Question effect of diesel and sump oil on growing veges/fruit?

The Rubber Kitty

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G'day Peeps,

I have some sleepers that have been treated and i plan on making a raised garden bed out of them. I have had one of my friends insist that I use old sump oil and diesel mixed together and paint the sleepers with that before making a garden bed.

I have some reservations with this as i want to grow some veges/fruit in them (although the sleepers are treated pine... heat treated i believe ?? so hoping no arsenic) I don't plant on the bed to last forever though.

Any one have thoughts on this? ... I plant on painting the sleepers for a bit of protection though as I have some left over exterior paint (bright red), which I plant on using to paint and protect the sleepers.

I would prefer to just exterior paint the sleepers as I am a bit wary of using disel/sump oil mix to a garden bed I will be eating from.

Thanks heaps for any advice or thoughts.
 

AndrewB

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Yeah, I'd stay well away from that. We used to use sump oil around the fenceline on the farm to kill the grass when I was younger. No way i'd have it anywhere near a vegetable garden.

What are they suggesting the benefits of sump oil are?

If its just to extend the life of the wood, staple a plastic liner to the inside of the garden bed & paint the outside like you planned. If the wood isn't in contact with the soil, it will last many more years.
 

Lucas

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Guessing this treatment is to make the sleepers last longer
I wouldn't put either diesel or sump oil in the ground as they will contaminate the soil
If you want to protect it a bit more paint the sleepers
 

The Rubber Kitty

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Yeah, I'd stay well away from that. We used to use sump oil around the fenceline on the farm to kill the grass when I was younger. No way i'd have it anywhere near a vegetable garden.

What are they suggesting the benefits of sump oil are?

If its just to extend the life of the wood, staple a plastic liner to the inside of the garden bed & paint the outside like you planned. If the wood isn't in contact with the soil, it will last many more years.
I think they are over reacting to Termites ... this is australia... there will be termites ... i will just pain the things as much as i can and then... well.. it is not supposed to last forever
 

The Rubber Kitty

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And I think to stop the wood rotting more ... shrugs... by then I might just brick it from the outside ... lol
 
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