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timber preservatives
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Posted by macbirch ACT Aust (My Page) on Mon, Jan 29, 07 at 2:09
| I found out that the US was looking at banning some of this stuff years before anybody worried about it here. Even when our government started looking at this issue I saw one gardening show presenter suggesting treated timber shouldn't be used for certain purposes while another expert on a different channel was using treated pine for a veggie garden in a garden makeover show.
My query today is actually about the older style preservatives used in railway ties. I've seen people using them for paths and driveways (not edging but for the actual surface which means it would be constantly wearing away). They probably have the best of intentions with regard to recycling and avoiding the newer treated pine products which have received some negative publicity in recent times. I'm wondering if old railway ties are used for landscaping in the US and have any concerns been raised about it. Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: timber preservatives
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| Yes, old railway ties are used in the US as landscape timber. And yes there have been environmental concerns raised by using them. The railways ties are treated with what is commonly called creosote. And they are not recommended for using around edibles, however using them around ornamentals and such is quite common. |
RE: timber preservatives
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| Thank you Joe. Creosote is vile when fresh. The whole waterfront at our summer holiday town smelled for ages a few years ago when they put in new piers. By the way, I posted here because it's not really a horticultural query and then I realised that it's been pretty quiet around here so I started a thread over in Discussions (titled Conversations). |
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