How to Lay Sleepers for Garden Edging
If you’re a homeowner, then you’ll be well aware of the importance of your garden.
As well as providing your property with an outdoor area where you can relax and get some fresh air, gardens can enhance the overall aesthetics of a space and even boost a home’s value.
With all this in mind, it’s perhaps no surprise that people place a lot of focus and attention on making sure their garden has an attractive look with various design elements.
This includes garden sleepers which have become a popular way to define different spaces and areas in the garden.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how to lay sleepers for garden edging. When done properly, this is a fairly straightforward task that most competent DIYers can do with ease. We’ll explain the process below so read on to find out more…
What is garden edging?
Sleepers are a popular choice when it comes to garden edging, but what is actually meant by the term?
Let us explain.
Garden edging refers to the process of creating a distinct border or boundary around garden flower beds, pathways, steps, benches and a wide range of other landscaped garden features. It helps compartmentalise a garden and its spaces, with the boundary serving both practical and aesthetic purposes.
There are various materials that can be used for garden edging including bricks, stones, metal, wood, plastic and concrete with garden sleepers available in a range of different options. The choice of material often depends on factors such as the desired aesthetic, budget and maintenance requirements.
Practically speaking, garden edging helps contain soil, mulch or other materials within a designated area. This stops them from spilling over onto paths or other parts of the garden. Furthermore, it prevents grass or weeds from encroaching into flower beds or other landscaped areas which helps with maintenance.
Aesthetically, garden edging adds definition and structure to the garden, providing a clean, finished and consistent look. It can enhance the overall design by creating visually pleasing borders between different areas of the garden or by placing a focus on specific features such as flower beds, shrubs and pathways.
How to lay sleepers for garden edging
Now that we’ve outlined exactly what garden edging is and how it works, let’s take a look at how to lay sleepers for garden edging.
While the task is not hugely difficult, it’s important to follow the right steps in order to make sure it is performed efficiently and in a way that does not create problems in the future.
Choose your sleepers
Before you get to work, it’s important to consider the type of sleepers that will work best as your garden edging. Sleepers are available in a whole host of different materials, with wood, concrete and recycled plastic perhaps the most popular choices people make.
Let’s take a look at the various features of these sleeper types.
Wood: A wooden sleeper is perhaps the most common type that people choose. Chiefly, this is because it offers a natural look that is great for aesthetics. Plus, it’s fairly easy to install and extremely affordable. However, the biggest downside of using wooden sleepers is that they require a significant amount of ongoing maintenance to keep them protected from the weather and natural elements.
Concrete: If durability and strength are the key for you then concrete sleepers are the way to go. They’re extremely weather resistant and offer excellent longevity meaning they will last for years to come with little maintenance. However, they can be heavy to move around so if you don’t think you can manage safely it may be worth calling in professional help.
Recycled plastic: A great eco-friendly option for those wishing to be more sustainable. Recycled plastic sleepers are also fairly low maintenance but they can be more expensive when compared to other types.
Measuring and marking the area
It’s essential that you accurately measure and mark the area where the sleepers are going to be installed before starting.
Take some time to consider where you want the edging to go, calculate the amount of sleepers you will need and measure the space to ensure you have everything you need.
Clear and prepare the area
Begin the building phase of the project by taking a bit of time to clear and prepare the area you’re working in. Ensure the soil is prepared and the area has been correctly marked with string.
Remove any dirt, debris or weeds, consider drainage by creating slopes and level the ground with a spade or a rake.
Position your sleepers
Now your area is prepared, you can begin to position your chosen sleepers.
Make sure every sleeper is laid evenly and start at one end of the area you have marked out. Align the sleeper with the markings and ensure it is secure on the ground. You can use a rubber mallet to hammer the sleepers into place to be sure of their security.
Continue this process until all your sleepers have been positioned.
Attach the sleepers together
Once all sleepers have been positioned, it’s time to attach them together. There are several methods for doing this including:
Drilling and screws: The most popular choice due to the way it strengthens the sleepers, you can drill the sleepers together with screws.
Nailing: A faster and more straightforward job than using screws, simply drill holes in the sleepers and attach them with nails. Be aware that this method is not as durable as drilling and screws.
Gluing: You can also glue sleepers together. This is an effective method if done correctly, but you’ll need to check they are bonding properly to each other.
Check alignment
Once you have connected the sleepers, you should use a spirit level to check that they are properly aligned, even and straight. If you notice any issues then make sure to adjust accordingly.
Once you’ve done this, simply backfill and compress your soil around the sleepers for additional security.
