Why Treated Landscape Ties Don’t Belong in a Sustainable Garden
Hello gardeners!
The environmental impact of landscape ties makes them a poor choice for anyone committed to sustainable gardening practices. Treated landscape ties may appear like a convenient, durable and practical option for garden borders, raised beds, or retaining walls however science is showing there is a dark side to this common landscape material.
The Hidden Toxicity of Treated LANDSCAPE Ties
Treated landscape ties are infused with chemicals to enhance their durability and resistance to rot. While this may seem beneficial, these chemicals often come with significant risks. These substances can leach into the soil over time, contaminating it and potentially harming plants, beneficial soil organisms, and groundwater.
Older ties, like reclaimed railroad ties, are commonly treated with creosote or chromated copper arsenate (CCA), both of which are toxic.
Even newer treatment methods, such as alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) or copper azole (CA), are not entirely benign. These treatments rely on copper compounds, which can still leach into the soil and negatively affect its microbial balance.
While researching this topic I read a document from the manufacturer of wood products, treated with micronized copper azole to protect against fungal rot and termites. The fine print indicates clothes should be washed immediately after working with the product, the product should not come in contact with drinking water and care should be taken to be sure the components of the product do not become part of animal feed or beehives. Nor should you use the treated wood as mulch. Sounds like a warning sign to me!
Landcape tie, used for a raised vegetable garden bed, is showing signs of decay.
LANDSCAPE TIES HAVE An Enduring Carbon Footprint
Beyond toxicity, treated ties have a significant carbon footprint. The manufacturing process involves energy-intensive treatment methods, and the chemicals used have their own environmental costs. Plus, there is the transportation costs associated with moving the product to market.
This is a retaining wall made of treated landscape ties with various planting areas incorporated into the overall design.
What is the next step if you already have treated landscape ties in your garden?
If you have treated landscape ties in your garden, the best course of action depends on their condition, location, and how they are being used.
Next steps:
Assess the condition and usage:
Are the ties deteriorating?
When there are signs of visible decay, there is an increased chance of chemicals leaching into the soil. Make plans to remove the ties to prevent further contamination.Are the ties near edible plants?
Treated ties should not be used in or near vegetable gardens or fruit trees, as chemicals could leach into the soil and potentially be absorbed by the plants.Are they structurally sound and serving a purpose?
If the ties are intact and not near edible plants or water sources, you may consider leaving them in place temporarily.
Remove the ties:
Disposal Options: Contact your local municipality or landfill/waste management facility to find out how to properly dispose of the ties. Do not burn or chip treated wood, as this can release toxic chemicals into the air or soil. I checked with my local government and was advised if the ties are not treated with creosote, they can be recycled at the local waste management site.
Soil Remediation: If the ties have been in place for a long time, test the surrounding soil for contamination. This is particularly important if the ties are very old and the chemicals used may now be banned. Depending on the results, you may need to remove and replace the soil, or add organic matter to existing soil to restore soil health. You may want to consider how many ties you have in use. If you are removing a couple of ties not close to sensitive areas, then you may not require the soil testing and can simply begin improving the soil health with organic matter.
Keep the ties:
Minimize leaching
Plan for replacement
Research indicates a physical barrier should be used but then you are bringing more plastics and chemicals into the garden. At this point I do not have an answer to the right steps forward for this situation.
Monitor the condition
Keep an eye on the ties for signs of decay. If they start to break down, plan to remove them.
If you’re committed to creating a sustainable garden, avoiding treated landscape ties is a step in the right direction.
These are two imbedded landscape ties in the vegetable garden separating a strawberry patch and blueberry bushes. Very overgrown.
THIS IS A JOURNEY. DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF FOR INSTALLING LANDSCAPE TIES IN THE PAST. WE KNOW BETTER NOW. TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF YOUR GARDEN SO IT ALIGNS WITH YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES.
All the pictures used in this post are from my garden. This year I am going to remove the landscape ties in the vegetable garden area. There are also ties in another area making up a steep retaining wall and I am going to leave those in place as they support an extensive patio area.
As gardeners, part of our journey is to grow and flourish, just like the plants we tend. As we learn improved methods, we make changes. Join me, and other like-minded gardeners taking steps toward improving the health of our planet, one garden at a time.