Deciding to use garden boxes in your yard is, in my opinion, an important investment. There are so many options to choose from today and the decision can be overwhelming. When folks are narrowing down their decision, one of the questions we are often asked is “Why do you build your boxes with cedar?”. For us, this is easy to explain.
1. Beautiful Wood
Cedar is beautiful and smells great. Plus, there are so many grain and color variations in cedar that every box we build is unique. This combination makes a beautiful complimentary piece to gardens. And the smell….often the wonderful smell of cedar is the first comment folks make when walking into our workshop.
2. Natural and Durable
We love that cedar is a natural product. Many pressure-treated wood products are actually treated with chemicals, some of which could find their way into adjacent soil. Cedar doesn’t require this type of pressure treatment for its durability. Cedar is known to have longevity in outdoor conditions. It is durable and thrives in damp climates (perfect for a garden!). It’s lightweight but stable with a high decay resistance.
3. Stays Cool
Cedar won’t overheat the soil and roots of your plants on hot summer days. Cedar stays cooler than many other garden box materials as it doesn’t absorb much heat, even on very hot days. That is a benefit to Idahoans with our hot summers!
4. Natural Repellent
Cedar is a natural repellent to pests. The oil and natural chemicals in cedar wood is known to control ants, moths, mosquitoes, and termites. Cedar has even been known to repel mice and snakes. Cedar oil is actually sold as a natural pest control solution. And, it doesn’t negatively impact pollinators, which is so important to the growth of our plants.
5. Sustainable Harvesting
Cedar is able to be harvested using sustainable practices. Our suppliers are certified in using sustainable methods for managing and harvesting cedar. They support sustainable forestry practices on forestland they manage, and promote it on other lands. We appreciate these practices and work hard ourselves to use byproducts from our building in ways that eliminates almost all of our waste. This, to us, is a big win for everyone.
We hope you see the value in investing in 100% cedar raised garden boxes. Reach out to us with any questions, to talk about cedar or our products, or to place your order today!