Rot Resistant

• Choosing rot-resistant types of wood will mean that your items will last longer. Given the often wet environments of a garden, having rot-resistant lumber will mean that your fences/molds/frames will last longer. Rot-resistant lumber also tends to be untreated, which means that there is less danger of chemicals leaching into your soil. Two types of rot-resistant woods are redwood and cedar. Rot-resistant untreated lumber tends to be more expensive than treated lumber.
  
  

Pressure Treated

• Pressure-treated wood will be one of the longer-lasting wood options for your vegetable garden. Pressure-treated wood will take longer to rot and will be more resistant to staining and to the dirt and debris buildup that occurs in any garden. Pressure-treated wood also tends to be less expensive than untreated wood. However, pressure treated lumber can, over time, leach chemicals into the surrounding soil, depending on its manufacturing process.
  
  

Logs and Railroad Ties

• Using logs or railroad ties for your vegetable garden will provide a more rustic and country-like appearance to your garden design. Aesthetically, this type of lumber is not only pleasing to the eye, but it also is easier to find used or old pieces of log or railroad ties to use in your garden. Finding used logs or ties is more cost-effective than purchasing new wood at a lumber supply store.
  
  

Planed Wood

• Planed wood will give the neatest and tidiest appearance to a vegetable bed. It is also the easiest and tidiest option for making tools or accessories for the garden (such as stakes, fences and trellis'). Planed wood comes in many different sizes and types of wood, depending on your needs. For vegetable beds, however, planed wood will need to be braced with metal to keep its square shape. As well, planed wood may warp more easily over time as it is not as thick as logs or railroad ties.