Western Red Cedar boards

Western red cedar is the most popular raised bed wood due to natural rot resistance from aromatic oils (thujaplicins) that repel fungi and insects. Use 2x6 or 2x10 heartwood boards (the dark inner wood, not pale sapwood) for maximum longevity. A standard 4x8-foot bed using 2x10 cedar boards costs roughly $120-200 in lumber. Cedar lasts 10-20 years depending on climate and ground contact. It weathers to an attractive silver-gray patina. Buy the thickest boards you can afford; 2-inch nominal thickness significantly outlasts 1-inch. For longer life, apply a food-safe sealant like Eco Wood Treatment to the interior faces. Cedar is widely available across North America and easy to work with standard tools. No liner needed for food safety. Avoid using cedar from big-box stores labeled as 'cedar fence boards' as these are often thin sapwood with minimal rot resistance.