Update: went with cedar over pressure treated for my raised beds and 8 months later the difference is not even close

Finley Gonzalez · 2026-10-02T12:40:04.08904+00:00

Last April I tore out the old beds behind my garage in Sacramento and had to pick between cedar and pressure treated. Pressure treated was about $180 cheaper for the whole build, so I almost went that route. Ended up paying the extra for cedar because I didn't want to worry about whatever is in the newer treated wood leaching near tomatoes. Eight months in, my cedar boards have zero warping, zero splitting, and the color has faded to a nice gray. My neighbor built his with pressure treated the same weekend and two of his boards have already cupped bad enough that soil spills out when it rains. I know people say modern treated lumber is safe for food crops, and maybe it is, but his beds are also heavier and harder to move if you ever need to. So here is the debate I keep having with folks at the hardware store: is cedar actually worth the extra cash, or am I just paying for peace of mind? What did you build with and how is it holding up after a few seasons?

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Update: went with cedar over pressure treated for my raised beds and 8 months later the difference is not even close | Backyard Upgrades - Thought Shares