Green treated or “tanalised” railway sleepers are coated in environmentally friendly, non-Creosote based preservatives, such as ACQ or Tanalith E, which are safe to use and suitable for all garden landscaping projects, making them a wise choice for your garden.
What are the best railway sleepers for raised beds?
Softwood is generally a more affordable option than oak sleepers and once tanalised, will have long-lasting protection against damp and rot, making both oak and softwood sleepers a great option for raised beds.
How to build a raised bed for a railway sleeper?
News
- Chose where you want to put the raised bed.
- Lay the railway sleepers on the ground.
- Fasten them together.
- Stack and fix a second layer (if you want the raised bed to be higher)
- Attach a plastic membrane (see photo above – optional with raised bed)
- Fill with soil.
- Fill with plants!
Are sleepers good for raised beds?
An ideal material for building raised beds, garden sleepers are a popular choice thanks to their rustic look and rugged reliability. Giving you plenty of design freedom to suit the layout of your garden, they can be cut to any size and are ideal for growing flowers, trees, soft fruits, vegetables, plants and shrubs.
Is it safe to use railway sleepers for raised beds? – Related Questions
What should you not grow in a raised bed?
A list of plants not to grow in your raised beds:
- Potatoes.
- Asparagus.
- Artichokes.
- Rhubarb.
- Corn.
- Wheat.
- Rice.
- Winter Squash.
What are the disadvantages of raised beds?
Raised Beds – the Con Side
- You have to buy soil, unless you have high spots in your yard that you want lower.
- They cost money to build.
- Soil dries out much faster in summer.
- Requires more watering.
- Less sustainable since you need to buy and transport walls and soil.
How long do sleepers last as raised beds?
As a rule, hardwood oak sleepers tend to last the longest naturally with an expected lifespan of around 100 years. An untreated softwood will last for between three and five years if it sits on the ground, whilst treated softwoods can last between 20 and 30 years if they are maintained correctly.
Can you lay sleepers directly on soil?
Yes you can. If you’re only creating a structure that’s one or two sleepers in height you don’t necessarily need foundations, which means you can lay your railway sleepers onto the soil. Though you’ll want to make sure you use some kind of waterproof membrane so that sleepers don’t soak up water from the soil.
What is the best material to use for raised beds?
Best Materials for Raised Beds
- Cedar and cypress have a similar aesthetic and natural rot-resistance, making them an excellent choice for garden beds.
- Composite beds are often made with recycled wood, which helps reduce the need for raw materials.
- Galvanized steel is durable, rust-resistant, and economic.
How do you keep a sleeper from rotting?
Wood preservative treatments provide garden sleepers with protective properties that help prevent rot, mould and fungal growth, as well as help to form a defence against the elements. It is best to apply a wood preservative before installation of your sleeper, so that you can paint all sides.
Do railway sleepers attract termites?
Avoid using railway sleepers in the garden
While we agree railway sleepers look great, they are attractive to termites just like some mulch is highly attractive to termites. Railway sleepers and mulch is the ultimate playground for a termite colony to live and thrive in.
Will railway sleepers rot in the ground?
Like all wood, sleepers will eventually rot and fade when exposed to the weather. To prevent them falling to bits before their time, you need to use a good wood preserver.
How long will railway sleepers last?
How long do railway sleepers last? Railway sleepers will last for years, with our softwood treated sleepers typically lasting around 8 to 10 years due to the pressurised treatment, and UC4 treatments extending this to 15 years.
What should I bed railway sleepers on?
The railway sleepers should ideally be laid on a surface that is level and firm. Many people simply lay them down directly on the earth, grass, deck or concrete.
Do railway sleepers need foundation?
Sleepers can be laid directly onto firm ground, however it’s recommended that at the very least a bed of sand or aggregate is used to assist drainage and provide a firm footing. Purists will always insist on a concrete bed, however if the wall is additionally supported by posts then this is not always necessary.
Are old railway sleepers carcinogenic?
This means the need to utilize over 15 million wooden railway sleepers which amounts to 975 thousand tons of hazardous waste. Primers should be recycled because they have been impregnated with creosote – a toxic and carcinogenic substance.
Do old railway sleepers have asbestos?
Used railway sleepers may contain asbestos.
Even though asbestos train brake linings were phased out in the mid 1980’s, many old sleepers pre-date this time. Microscopic fibres from the asbestos brake linings can become trapped in cracks in the surface of timber sleepers.
Can railway sleepers be used in a vegetable garden?
Are railway sleepers safe to use for a vegetable garden? Railway sleepers are a great way to create a vege garden and add a lot of character. Don’t worry about the creosote – it won’t seep out. Another handy tip is to line the vegetable garden with weednet – this is often done at garden centres with great results.
Are sleepers safe for vegetable gardens?
Vegetable garden
Treated pine sleepers are safe for use in vegetable gardens. If you are still concerned, you can seal the inside with various materials to prevent the chance of any leeching of chemicals into the soil.
Is it OK to use treated wood for raised beds?
A good choice for many backyard growers is a raised garden bed. The perfect building material for raised beds is pressure treated lumber. It’s economical, easy to work and safe to use in gardening applications.