“Do Not Use Railroad Ties in Any Garden”
An exercise in common sense.
This article appeared in the White Mountain Independent, Friday, May 3, 2024
If we knew back then, what we know now, no one would use railroad ties for landscaping and especially in their vegetable gardens! Oregon and the EPA have made it illegal to use treated railroad ties in vegetable gardens.
We’ve been treating railroad ties with creosote chemicals for way over a century. The RR ties are long lasting due to the chemical preservatives of creosote.
(Photo credit: Creative Commons -- Union Pacific Railroad Bridge over Clear Creek, Hempstead, Texas)
Here is an excerpt from The Oregonian Q & A, by a reader on “How long does railroad tie contamination remain a risk in soil?” (Published September 9, 2017)
Q: We purchased a home six years ago. At that time, I removed the old rotten railroad ties they had used for retaining walls and replaced them with concrete blocks. In this area, there are strawberries and blueberries. The strawberries are still in this soil, will they ever be safe to eat? I moved the blueberries three years ago to a different part of my yard that is not contaminated. Are they safe to eat now?
A: The reason the EPA has made illegal the use of treated railroad ties in vegetable gardens is the fact that they are treated with coal tar creosote, a pesticide registered both with the EPA and the state of Oregon. The EPA's label warning is essentially: "Don't touch the wood with bare skin; don't let animals or children near it; don't let it get near a water supply; don't inhale the dust; wear protective equipment when you handle it – including gloves that are "chemically impervious"; and don't burn it as the fumes can be deadly."
So, then the question becomes: How long does creosote remain a risk in the soil? Although several writers indicate that plant roots do not absorb creosote, the EPA says: "If the soil in your yard was contaminated by creosote in the past, you should probably not grow food in it. You will need to wash your hands and any other exposed skin carefully after you are in contact with the contaminated soil or water outside." (Most of the dangerous exposure to creosote occurs when it leaches into the water, as well as consuming fish that have ingested it.)
The Oregonian garden experts recommended soil testing by a lab or remove the soil within a couple of feet of old timbers and replace it with uncontaminated soil. They were not sure that the strawberries and blueberries were safe to eat. They stated that fruiting plants (except cucumbers and squash) are less likely to have absorbed contaminants than root crops.
Once upon a time, this was a tomato garden.
Hopefully, this is going to the dump.
What is “creosote”?
It is a distillation of tar from coal into a thick, oily substance with a smoky odor. Creosote and many chemicals including insecticides are pressure and high heat treated using a method invented over 100 years ago by U.S. inventor, John Bethell. The wood is placed in a pressure chamber where air and moisture are removed by a vacuum while injected with creosote chemicals and then, sealed. The wood products are protected with creosote for 50+ years of use.
Loaded with carcinogens, railroad ties are still sold for many uses today. However, garden centers do not sell them and do not recommend placing them in or near gardens, lawns, and residences.
A long time ago, this was acceptable for flowers and not vegetables. Today, forget it.
Using railroad ties in gardens and for retaining walls was very popular in the 1970’s through the 90’s. In the new century, we’re more environmentally conscious and have become educated consumers. We eschew any treated wood products for the garden.
WMCG is a railroad tie free garden, and we don’t use herbicides or insecticides. Come to our Plant Sale for a large selection of organic produce, flowers, and houseplants on Saturday, May 25 from 9-3pm.
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