Nicky Nicole

Hi there,

thanks for your responses.

I'm just trying to get info on the potential toxicity of the Formply garden bed that my neighbor has made thats sitting in the yard waiting to be filled. Mike is correct in that I havent as yet been able to find any sort of info with regards to the extent the formeldehyde glue and phenolic coating would leach into the soil and then into the plants.
As I see it, without knowing the toxicity risk, but knowing that the Formply is made from toxic substances I either;
A) Dismantle it and not use it, in place of something less toxic (like cedar)
b) Cover it with some plastic garden sheeting (wondering about the toxicity of the plastic)
c) Paint the formply with non toxic Milk Paint to seal it.

Eric I just looked up Drylok and it's fairly toxic stuff and not ideal for a vegetable garden. http://www.drylok.com/products/drylok-extreme-masonry-waterproofer/drylok-extreme-masonry-waterproofer-sds.pdf

I'm so bummed out as it is not a good feeling thinking your garden bed might be toxic. All solutions so far means more expense and delaying putting it together and getting going. Ho hum!

thanks again
Nicky

Hi there,

my lovely neighbor has made me a really nice raised garden bed structure but I am worried the wood he has used might leach toxins into my soil mix and then also into the food I'm wanting to grow. The wood is called Formply and it has a black phenolic over lay  - . My googling showed me that the glue used to stick the plywood together to make the formply is made from formaldehyde and the phenolic coating could also be toxic. Can anyone tell me if this stuff will leach into the soil and my plants?

Thanks

Nicky