Is CCA PT lumber Ok for a grape arbor
Doug S. Caprette
winemakers etc (;-) would be expected to result from the use of Chromated
Copper Arsenate pressure treated lumber for a grape arbor.
--
d...@gemini.gsfc.nasa.gov
| Regards, | Hughes STX | Code 926.9 GSFC |
| Doug Caprette | Lanham, Maryland | Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
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"I think that this task is appointed for you, Frodo;" -- Elrond
kent richardson
>I am looking for informed opinion as to whether any problems (dead vines, dead
>winemakers etc (;-) would be expected to result from the use of Chromated
>Copper Arsenate pressure treated lumber for a grape arbor.
>
>--
>d...@gemini.gsfc.nasa.gov
> | Regards, | Hughes STX | Code 926.9 GSFC |
> | Doug Caprette | Lanham, Maryland | Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
Doug,
You will probably never get a true answer to this question. The gardening group has been going in circles about this for years. I have seen in the rec.garden group that there have been some studies that show that this lumber is not dangerous to raise plants in and others that say it could leach into the soil. I use it for my raised bed garden and I am still posting. There are enough thing that have been proven to be very dangerous to worry about the undecideds.
I have thought about building an arbor also. If you are interested in a white arbor, there is a plastic (poly) lattice that you can buy that does not need painting and should never rot and should not put off any harmful chemicals.
Hope this helps!!
Kent
AT&T Global Information Solutions
kent richardson
RaySanders
S. Caprette) writes:
> I am looking for informed opinion as to whether any problems (dead vines,
dead
> winemakers etc (;-) would be expected to result from the use of Chromated
> Copper Arsenate pressure treated lumber for a grape arbor.
After digging thru my collection of handouts from the Florida Cooperative
Extension Service (University of Florida IFAS), I found one entitled "Selection
of Wood for Home and Commercial Vineyards in Florida (pub # FRC 29) by Gerald
Sherwood*. I think this was written in 1983. I'm going to excerpt the relevant
portion:
Pressure Treated Wood
Wood preseratives for pressure treatment generally fit into two classes; oils
such as creosote and petroleum solutions of pentachlorophenol, and water-borne
salts applied as solutions. Preservatives in oil may affect the soil adjacent
to the post, so vines should be planted at least one foot away from posts with
oil borne preservatives to avoid risk of root damage. These posts should also
be weathered for at least four months before setting in the ground to avoid
burn damage to vines.
The most commonly used waterborne salt is chromated copper arsenate (CCA) which
reacts with the wood to become permanent, so there is no problem with planting
near the post. Tests at North Carolina State University have shown the
chemicals have no effect on the plants that contact the CCA treated posts.
There was no measurable increase in amounts of copper, chromium, or arsenic in
the fruit, leaf, and stem tissue (3). A weathering period before installation
is not required.
(3) Levi,M.P., D.Huisingh, and W.B.Nesbitt. 1974. Uptake by grape plants of
preseratives from pressure treated posts not detected. Forest Products Journal,
Vol 24, No 9, September 1974. Madison, Wisconsin.
*Formerly Visiting Professor, Extension Wood Products Specialist, School of
Forest Resources and Conservation, IFAS, University of FLorida, Gainesville.
Currently Engineer, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison
Wisconsin.
Steve Toigo
Greetings,
For those of you who are concerned about the possibility of preservative
chemicals leaching from treated posts, you may want to consider posts
made of fiberglass, steel, or concrete. The 1993-4 Vineyard and Winery
Management Desktop Product Guide lists several manufacturers for these
items. If you like, contact me at my e-mail address and I'll provide
the names and phone numbers of suppliers in your area. If you would
like to order the Product Guide, their number is (607) 535-7133 (Watkins
Glen, NY) It's $25.00, but well worth the money for the amount of winemaking
and vineyard supply info it provides.
Hope this helps!!
Steve Toigo