Answer
May 20, 2020 - 01:53 AM
The graying is caused by UV light, and the only way to protect wood from UV is to either cover it up completely (via paint) or use a tinted stain. which would alter the color of the wood, but would provide a level of UV protection. For your situation we would recommend Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey Exterior Stain, which does come in a lakeside cedar color. We sell samples if you would like to see how that will affect the look of the cedar.For the interior of the bed, the part covered by soil, we recommend the AFM SafeCoat Dynoseal. It is a waterproofing membrane that prevents moisture intrusion from the soil into the wood and stops leaching of the cedar tannins into the soil. This has become a very popular product for raised garden beds.
