Garden Improvement Ideas Using Railway Sleepers

Gardens can very quickly become unruly and require your attention. Next time you get in there and tidy it up why not upgrade it with some extra features?

Railway sleepers are an extremely low cost addition to any garden. They are extremely versatile and can be used to enhance the look and feel of your garden
and home. The only limits to what you can do are your imagination and your
ability to move around the railway sleepers.

Protect and distinguish your flower beds by raising them with railway sleepers. Laying a railway sleepers lengthways on its side as a border to your flower bed protects your flowers from creeping weeds and adds a permanent section to the garden. This will raise the depth of the flower bed so you can add another layer of soil when planting for next spring.

Railway sleepers add a much more natural touch than a brick wall and as a single object you do not need to worry about parts falling down, as you would with a brick wall.

Hardwood railway sleepers can be used to landscape your garden, acting as retaining walls. In this case hardwood sleepers are your best bet as they are more

hardwearing and will potentially be withstanding a considerable load of earth
and turf. Once again, the wood looks much more suited than brick work, however
other types of rocks can be used to create a natural and aesthetic landscaped
garden.

Garden walls can be very troublesome as plant roots and the weight of earth and turf push them over and weaken them. An advantage of using railway sleepers as an
alternative is that as a large, solid object a single railway sleeper is
considerably stronger than the equivalent length in bricks. Oak railway
sleepers can make excellent garden walls if you prefer a lighter coloured wood.
Treated used railway sleepers are great if you prefer a darker coloured wood and
are cheaper!

If you are getting garden decking then why not use a railway sleeper or two to create the steps? You can get railway sleepers in a range of woods, so can get one which

matches your decking, or simply treat the sleepers so that they match.
Depending on the length of your steps you could get away with only using one sleeper or may need three. As they are solid they are more secure than constructing steps, they simply need to be anchored to the decking and ground
and each other. This would add a more natural, interesting look than brick steps or uniform steps which match the decking.

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Honey Badger replied to William Frost's discussion Paving pushing up because of the hot and super dry weather
"You got membrane under the hardcore? 
I wouldn't put any less than 150mm to 200mm hardcore under on clay.
I've heard this is a problem this year. I haven't seen any effect sofar.
I've only done one patio with a step this year the sucker hasn't…"
20 minutes ago
Richard Matthews replied to William Frost's discussion Paving pushing up because of the hot and super dry weather
"I think a few guys have experienced this, possibly ground heave. I've had a Patio I laid 6 years ago do a similar thing. It's a difficult one, because if you followed all the correct guidelines for your install, what do you do?
After an incredibly…"
31 minutes ago
William Frost posted a discussion
I would love to hear if anyone has had an experience of paving being pushed up because of the hot and dry weather this summer. We have had a number of patios where this has become a problem (a couple we laid ourselves and quite a few more where…
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Jon Chandler replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"Thanks all for your help and advice.
Great to have the expertise on here as a guide and backup. 🙏"
Monday
Adam Woods replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"Others have ID ed it.
I chop them off at ground level with secutears then spray a drop or two of Praxys on the wound... if it doesnt killt he first time, it will the 2nd or 3rd"
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Neil Darby replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"If it has thorns it is likely to be a Robinia. I have a client who has a couple of trees 10 or so Metres away & this year they have been popping up all over the lawn. A nightmare tree for anybody who climbs!!!
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Paul Elby replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"As others have said it is a Gleditsia (honey locust), grows very easily from blown in seeds and suckers. Grows fast in hot dry conditions."
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Graham Taylor replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"There will probably be a tree nearby with the same foliage sending out suckers into your lawn.  You could try spraying them with tryclopyr (SBK brushwood killer will do)  ............. tricky as you don't want to risk damaging the tree they are…"
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Kieran Ray replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
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David Benson replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
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John F replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
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Growth/Shoots in lawn

Hi All, In a cleints garden, I'm having a real problem with these shoots that are coming up in the lawn.I'm digging them out as I go, they are on long roots. they have an oval shape leaf and develop nasty thorns. See pics.Can anyone help identify…

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