You can either opt for concrete, sand or gravel foundations or lay the sleepers on the soil with no official foundation. For the latter option, make sure you put down a waterproof sheet under the sleepers to avoid them soaking up moisture from the soil.
Some gardeners use lining between the interior of their raised bed and soil to protect the wood. Even with the lining, you'll get seepage of water that will penetrate that wood and linger. That's why I recommend using a lining with a wood preservative instead of in lieu of.
The best thing you can do with sleepers is surround them with gravel, dont let them touch soil. Lay them on pea gravel and then back fill behind with gravel. Wood rots when water and air combine so if they can dry out after rain as fast as possible then theyll last alot longer. Obviously a wood preserver too.
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.
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.
You can either opt for concrete, sand or gravel foundations or lay the sleepers on the soil with no official foundation. For the latter option, make sure you put down a waterproof sheet under the sleepers to avoid them soaking up moisture from the soil.
Although raised beds are usually constructed on free-draining soil, we recommend lining the bottom of your bed with a generous drainage layer of hardcore, stones or coarse gravel.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, you can lay railway sleepers directly on soil - but it's not always the best choice. For light garden features like paths or decorative borders, direct laying can work well if you prepare the ground properly. But for anything structural or permanent, you'll want proper foundations.
You can use DPM on the rear of the timber, and pea gravel backfill directly behind sleepers. The pea gravel will allow a free draining area behind the wall. You could also add a length of land drain wrapped in geotextile membrane, to keep fine particles of soil out of pipe.
Railway Sleeper Retaining Walls, Terraces & Steps
With these kinds of projects, you're definitely going to be needing to use concrete, because once they're in place they're going to be taking a great deal more strain and undergoing much heavier usage than the planters and edging.
Fill the hole with cement until it's even with the ground level. Use your shovel to scoop the wet cement into the hole. Periodically tamp the cement down by poking at it with the tip of the shovel. This will remove any unwanted air bubbles from the cement.
Hugekultur is an ancient German technique. It is a process of making raised garden beds filled with rotten wood. Yes, you've read that right, rotten wood! The result is a low-maintenance garden that requires little watering.
Also, wood chips break down and must be re-applied every year or two. Wood chips can also harbor insects that may attack plants, including slugs, earwigs, sowbugs, and ants.
Railway sleepers can be laid on soil, but it's important to prepare the ground properly before installation. First, remove any debris and level the soil to create a flat surface. You're best removing any grass or weeds then adding a base layer of gravel or sand to help with drainage.
Use a Damp-Proof Membrane
If elevating the sleepers isn't an option, a damp-proof membrane (DPM) is another effective solution. Simply wrap the part of the sleeper that will be in contact with the ground with the DPM. This creates a barrier between the wood and the moisture in the soil, preventing rot.
Screws or landscaping spikes - These are used to fasten sleepers together securely. Choose long, durable screws designed for outdoor use. Sledgehammer - Helps in driving landscaping spikes into the sleeper and ground, especially useful when securing corners or joining sections.
Dig out area of bed to depth of 50-75mm. Start laying out the bottom course of sleepers, fixing them to the ground with metal rods.
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.
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.
Although you may want to place your garden sleepers straight onto the soil and give them the time to bed into the ground, we recommend putting in a layer of partially dried concrete, sand or aggregate in first to avoid water pooling around the edges of the sleepers.
Repair and Treat: Fill any holes or gaps with exterior wood filler and treat the remaining wood with a preservative and oil.
If the ground is soft or uneven, we think the best option would be to concrete them into place. If the ground is firm, a wooden stake driven into each sleeper and attached to the sleep should hold them securely in place. Make sure to dig for the sleepers and the stakes when digging the shapes.