Raised bed wood protector and paint

[ianbMember]

Not really a ground preparation question this one, but close enough I hope!

After reading your excellent ‘Organic Gardening’ book, I’m preparing my allotment for ‘no-dig’ use this summer. As it’s quite small (around 200 sq yds), I would like to use wooden edging as cost won’t be too high for me and I think it will look neat and tidy. On page 19 of your ‘Organic Gardening’ book you recommend an excellent wood protector manufactured by Osmo in Germany and also allude to using a coat or two of ‘Osmo paint’ after the wood protector undercoat.

This all sounds great and I can see the exact wood protector product on the http://www.OsmoUK.com web site, but I’m wondering which of their many products you use for the second coat? I don’t want to use something that might leech into the soil and have an adverse effect on the veggetables over the long term – or even worse, poison the household! The Osmo Color sounds attractive:

– http://www.osmouk.com/previewpage.cfm?bookid=book001&chapter=5&page=115

I quite like the idea of coloured wood surrounds for what is otherwise a ‘natural look’ plot! Perhaps you would advise against this for plot use though and opt instead for the natural oil woodstain:

– http://www.osmouk.com/previewpage.cfm?bookid=book001&chapter=5&page=113

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Regards
Ian Bennett
Four Marks, Hampshire

[charlesModerator]

 Hello Ian, welcome to the forum.
I don’t know for sure but trust OSMO to use pigments which are not poisonous. For the beds of my experiment I actually applied just two coats of wood protector and they are fine so far, in their sixth year now. Their paint is on my greenhouse.
All the best for your no dig allotment.

[steve37341Member]

Hi. I have not used this paint but had discovered it many years ago in the U.S. when trying to find paints that were no VOC. They have a location in the UK and the paint itself may originate from the UK anyway. Might be a more local possibility for you in sealing those boards:

http://www.auro.co.uk/

Steve

[ianbMember]

Thanks Steve, always good to have an alternative product. I’ll take a closer look at their web site later today.

Regards
Ian

[Sahira WardMember]

Hi Charles

I have some Colron refined Teak Oil says it’s a superior blend of natural oil and water repellent. But it has a big black cross on the tin saying it’s Harmful also very high VOC more than 50% would it be ok just to use it on the outside?

Regards

Sahira

[charlesModerator]

 I wonder how a natural oil can be harmful? Maybe something in the water repellent part, and I would not use it. On the outside it will perhaps not affect your plants but may hurt soil life in the paths.

[Author]

Posts