How to Install Railroad Ties
Railroad ties are useful for landscaping both residential lawns and businesses. Placing railroad ties doesn't take as much expertise as other landscape structures, such as brick or stone, so you can save on labor costs by installing them yourself. Railroad ties can be placed horizontally, vertically, on the diagonal or stacked.They can be used as steps or made into walkways and fences. The possibilities are as endless as your ideas. Building a raised plant bed; however, the same concept can be modified for many other projects. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Landscape fabric
- Hardware cloth (optional)
- Hammer
- Level
- Chainsaw (optional)
- Spikes or long bolts
- Drill with long bit
Instructions
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1
Clear grass and weeds from the area where you are placing the raised plant bed. Mark the outline of the plant bed with string or a chalk line. Dig vertically on the marked outline. Dig deep enough to set the railroad ties horizontally about halfway into the ground.
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2
Smooth the soil in the bed and place landscape fabric to retard weed growth. Make sure the the fabric covers the entire area, including where you will be placing the railroad ties. Consider adding a layer of hardware cloth to prevent burrowing animals from digging into the plant bed.
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3
Cut the timber to length with a chainsaw unless you planned the bed to be the length of the timber. Place the first timber where you dug along the chalk line or string. Make sure that the timber is fairly level. Either predrill holes in the first row or use spikes once you add the second row of railroad ties. The railroad ties should be joined every three to four feet. Continue to build each side and join the timbers together. Typically, for a raised bed, three to four railroad ties provide a good height. Once all side have been joined, place posts in the four corners and attach the posts to the railroad ties. These can also be predrilled and secured with spikes.
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4
Fill the plant bed with loose soil. Add compost or other fertilizer as needed and plant your flowers or vegetables.
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Tips & Warnings
A cap railing can be added to the top.
Wear safety goggles while cutting railroad ties, and wear heavy-duty work gloves to handle them during placement.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
