Raised Garden bed, used stained wood?

Question

Bought some lumber, stained it, placed the walls, then put in some dirt. Realized that the wood stain may penetrate through the dirt? Toxic? Is there something I can seal the wood with so to make it non toxic??

Thanks.
First Time Raised Garden Builder

Answer 1

I researched this question and could not find a satisfactory answer. If you're growing flowers or other non-edibles in the beds, you shouldn't have a problem. However, if you are planning to grow vegetables, the toxicity from the stain could be harmful.

There are water sealant products that may seal in the stain, but it's not clear to me if that would be sufficient. I know there are different kinds of stain, and some are non-toxic, but it sounds like you may have used a toxic one. My best suggestion is to contact your local extension service https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/extension-search?zip=98022&radius=20&services_search_action=search&submit=Search
or, perhaps find a building expert who can tell you if a water-seal product will work.