12/31/2023 0 Comments Landscape lumber![]() ![]() With care, treatment, and commitment, your attractive driveway border will last for years. Your outdoor living area can be transformed with the correct and innovative use of landscape timber. Cost: Depending on the amount of landscape lumber and pea gravel you need, as well as if you need to purchase other materials and tools, plan to spend between 50 and 200-plus. Regularly check your landscape timbers for any fungal growth or infestation. You’ll need to know how to excavate, grade the land area, cut timber to size, and build step frames with the timber. During wet weather, the timber will swell and the cracks will seal.ĭepending on the climate you live in, many wood stains require periodic reapplication. In summer months, this can lead to cracking. However, selecting the right type of timber for your project is important. Landscape timbers are a versatile and attractive way to add structure and visual interest to your landscaping. Otherwise, they’d rot and decay over time. This means they’re treated to help them last longer. Timber tends to expand when wet and shrink when dry. Landscape timbers must be rated for ground contact. Now that your timber border is standing and secure, tidy up the soil at the edges. 4×4 pressure treated post, -1/2 rebar 2 long (2 per landscape timber) -4 exterior screws. At every 3 feet horizontally, drive in the 12-inch metal stake through the slots you just made. Purchase Materials: The amount of each material you purchase will vary depending on the size of your border. ![]() Secure the pieces of timber by using a sledgehammer. Create the slot using a screw and the drill. This is where the metal stake will go in. ![]() You will have to make a slot in each piece of timber. The distance between the layers should be about 3 inches. If you plan to add more layers of timber to the border, make sure you place the second layer on top of the first without any overlapping. Tidy up the exposed ends of the timber using a saw and sandpaper. Starting from the edge of the driveway, place them all, checking for evenness regularly. Place the landscape timbers in the trench side by side. Periodically check for evenness by using the level. Stamp a heavy piece of timber to level the trench. If you are working with soil that heaves from frost, bury the timber in halfway. This way, 1 inch will stay exposed once you finish. Dig it 3 inches deep to hold a 4x4 wooden plank. Keeping the trench about 2 inches wider than the timber. The dimensions of this trench will depend on the size of the timber you are using. Consider using a stain and varnish to further beautify and protect the wood. This becomes all the more critical if the timber is going to come in contact with soil. Installing end caps on your wooden posts will also cut down on the possibility of erosion and rotting. A cheaper alternative could be to opt for pressure-treated wood, which also resists decay. Tack landscape fabric to back of wall if the soil is sandy. If the wall butts up against the house, angle deadman away from house (weakest point). Deadman should be 4' long, level into bank. Most wood that is sold for outdoor use is pressure treated and coated with a preservative.Ĭedar, cypress, and redwood are typically rot-resistant when placed next to soil. Use 10' spikes or screws for 6' x 6' or larger timbers. Ensure that the wood you choose is treated for added strength and durability. Pack it down with the 2x4.When selecting landscape timbers, you can choose between softwoods-such as redwood and Western red cedar-or hardwoods like oak. Natural timbers can work as well but will not last as long without treatment. Synthetic ones will last for many seasons and, unlike pressure-treated lumber, you don’t have to worry about chemicals leaching into the soil around your edible plants. Secure the first and second courses of timber by driving one 12-inch metal spike in every 3 feet, using a sledgehammer.įill in the space between the grass and the timber with soil from the wheelbarrow. Landscape timbers are perfect for raised garden beds. Drive in the screw 1 or 2 inches with the drill to make a slot for the metal spike. The screw should be of a smaller diameter than the metal spike. Place a metal screw on top of the second course of timber where it will be connected to the second course. In other words, the end of one beam of timber shouldn't be directly over the end of another beam. ![]() The ends of the first course should be 3 to 4 inches away from the ends of the second course. Lay the second course of landscape timbers on top of the first so that the ends of the first course do not overlap with the ends of the second course. How do I find a local Landscape Contractor in El Molar Just answer a few questions to get matched with a local Landscape Contractor. Trim off the excess timber at the ends using the circular saw and/or hand saw. Place flush against the edge of the driveway. Lay the first course of the landscape timbers in the trench side by side with the ends pushed closely together. ![]()
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