The best way to fix your garden sleepers will vary depending on what you're using them for. For edging and planters, you'll want to dig down a shallow trench to lay the sleepers in. If you're creating a low border you might be able to keep the sleepers in place by fixing a wooden post or spike behind them.
Fill around the sleeper with soil or sand to secure it in place before moving onto laying the next one. To fix railway sleepers to the ground, use spikes or screws designed for outdoor use to ensure they remain stable over time.
Retaining walls and raised beds are just two ways that these unique timber pieces allow you to enhance your garden projects. But the question is – can you lay railway sleepers on soil? The answer is – Yes you can.
A novel solution is to nail two lengths of old ratchet strap to the top end of the sleeper and then trail this back to the earth behind, just keep them deep enough to be out of spade depth. 2 metre length should be adequate, the friction from weight of soil on the straps prevents the sleepers being displaced.
Provide Proper Drainage
Sleepers rot quickly if they're sitting in waterlogged soil. Ensure you have good drainage in the area where you're placing them. Gravel or sand beneath the sleepers can help water drain away, keeping them dry and safe from moisture.
The best way to secure sleepers is with appropriate timber screw. The type of wood you choose to work with will dictate the type of fixing that needs to be used. Softwoods can be fixed with a choice of steel or zinc screws.
Softwood sleepers may last less than 5 years if they are not treated. Softwood sleepers come from pine and it is known that they are less resistant to decay. They need to be treated and maintained and then you can expect them to last for up to 20 years. Hardwood sleepers have been known to last up to 100 years.
Steel rod pins & timberlok screws
If you're stacking your sleepers on top of or next to each other, use steel rod pins or timberlok screws (sometimes called sleeper screws) to secure them into place.
Timberlok screws are an alternative to traditional coach screws and can be used in a number of timber to timber applications. One of the most popular uses for Timberlok screws is fixing timber sleepers together.
To preserve the sleepers further, we would recommend treating them with an exterior wood oil or decking oil, ideally twice a year in Spring and Autumn.
Considering the type of soil
If you have well-draining soil, a layer of gravel or crushed stone can be an excellent option. Garden design with sleepers and gravel offers various benefits. Gravel allows for proper drainage, preventing water from pooling and potentially causing damage to the sleeper structure.
The gravel acts as a drainage layer, allowing water to flow away from the sleepers and into the ground below. It acts as a natural conduit, guiding the water away from the vulnerable wooden sleepers. This prevents moisture build-up and helps to keep the sleepers dry and structurally sound.
Wooden sleepers are a popular choice for garden landscaping and railway tracks alike, but without proper care, they can quickly succumb to rot and decay.
To do this, you will start by marking the position for the bolts directly onto the timber, ensuring they are evenly spaced and level. Using a high-quality drill bit which works on wood, create holes through the Oak before driving your bolts through the first sleeper and into the second, using washers for a secure fit.
Haunch at the back end of the sleeper and if possible, the front end too. This will help fix sleepers to the ground so they remain stable. If using sleepers for a low border or planter it may well be enough to fix a wooden post or spike behind the sleepers and fix this into the ground.
If you're looking to attach something really heavy to a wall, ceiling or floor then there are really three options I would consider. Concrete screws, wall bolts or resin anchors.
In corners or joints, add extra screws to reinforce these high-stress areas. If sleepers are going on top of another layer, overlap joints and use screws to secure them together firmly. After fixing, inspect all screws to ensure they're tight and flush with the surface of the wood.
Simply place the second layer on top of the first (remembering to overlap the joints) and simply screw through the second layer into the first layer below) Repeat if you want a third layer. Again, at least two screws per sleeper end is a good solid formula.
In this case, you may need vertical retaining posts (or even railway sleepers), along the length of the wall, to support the wall from leaning forward. In this case, simply concrete the vertical posts into the ground, and fasten the stacked railway sleepers to the posts with Timberlok sleeper screws.
Spacing is not kept uniform throughout the rail length. It is closer to the joints because of the weakness of the joints and the impact of moving loads on them. Maximum center-to-center sleeper spacing should be 600 mm. The clear distance between two sleepers should not be more than 450 mm.
To secure the sleepers into place you can use screws and brackets. If building a raised bed or similar where two sleepers meet, use two long landscaping screws – 30-40mm from top and bottom – to secure them together. Repeat for all ends where sleepers meet.
Treatment - the green tint is a result of deep-pressure treatment that enhances the wood's resistance to rot, fungi, and insect infestation. This treatment typically penetrates the wood more thoroughly than the surface-level treatments used for brown sleepers.
Natural oils such as linseed oil can be used as a protective treatment for sleepers. These oils penetrate deep into the wood, offering protection against moisture and decay. Natural oils are an eco-friendly alternative to chemical preservatives and can be applied easily with a brush or cloth.