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Giving your garden a makeover doesn’t always need to be complicated and one of the simplest ways you can add both structure and beauty to the garden is with a timber bed. In each bed that you create you can add hardy plants which require little care, and will bloom seasonally to add a touch of color to the perimeter or center of your garden. This is something that you can carry out on your own, and here is how to go about implementing this bed by your own hand.
Why This Makes For The Best Choice
Using garden sleepers enables you to create a raised bed, which adds layers to the garden space. The sleepers will ensure that the soil stays in place, and the raised height will bring focus to the plants and flowers that you choose to put behind the timber. This is an easy installation that will look great in your garden. Additionally you can even create a standalone bed — ideal for yards — using timber to create a box for the soil to sit in.
Step One – Location
The first step is to identify where you plan on placing the bed. If you are going to create a planter then it is recommended that you flatten the surface first, in order to give integrity to the structure. If you are going to use the perimeter of the garden and use the timber as garden edging, then first mark out the location and use a hoe to create a firm edge between the turf and soil.
Step Two – Measuring The Timber
Once you know how long the edging will run, measure it out in a straight line. If you plan to use curves, then you will be better off using flexible edging that uses wires to bring flexibility. Timber sleepers are best used on straight edged beds. Once you have your measurements, work out how many full sleepers can be placed, and use a circular saw to cut smaller pieces of timber to fill the space. Use as many full sleepers as possible for a better finish.
Here you should also measure the desired height of the top of the bed, as you may find that you have to double up on sleepers to give the required support.
Step Three – Digging In
In order for your sleepers to remain sturdy you should dig a well between the turf and the soil, which should be deep enough for half of the garden sleeper. This depth must be uniform in order to deliver a great finish.
Step Four – Installing Sleepers
Once you have the well in place, begin to place the garden sleepers, using a spirit level to ensure that you have a straight finish. When installing the sleepers be sure to line them with plastic sheeting, weighed down with soil, to prevent any earth from escaping through the cracks in the timber. Once in place, use a wooden mallet to make sure that the garden edging is well settled.
Finally add more soil onto the existing bed in order to raise it, and water heavily so that it will be ready for planting. If you are doubling up on sleepers then you can use pre-bought oak dowels. If this is the case then simply measure the dowels and drill holes in the sleepers, in order to attach them together seamlessly.
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