Railway Sleepers Garden Edging Guide [How-to, Tips and Pictures]

railway line sleepers offer a timeless and versatile edging option for any garden design . They are useable in style from rustic to modern and can be treat or leave natural , depending on the desire aesthetic .

employ railroad track sleepers for edging , retaining wall , or creating raised flower bed to enhance your garden ’s functionality and appearance . Their constitutive , wooden composing is built to last , with each sleeper weigh several hundred pounds for sturdy support .

In this article , we ’ll search various function for railroad line sleepers , such as garden edging , offer a elaborated installment tutorial , and proffer design breathing in to integrate these racy elements attractively into your landscape painting .

Reclaimed Railroad Ties

Reclaimed railroad ties imply that they were once used on a railroad track somewhere in the humanity . They served their time on the railway and are now uncommitted to meet your landscaping imagination .

When it comes to actual reclaimed railroad ties , there is something important to count . veridical railroad ties are treated with a chemical called creosote to preserve and protect them from the element .

After all , railroad ties are submit to the rough conditions for decades at a clock time . Have you ever point out the sea dog - corresponding substance cover railway linkup ? That pitch is creosote .

The Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) deliberate creosote a toxic chemical substance . If you opt for rescued railway ties , you must treat it and seal off them to prevent the creosote from harming the surrounding surroundings .

clack here to see more on Hunker .

This planter is sustain by a pot of repurposed railroad line slumberer . Although they are sometime , they lead a vintage esthetic appealingness to the garden .

Varathane Spar Urethane

Luckily , sealing old railroad track ties is easy . Simply apply a paintbrush to utilise urethane that is made for exterior use to the entire airfoil of the railway tie and allow it to wholly dry .

It is recommend to apply at least two coats to ensure that the total railroad tie is sealed .

Click here to see more from Home Depot .

Reclaimed Railroad Tie

Lowes offers reclaimed railroad track ties at an affordable price !

Click here to see more from Lowes .

Treated Timber Garden Railway Sleepers

treat railroad sleeper with grunge and lacquer is a great way to give them a time of origin but timeless aesthetic and protect them from the element .

This construct use new railway crosstie to edge the border of planter .

Gardener’s Exterior Wood Stain

This woods stain from Gardener ’s is intended for outdoor use , which means that it is perfect for your railroad line sleepers . It is available in several colors — cloud livid , graphite gray , lakeside true cedar , and moss green .

penetrate here to see more on Gardener ’s .

Watco Crystal Clear Lacquer

After the stain is applied , apply a few coats of lacquer for added protection !

Pros and Cons of Using Railway Sleepers

railroad sleepers have a lot go for them . One of the pros of using railway sleeper goby for garden edging is that they are super firm and durable .

Railway railroad tie can stomach extreme climate , so you need not interest about harsh winters and hot summer adversely affecting them .

Another pro of using railway sleepers in your garden is that they can often duplicate as either steps or seat . This makes them remarkably utile as a garden edger .

One of the downsides to using railway sleepers for garden edging is that they can be hard to instal depending on the terrain .

If the terrain slopes , digging might be expect to make the sleepers level , make it a meter and labour - intensive outgrowth .

Another downside to using railway sleepers is that , while they can last 10 , they will finally waste . This will attract white ant , and it will make the sleeper misplace their functionality .

Once this happens and the railroad line sleeper goby demand to be replaced , the removal process can be long and arduous calculate on how many sleepers there are and how they are connect together .

How Much Does Railway Sleeper Edging Cost?

Believe it or not , incorporating railway system sleeper as march in your garden is not in particular expensive compare to other edging option . Take a look at some of the price associated with using railroad ties .

The railroad ties themselves run about $ 20 for an eight - foot section . Consider the length of railroad sleeper you will need , and be sure to account for how high they will be stacked .

If you will be maculate and sealing the railway lumber , that is another cost to factor in in . The stain will cost around $ 30 or peradventure more , depending on how many woodland you need stain .

If you contrive on sealing your railroad tie with lacquer , the lacquer itself will run about $ 50 for one congius .

If you buy rescued railway ties that have been treat with creosote at some point , you will need to apply polyurethane to them so as to abide by with the EPA .

Polyurethane can be a spot pricey depending on how much is demand . The can we mentioned runs for about $ 100 .

How Do You Install Railway Sleeper Edging?

The process is mostly square ; set the sleepers themselves is evenhandedly round-eyed . But when it get to confiscate two sleepers together , a modest process is involved .

see this picture for a ocular walkthrough of how to instal railway sleepers .

Railway Sleeper Inspiration

Now that we have gone over some of the specific about integrating railway sleepers as butt against in your garden , retard out some picture that will inspire you !

Built-in Bench Garden Edger

One of the great things about using railway sleepers for garden edging is that you’re able to do things like this — make a operative , built - in ass into the heyday bottom .

This setup bear dirt and mulch while yield the garden a nipping look and a beautiful woody esthetic .

Multi-level Railway Sleeper Setup

In this garden , railroad sleepers are used to make a cozy lower corner underneath the primary flower bottom .

The Mrs. Henry Wood add together aesthetic value to the scene without detracting from the beauty of the surrounding plants and foliation . It also attend as a small retaining bulwark , grant your landscape painting frame and structure .

Railway Sleeper Stepped Border

If your back patio sit down below your one thousand , railroad ties are a great way of life to make a small retaining wall that purpose as a border between the terrace and the 1000 .

Railroad tie can easily be turned into a diminished exercise set of steps for your convenience .

Railroad Ties with Geometric Intrigue

railroad line wagon-lit do not have to be set in a typical rectangular preference ; feel spare to get creative with it !

In this yard , the railway sleepers are coiffe to create several triangular sections . A design like this is sure to make your garden unique !

Tiered Railroad Tie Stairway

This garden is work force down an unbelievable slew , and the railway system sleeper dally a liberal use in making it so . The sleeper transmute the sloped lawn into a three - tiered garden with a ton of property .

railroad sleeper goby are a great way to delineate sections to create deepness . As an lend bonus , the sleepers form an graceful stairway all the way to the top !

Neat and Orderly Flower Bed Border

Sometimes , simpleness is great . railway system sleeper do a great job edge peak beds that are join to structures .

One of the good things about using them as edge is that they can be stack to attain the desired height . This gives you a deal of flexibility to plan and create .

Rustic Vibes

rescued railway sleepers are a great elbow room to add an old rustic vibe to your garden . The dark patina that these piece develop will complement the color system of virtually any garden .

Their immense size and bulk are staring for defining the landscape . As a incentive , because of their size of it , they ’ll stay in shoes .

Railroad Tie Flower Bed

One of the good USA of railway sleeper is for idealistic trough - vogue blossom bed . The compact wood acts as a corking roadblock surrounding the peak layer .

Simply stack more sleepers on top of each other to get the flower layer to the hope acme . This option is great for building a raised vegetable garden .

Treated Vintage Flower Bed Edger

This flower bed showcases the tally aesthetic appeal of railway sleepers that have been treated . Stain and lacquer can make a world of difference in terms of visual appealingness .

Treating the Sir Henry Wood will not only make it look cool and vintage , but it will keep it protect so that it can be the pride and joyfulness of your garden for days to come .

Dark Wood Accent

Railway crosstie can be used to edge small flower beds too ! A undivided sleeper margin can complement the foliage . Dark forest like this really makes vibrant greens pop up .

Here are some insights about thetypes of edge for garden .