Is this mould?

[Mattex994]

Hi,

Does anyone can help me recognising if this is mould or not? I've bough this wood planter from ebay as brand new, the seller says it's the way how is treated and that it will go away with the time. I also found a spiderweb inside and it looks not recently treated to me. I also don't understand which kind of treatment makes the wood having these black spots?

I hope someone can help. Thanks
 

 

Edited April 15, 2020 by Mattex994

[Rough Hewn]

Yep that's treated.
Horrible stuff.

[The avantgardener]

I certainly wouldn’t be planting anything edible in it.

[Mattex994]

20 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

Yep that's treated.
Horrible stuff.

Do you mean it has been treated with some bad chemicals?

[Rough Hewn]

Do you mean it has been treated with some bad chemicals?

Yep. Not even supposed to touch it without gloves.

[The avantgardener]

22 minutes ago, Mattex994 said:

Do you mean it has been treated with some bad chemicals?

It’s low grade softwood, pressure treated with harsh chemicals to increase its durability to rot.

[Mattex994]

Thanks to all for your replies. Should I just bin it or after I while it won't be dangerous anymore to use? I was thinking to plant some herbs but maybe I will have to make the planter myself with new wood?

[Rough Hewn]

Measure it, photograph it, bin it.
Then get a local woodworker to knock one up from local hardwood?
[emoji848][emoji106]

[drinksloe]

4 hours ago, Rough Hewn said:

Yep. Not even supposed to touch it without gloves.

Since when??

 

All the bad chemicals were banned years ago, 1 of reasons why modern timber lasts no time nowadays.

Even the the past with proper chemical no one used gloves to work with treated timber.

I can mind as estate 'boy' being sent into the old treatment tank to bale out this oil spill like sludge from bottom just in ur wellies. Could feel ur face and eyes nipping pretty quick just standing in the tank.

Was actually worse using the gunk when we painted it on strainer bottoms with a brush.

 

It doesnae look the best timber I've ever seen.

Dunno wot size the planters are but looks quite thin timber.

I'd just line the planters with plastic with a few holes in bottom. Might not rot as quick if plastic lined

[Mattex994]

2 hours ago, drinksloe said:

Since when??

 

All the bad chemicals were banned years ago, 1 of reasons why modern timber lasts no time nowadays.

Even the the past with proper chemical no one used gloves to work with treated timber.

I can mind as estate 'boy' being sent into the old treatment tank to bale out this oil spill like sludge from bottom just in ur wellies. Could feel ur face and eyes nipping pretty quick just standing in the tank.

Was actually worse using the gunk when we painted it on strainer bottoms with a brush.

 

It doesnae look the best timber I've ever seen.

Dunno wot size the planters are but looks quite thin timber.

I'd just line the planters with plastic with a few holes in bottom. Might not rot as quick if plastic lined

The product is labelled as “New” in Ebay so I should expect a new pressured treaded wood planter and it doesn’t look like it is. It’s 90cm long, 20cm wide.

 

My only concern is, even though I will cover the inside with plastic, as you recommended, will it still be dangerous if I’ll plant some herbs in it? I’m also thinking to stain it, will this kind of protect the herbs from the “chemicals” used for treating the wood? The soil won’t be anyway touching the wood but only the plastic sheet.