Sleeper Bed / Retainer

[MAG1]

Ive read all the really helpful advice on here but I would just like to run my plan by you all and ask a few questions before I start.

I'm going to be putting two stepped rectangular beds, each 600mm high, in front of and into the raised grass area.

I will be using new softwood 2.4x100x200 sleepers, on their edge, and looking to fix the first row of these beds with concrete/postcrete and rebar, then timberlok the next two layers.

1) Would this method be strong enough to keep back the soil?

2) If so, how far into the earth does the rebar need to go?

3) Should I use M20 or M16 rebar?

4) What type (not size!) of bit should I use for the rebar holes ?

Any help or other suggestions gratefully received. This is the first part of a total garden makeover so I may be back with lots more queries.

 

[Thermo]

waste of time and effort. no need for rebar at that size. if they are rectangular beds then they will hold in position if there are sleepers on all 4 sides. if they are going against the wall then a couple of posts behind concreted into teh ground, screwed to the back of the sleepers will be more than adequate

 

[MAG1]

Cheers for the the quick reply.
They are going to be rectangular beds. So no rebar, just bed on concrete?

 

[Thermo]

just bed them on compacted earth, they really wont go anywhere. no need for concrete at all

 

[MAG1]

I've now put the sleepers down and the missus wants them stained/painted dark brown like the sleepers in this link

http://www.railwaysleeper.com/Mr & Mrs Abbott's garden project with railway sleepers.htm

Any ideas what theyve used or suggestions about getting this colour?

 

[Thermo]

use any decent stain, such as cuprinol, ronseal or sadolins, but youre making a maintenance issue for yourself