How to use railway sleepers in your garden

This is a collaborative post

If you’ve been working on a DIY project for your garden and have a spare few railway sleepers lying around, there are so many ways that you can put them to use. The great thing about the rectangular timber pieces is that they are durable and so incredibly versatile. They can be repurposed for fencing, paving and so much more. If you’re intrigued as to how they can be used and aren’t afraid of getting your hands dirty, keep reading.

This post is in collaboration with a timber merchant in Essex.

Landscaping 

If you have hills, have you thought about cutting through the cross sections and creating your own walls? It can help you to retain more flat land and add curb appeal. Railway sleepers are strong enough to be used as a barrier/fencing and hold the mounds of soil back. They will also go well with the rest of your garden as the wood grain texture will blend seamlessly with the other natural elements.

Steps

If you’re already sorted and have a multi-layered garden, you can mend or revamp your steps using a few of these. All you will need to do is get the right measurements and securely drill the planks in place. If you want, you can use gravel and have the railway sleepers keep the material in place.

Raised Garden Beds

Another idea would be to create raised garden beds. They can help to make gardening a little more practical and especially for those with back problems and arthritis. Activities like weeding can take a while which can give you a stiff back. Staying on the topic of weeds, they are less likely to spread to raised beds. They are also shielded from animals and pests that can’t climb or jump.

Path

A garden path is an important feature for a garden as it allows for accessibility and without damage to plant life and bugs. If you’re looking for an easy solution to be able to attend to your plants and one that’s cost effective, why not create your own using railway sleepers? They blend well into natural landscapes as they are wooden and can be laid down yourself.

These are just a few of the ideas that you can explore. There are many more if you choose to look or apply yourself. For example, you can use them to mend your shed or create something for the children like a playhouse or garden den.