The Surprising Reason You Might Not Want To Seal Your Wood Planters

Any gardener who grows organic produce will tell you there are obvious things you should avoid when planning your garden. Items that tend to top the list of organic gardening mistakes are using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and traditional herbicides. But did you know there is one hidden toxin in a common garden staple that you may not have considered when starting your own organic garden? The sealants used to seal wooden garden planters can leach toxic chemicals into your soil, which can then be taken up by your produce. That's one of the main reasons you may want to consider not using them. Instead, consider a long-lasting wood variety or other non-toxic options.

Another issue common sealant products may create is wood rot — yes, the very thing they were meant to prevent. Only sealing the outside of a wood planter can trap moisture and create an environment where water can't evaporate. This in turn promotes wood rot. Thankfully, there are some wonderful wood types that have the ability to not only last long in the elements, but some can even ward off insects. There are also some great non-toxic sealants that you may consider as well.

To avoid using a toxic sealant on your wooden planters, you should start by building them out of cedar, white oak, or redwood. They will stand up to the elements and have been known to also keep pests away. These are some of the best types of wood for planter boxes if you want to keep your garden organic.

If you are stuck on using sealant because you really don't want to replace your wood planters for a very long time, there are some more natural sealant options. You could treat your wood with linseed oil, hemp oil, or tung oil. They will need to be reapplied from six months to a year depending on which you use. Another all-natural option to waterproof your wood is beeswax. You will need to reapply it every 6 to 12 months, but it is totally safe for your organic produce.