Railway sleepers are one of the easiest ways to add structure to a garden. These ideas use our new green treated garden railway sleepers (200x100mm, 2.4m or 3m) and need only basic tools.
1. Raised beds
Lay sleepers on edge, one or two high, for a 200mm or 400mm deep bed. A 2.4m x 1.2m bed two layers high needs 6 x 2.4m sleepers. Screw the corners with long timber screws and line the inside with membrane for veg.
2. Steps on a slope
Cut a level bed into the slope for each sleeper, pin it with timber stakes behind, and backfill each tread with Type 1 topped with gravel or bark.
3. Borders and lawn edging
Laid flat or on edge, sleepers make a clean edge between lawn and border, or hold back pea gravel along a path. 10m of edging needs 5 x 2.4m or 4 x 3m sleepers.
4. Low retaining walls and terraces
Stack sleepers in a stretcher bond and fix them to posts concreted in behind. For anything above knee height, get advice on design first.
5. Seating and patio edges
A double sleeper on edge makes a simple bench around a fire pit or the edge of a gravel patio.
How many sleepers do I need?
See our railway sleeper sizes & quantity guide for worked examples, or buy packs of 10 for a better price per sleeper.
Sleepers delivered near Newcastle
We deliver within 30 miles of our Swalwell yard, or you can collect. Browse railway sleepers near me.