[hubballi]

Hello everyone, I have just joined so this is my first post.

I have been given some wooden planks that I have constructed into a raised bed. The only thing I have not yet done is treated the wood because I am not sure what is safe to use. I do have some old engine oil I could keep applying to the tops of the wood which would slowly gravitate downwards over time.

Would this be ok ?

Thanks.

[Rangerkris]

I dont think i would want engine oil near my veg  there may well be something a little kinder to you ermmm i dont know what tho.  Plastic on the inside of the timber between the soil and timber 

[mumofstig]

well the organic thing to do is nothing.........

[Trillium]

Even if I wasn't organic, which I am, I still wouldn't use engine oil. If you can't find anything else, then purchase some 4 mil polythene and line the insides of the beds with that. Not only will it keep the soil off the wood, it'll 'plug' any gaps. 

[penance]

Plastic on the inside is not a good idea. It will cause rot as no matter how well you fix moisture will get in and be held there.
Wood needs to breath, it will breath much better with soil against it than if it had an impermiable layer against it.

Old engine has to be disposed of in controlled ways
Do not use it for anything in the garden.

[Ice]

Have a look at this for a few ideas.
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=29762.msg356898#msg356898

[hubballi]

Thanks. I think plastic lining would encourage slugs to hide 

Linseed or even cooking oil would be a good idea.

[Trillium]

Actually, the plastic sheeting doesn't allow slugs to hide if it's properly tacked down. And gaps/slits in the wood framing allow the wood to breathe without necessarily harbouring slugs. But like everything else, it's personal choice.

[David.]

I use heavy duty polythene damp proof membrane  sheeting extensively for mulching, paths and barriers, and I also keep hens who love slugs.

And if there's one thing I've learnt, it's slugs will infest short strips of whatever is covered with polythene - so if I use short strips I make sure the they can be lifted for slug removal.

I also use polythene in conjunction with raised bed edgings, but only as a perimeter weed suppresant layer around the raised bed, which also extends into the raised bed, where it is overlapped/replaced by layers of newspaper mulch.

The poltythene mulch I use is layed at an angle so water drains away from the timber edgings. I also try and ensure the perimeter bed material mainly consists of straw/etc. - reducing contact with damp soil.