How to Create a Raised Flower Bed Using Railroad Ties

Contributor

By Gayle Irwin
eHow Contributing Writer

A variety of flowers can be planted in a raised bed.

Flower beds add beauty to one's home, yet they can also be a lot of work. Raised beds offer convenience, provide for less bending and stooping to care for the garden, create a lovely setting in the landscape, and give excellent drainage to the area. Using railroad ties for the raised beds is relatively inexpensive and gives a unique appearance to one's yard.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Measuring tape
Small stakes
Railroad ties
Power saw
Spikes
Deck screws
Hammer
Screwdriver (power or hand)
Garden soil
Shovel
Landscaping cloth
Flowers (plants or seeds)

Step 1

Measure the length for the area you desire for your bed(s) and set small stakes to mark it. Also, decide how tall you want the bed to be. This step determines how many railroad ties you will need. Keep in mind that the greater the height, the less bending and stooping you will need to do to water and weed your garden.
Step 2

Railroad ties are generally inexpensive to buy and, used in a raised flower bed, add interest to one's landscape.

Purchase railroad ties from a local lumber yard or garden center (or perhaps you can find a private source listed in your local newspaper). Most ties come in 8' lengths; therefore, if you want a shorter bed(s), the ties will need to be cut.
Step 3

Set railroad ties in place based on the garden area you staked out then layer the ties on each other to achieve your desired height (if you plan to go higher than one tier). Then, connect the layers using at least 4" deck screws (will need larger screws if the layers are more than two ties high), putting two screws in each side and two through the front.
Step 4

If you cut the ties for a smaller area (for example, 4' in length), you will need to drill a hole through the layers at the corners of the bed(s) then drive a large spike into those corners. This will keep the bed frame more square and secure. However, if you are simply using the entire 8' length, just lay the railroad ties on the ground of your designated garden area. The ties are heavy and won't move around very easily.
Step 5

Using a shovel, scoop the top layer of soil (about one inch) in order to remove grass, weed, and any debris from the area as you prepare to lay the ties. Or, you can lay landscaping cloth or newspaper on the ground to discourage the growth of weeds in the gardening area. If using newspaper, wet it down to keep the papers from blowing around.
Step 6

Spread garden soil, compost or other soil products within the confines of the raised bed.
Step 7

Using a raised bed for flowers provides convenience for watering and weeding as well as better drainage for the area.

Plant your favorite flowers!

How to Create a Raised Flower Bed Using Railroad Ties

Things You'll Need:

References

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