"It stands to reason, that if the creosote affects the soil biology, it would affect the nutritional density of the plants themselves. " And there is the flaw in the argument that has been repeatedly tested and repudiated. The maximum effect on any soil biology by any plant-based creosote toxicity remaining in the commonly used old RR ties consistently tests out as as little as 0.5" to a max of 6" max and that that range declines rapidly with exposure. 6" is the margin of spacing that is OMRI recommended when using them. Nor is there any scientific proof that the affected soil biology in any way affects the plants grown in it. This is an old issue, just like the claims made against pressure treated wood use, based on old practices that have long been discontinued and unsubstantiated claims of contamination. Keeping the argument alive and rehashing it over and over again only serves to confuse and create apprehension among new gardeners who chose to make their beds out of old RR ties. It is a personal choice. Don't use them if you don't wish to. Dave

My first two beds were untreated pine, 2x10's. Maybe it's because of the two inch thickness, but they have lasted for 6 years now, and still look fine. When you say formal, do you mean Victorian? I live in a Victorian house, c.1892, and I dearly love this style of home, and while my front yard is more formal, my vegetable garden in the back yard is just plain country because it is utilitarian. I could make it appear more formal by dividing it from the rest of the yard by planting a hedge and keeping it tightly trimmed. Here's a link you might want to look at that involves creating a Victorian garden.As you may know, Victorians were the ones who first became interested in gardening as a hobby and importing all kinds of exotics. I just wish I could keep a palm alive because my house is very dark with wide, wide overhanging eaves. Hope you like the link. http://www.lifescript.com/channels/healthy_living/Life_Tips/6_tips_for_creating_a_victorian_garden.asp?trans=1&du=1&gclid=CN6Gq4yikpUCFQNfFQoduQGAfQ&ef_id=1350:3:c_630e3bc823bae7ecdaa9c3c116b9c20b_931559765:IY9MmUo-JyoAAFOKmUMAAAAS:20080816113511

These are pretty old posts but I hope some people will benefit from this info Between 1990 and 1995 I literally handled over 1,000 RR ties while working for a landscaper. We used over 700 just for one project. I wore gloves but still got a light rash inside my forearms from time to time. It completely went away in a couple of days. I guess we had used them so much that it didn't even occur to me that using them to border my vegetable garden in 1997 could be a bad idea. But after about 10 years had gone by, I was just casually discussing RR ties and creosote and I realized what I had done. So I began researching and investigating the problems of using RR ties. Grass, weeds, and ant hills have grown right up next to them from the beginning. A momma Gopher Turtle made her home under one of the beds with the entry way right next to a tie. That hole has been such a nuisance . I filled it in many times but finally gave up. She would have the hole opened back up by the next day. She wasn't causing any problems as long as I didn't accidently step in the hole. And we really enjoy watching her and her babies crawling around the yard.Nearly every source told me that since they were old used ties to begin with, and I had already used them for 10 years myself, there would be nothing left to leach. So I left them there. My family has eaten a lot of delicious vegetables from that garden over the years. I haven't used any RR ties or utility poles since. But that's not to say I will never use them again. Just not anywhere near something I'm going to eat. I feel like I am already the test dummy for creosote. I'm not going to push it any further. I hope this is some help to people that are concerned. I'll gladly answer any questions that I can.

"what is the soil type???" - 979BÂGrays and Markham silt loams, 2 to 4 percent slopes "what if any other trees are in a comparable situation.. near your area???" - Used to be several willows in the same general spot, there are a several ash nearby, also a swamp birch, a few maples (in standing water no less), and a couple cottonwood. "So you really prefer river birch to paper birch?" - The nursery is giving me healthy river birch for free. As a result, I am willing to gamble a bit with these, and try something I would otherwise shy away from. But if there is no chance the trees will survive, I won't move forward. Is there any guidance for a minimum water table depth for planting this type of tree?