cross ties/gardening

I know the cross ties are toxic to plants when newww, but not toxic when they are aged, but just how old is aged and safe to use?
I made a missake---i used some old cross ties that were here on the property when we moved here to make a flower bed. I put strawberry plants around the edges and bulb flowers in the center. Now I find out the cross ties are toxic and the plants will do poorly-----Now what?????? this is a big bed--10x15 estimated guess. And I have no other wood to border the bed---- and no where to put the plants.

Help
Cricket

Sorry about your problem. But have never used the cross ties. Hope you get some help with this.

I used cross ties years ago for rose beds and had no problems. I think it depends on how old they are. If your beds are new, maybe you could put plastic under the ties and up on the inside of the bed to minimize any effect.

Are the cross ties fully necessary to that bed? I have a raised strawberry bed without edgers.

YES its needed cause the flower bed is in middle of drive area.

Awe, come on Cricket! You don't think anyone would run them down without all that do ya? LOL

I would think if they are even a couple of years old and you got relays (which most are), you should be fine for plants. I don't think you would want to plant edibles by them but I dont' think you'll hurt flowers. I have used them for my greenhouse both times and the weeds have no problems growing up the edges!

lol


Ok , So i received information from Jim Kennard the president of Food for Everyone Foundation, and he says the old cross ties are not toxic. They are only toxic when new and fresh.
And the books say never treat your wood with new fresh crescote for new beds.
That means I can use all 40 cross ties for grow beds. Ya. Thats gonna be fun. Good thing we have a tractor to pull those things around----they are so heavy. Some are 15 feet long. possibly 20 feet, I havent measured them.

Cricket :)
Happy Gardening

I'll definately second that those things are heavy! At my other house we bought 8' ones so I could terrace my greenhouse into the hill. That meant moving them uphill almost all the way, about 200 feet, around the house and through a gate. With hubby and I both working, we could load them onto my garden wagon and have one of us push while the other pulled then I flopped them end to end to get them where I wanted them. LOL Now I have to go get them all back out to get the yard ready so I can list the house. Sigh. Can I borrow that tractor????

rofl---if you lived near by I would certainly help you out.
I feel for you.


Cricket

Yes, she with a tractor, go ahead and laugh. One of these days................LOL

this time they go down hill right-----thats the bright side of the situation.

Cricket

Ohhhhhhh, it's all uphill. LOL I have to get them out by myself. Now I just got hit with 300 and something plugs and plants that have to be potted tomorrow before hubby leaves at 2. I'm supposed to go paint the other house tonight and I think it is supposed to get to 70 tomorrow. Looks like no sleep for me again. Can you use a tractor for painting? LOL

lol----- no but hubby has paint sprayer---much faster than brushes and rollers.