Should wood for raised flower beds be treated with preservatives?

Credit: Morgon Mae

Q: I have just purchased 9″ x 2″ timbers to construct raised beds, should I treat them with a preservative? 

We do NOT recommend treating wood for raised beds with preservatives, particularly if you are growing edibles anywhere in your yard. Even simple contact with the preserved wood can be a problem for humans and animals, and the chemicals do tend to leach into the soil.