Is it already lurking in your backyard? Are you planning on putting one up this summer? And, what do you plan to use - cedar, redwood, pine, or...pressure treated wood? All are common wood products used to build fences, decks and other garden structures. All of these features are wonderful to have, as fences enhance the landscape by providing privacy and a backdrop for plants, and a deck is a great area in the landscape for entertaining family and friends. But, depending on what type of wood you use and where you use it can determine the health of not only you, your family and friends, but the plants (especially edibles) you grow in your yard as well.

Pressure treated wood has been saturated, under pressure, with chromated copper arsenate which is a fungicide that prevents rot. Chromated copper arsenate contains copper, chromium and arsenic. Once these chemicals have leached from the wood, they are likely to bind in soil particles, especially in clay soils or soils that are more alkaline than neutral. If you already have a fence or other structures built from pressure treated wood you will probably want to seal it. Experts suggest sealing it every year with a product called Deck and Shake (www.deckandshake.com). Painting may also work, although peeling paint chips may contaminate soil. Whatever you do, sanding, washing and scrubbing are not choice options, possibly leading to arsenic poisoning, which can cause neurological problems such as numbness and paralysis. Now imagine eating food with arsenic in it...

If you're planning on putting up a fence, deck or planters this year, try for cedar or other hardier woods. You owe it to yourself, the people around you and your plants to choose a more humane and environmentally friendly product. After all, most of us garden because of the health benefits involved in horticulture, why would we knowingly want to make ourselves sick, especially in our own backyard?