Posted by Judi on May 18, 1999 at 19:34:30:
In Reply to: Chemicals leaching from pressure-treated lumber? posted by Green Acres on May 18, 1999 at 12:21:28:
: We're putting in a small vineyard and I've used
: 2"x2"x8' pressure-treated wooden posts for the vertical
: support stakes for the grape vines. A co-worker just
: mentioned the possibility of chemicals from the wood
: leaching into the soil, and eventually ending up in the
: grapes we eat or the wine we make. I hadn't thought
: about this. Is this a concern? Should I replace these
: with galvanized pipe as he recommended?
: Thanks in advance for any info!
You don't want to use the pressure treated lumber. It is treated with CCA which is chromium, copper, aresenic. It will leach into the soil for years and your grapes will take it up. Galvanized pipe is either iron or steel that is coated with zinc. The only thing I can tell you in regards to the pipe is that you don't want to weld it as it will give off a poisonous gas.
Why not use cedar or yellow pine which is naturally rot resistant. It would last a long time.
Steve grows grapes, perhaps he has a comment on this?