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Should I use timber or concrete sleepers for garden edging?

Soon I'll be looking to start establishing some edging in my blank canvas back yard to section grass/gravel areas.

Looking for advice on timber vs concrete sleepers. Looking for them to sit flush with existing garden beds. Currently ground level is around 160mm *variable* to top of beds.

The areas will be filled with garden materials loams/gravel so requiring for the edging to be stable enough to hold the bearing and fine to be almost completely buried.

I dont have the ability to transport 3m length items so would need to look at smaller sizes and connecting/stabilising.

Have attached garden sketch for reference.

The main areas I am looking at is the grass areas and the path until it hits the curves.

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Dave-1

Good Evening @amySA

I like your sketch 🙂 It really helps narrow down what you want and where things can fit dosnt it!

Id like to throw in a third option instead of timber or concrete sleepers, how about low Gabion walls with a timber top to them?

This is one of my projects where I have used the low gabion wall as an edge to the path and also for a couple of bench seats.

Gabion wall bench seats

These ones are only low in height and would satisy your variable height land. Jack 65 x 30 x 15cm Landscaper's Plant Support Garden Gabion

There are some other sizes you can go with as well.

I found these pre-made ones incredibly easy to put together and install. No worries about 3m plus lengths 🙂

Dave

MitchellMc

Hi @amySA,

Either timber or concrete sleepers would work well for your project. The timber is the easier option to cut to size, but concrete is more long-lasting. Depending on whether you could make some slight adjustments to your plan, you could use the Pioneer 2.0m x 200 x 75mm Grey Smooth Reinforced Concrete Sleeper for your 2m lengths and two of the Pioneer 1.53m x 200 x 75mm Grey Smooth Reinforced Concrete Sleepers for the 3m lengths. Being concrete, you'd need a couple of helpers to move them, and I'd certainly recommend you organise delivery to your home if needed.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/34542#Comment_34542

Thanks @MitchellMc This was what I was hoping for.

I know if I'm using wooden sleepers i know there is the option to anchor them into the ground for support. Is anything like this needed for the concrete ?

Along the pathway I will also be doing edging do so I will have ends that will meet. Could you assist on how I would go about connecting?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/79580#Comment_79580

There's a variety of steel post options designed to be used with the concrete @amySA. If the sleepers are holding back any soil, then you'll need to use a substantial post to ensure they are capable of withstanding the weight. Joiner posts are also available to create longer lengths.

Mitchell

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/104183#Comment_104183

After considering options I think I am going to go with wood sleepers.

The originally linked concrete posts @MitchellMc aren't available at bunnings local to me and sizes are fairly restricted. I think asthetically wood would be more my preference also.

The questions I have now are the following keeping in mind the edging will be dug in, however I do have the concern I dont have enough ground to work with.

1. Best way to secure sleepers to the ground? They will be supporting soil on each sides and be mostly covered with minor amounts exposed. Steel channels? Ground posts? Cement in trenches? Gravel?

The current ground is dry clay mixed with rock.

2. Should I be covering the bottom areas of wood with some sort of protective cover to assist longevity that will be in contact with the grass areas that will be watered regularly?

3. Completely unsure how I would look at connecting the "T Junction" area around need the pathway and where the 3m sleeper would meet.

Alot of questions

I plan to use H4 pine sleepers and if helpful I am located in South Australia 🙂

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/119196#Comment_119196

Hello @amySA

If the sleeper is to be dug in and not a great deal of pressure will be put on the sleeper, I propose having a look at the Jack 450mm Heavy Duty Steel Sleeper Peg Flat Stake. The bottom and the sides of the sleepers can be covered with Gripset Betta 1L Waterproofing Membrane Bitumen Rubber.

Used as a membrane, Bitumen Rubber is ideal for waterproofing underground walls, and surfaces, garden beds, landscaped areas, fishponds, stock troughs and water features.

But if you want it to be very strong you can use the sleepers themselves as posts. They can be cut down and concreted in place. Please note that if you use the sleepers for a raised garden bed, I recommend using 200 x 50mm Sleeper H4 Sienna MicroPro 2.4m. Used in landscaping and retaining wall applications - Termite resistant treatment suitable for use in vegetable beds and Children’s play areas.

In regards to the "T" junction, I suggest using Jack 450mm Heavy Duty Steel Corner Stake Sleeper Peg on each side. To add extra strength, you could use Zenith M12 x 100mm Hot Dipped Galvanised Hex Head Coach Screw to link the sleepers together in a "T" configuration.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How to build a timber retaining wall.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128166#Comment_128166

The sleepers will be used as a purpose of sectioning parts of the yard as seen in my original sketch. Very minimum will be actually above the ground. Will be used for the purpose of soil against both sides of the sleepers.

Ultimately just want to know if there is a need to go as far as concreting and if so is this enough for good draining capacity and then if not, an alternative way of connecting them seeing as they will be buried 😊

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133981#Comment_133981

Hi @amySA,

If there is material on both sides of the sleeper, then the need to pin them in place with posts is reduced. The posts are really there to stop them being pushed over by material just on one side, as I had previously presumed would be the case. If they are to be almost completely buried, then you could just use Galvanised mending plates to join them end to end and angle brackets for any T or corner joints.

Could you please expand a bit more on "is this enough for good draining capacity".

Mitchell

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137615#Comment_137615

Thanks for the clarification that is very helpful! So no posts required if materials on both sides.

I have read in various places that people recommend placing the sleepers on a bed of concrete and gravel in trenches in some way and it helps in aiding water not pooling around the bottom of the sleepers underground ?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140110#Comment_140110

The sleepers are H4 treated for in-ground use @amySA. This treatment helps protect them against insect attack and decay. Unless you have a solid layer of clay and the timber will be sitting on it and constantly wet, there is no need for additional measures to protect it. However, adding a layer of gravel under the sleepers would aid drainage and minimise the amount of time the sleepers remain wet after rain.

Typically, H4 posts placed straight in the ground should last at least ten years at a minimum. I guess you need to decide whether the additional work now to get an additional possibly five years outways the work involved with replacing the sleepers ten+ years from now.

Instead of a gravel base, the other option would be to paint all sides under the soil level with Gripset Betta 1L Waterproofing Membrane Bitumen Rubber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, as my colleague @EricL suggested. That will effectively seal moisture out from penetrating the lower section.

Mitchell

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141875#Comment_141875

Thank you, definitely will waterproof with the grips, looks like a great product!

But yes the ground the sleepers will be sitting on will be quite heavy clay, however it does have some rock through. It does hold water quite heavily which is where the concern comes from.

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143185#Comment_143185

Also one further question sorry.. thickness of the sleepers for what I'm trying to do. Would 50mm thickness be suffice or would 75mm be a better option?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144134#Comment_144134

There's no requirement to use 75mm @amySA, and 50mm would suffice. You'd potentially sell less warping of the timber with the 75mm. Likely, your choice would be governed by how distinctive these divisions need to be between the sections.

Mitchell

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144842#Comment_144842

Just thought I'd jump back on here as I did this edging some time ago.

I ended up going with the treated pine sleepers and connecting with metal plates.

I also used bitumen membrane on the bottom areas/main areas where moisture touches.

I did have an issue with one of the sleepers that cracked right through prior to installation (was only around 5 days) but bunnings was fabulous at replacing it for me.

So far I am seeing some cracks from the wood appear on the areas exposed to the sun so will likely soon look at filling those and then maybe staining or painting.

Update on how the back yard has gone so far

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145483#Comment_145483

Afternoon @amySA

Looks good 🙂 Clean, tidy and it fits!

Would you modify anything if you did it again?

Nice holding up for a year tho!

Dave

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145483#Comment_145483

Wonderful work @amySA! Well done.

Many thanks for the update.

Mitchell

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145885#Comment_145885

I would absolutely change some things, however I guess that's all part of the journey!!! Still lots more to do though!

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146199#Comment_146199

Evening @amySA

🙂 I did my front yard over a couple of years and Im already thinking of how to modify it into what I have come up with since! It never stops 🙂

Dave

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146462#Comment_146462

I can imagine! I can now start focusing a bit on the front yard. Currently it's still mounds of dirt and a few stakes/areas marked out that are a bit of a "maybe I'll do this" kind of situation 😅😅

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