.
Douglas
The Douglas fir is one of the comparatively hard conifers (even if it is usually counted among the soft wood species), is robust and easy to work with. Direct earth contact should be avoided at all costs, which is why the use of foils is essential.
robinia
This is a deciduous tree that is even harder and more robust than our European oak. Excellent for the outdoor area and thus suitable for the construction of raised beds!
Oak
In particular, the white oak is relatively resistant to liquid and is therefore used for the construction of liquid containers. It is also very suitable for raised bed construction, but is quite expensive.
Tips
You can improve the durability of the wood used by lining it with foil inside and painting it with a non-toxic protective glaze on the outside.