Well, it seems that everyone has seen log roll edging and some have had trouble with it.
As someone who used to live in the UK, I dabbled in the production of log rolls but I was competing with my ex-boss, who had the garden centres eating out of his hand nearly. Result, I didn't have a company for very long.
Now, I live in Texas and haven't seen these log rolls anywhere here and therefore want to take advantage of not entering a currently competing market.
But, having done market research for log rolls in the UK, I would like to remind the log roll ripper-outters (and bad mouthers
) of some facts.
1) Some companies who sell log rolls in the UK are from a warmer and drier climate, like Europe. A good example of this, is if you buy a french car you will see the exhaust is not galvanised like a British car's exhaust and the exhaust rots through in a few years.
2) Most people who install the log rolls really don't know the first thing about them.
3) Of the people who install the log rolls for the first time, most can't savvy that something left free standing will not retain several tons of top soil.
4) Some companies who make them use cheaper materials to increase their profit margins - creosote instead of a safe, environmentally friendly wood stain, for instance. Some do not even use treated timber or wood stain!
5) The ultimate responsibility lies with the customer - its your money. If you don't do your homework on which company you share your money with, or do your homework on how to install them properly, it isn't the fault of the product if it breaks down. The product is only as good as the employee who makes it and the product will only work as effectively as the installer allows it to.
6) Log rolls can be a really good solution to a boring garden. Railway sleepers, whilst strong and durable, are straight and boring and therefore look somewhat out of place in a natural setting. Log rolls can bend and shape easily to give your garden a vibrant and natural feel - something railway sleepers can never do.
7) In respect of one post, if you want 6 inches above ground then put a further 6 inches below ground, I personally would disagree. Log rolls usually come without stakes or pegs to secure them in the ground. Whilst for some companies this may be a short cut, for my company it will be to allow the customer the choice of stake that comes with it. I would recommend a durable, polyethylene plastic - strong and won't rot like wood or metal. A stake at each end is not a good idea, but one every 12" - 15" or so, would work great. The ground needs to be properly prepared before installation - Mark the line of where the log roll will be. Place the roll free standing and drive stakes to at least 12 inches deep, more if possible, every so often then attach roll to stakes. Firm the ground in around the stakes. This is where most mistakes are made - don't forget the protection layer, something a bit like what goes in hanging baskets, against the back of the roll. This will serve as two-way protection - protect the soil from any chemicals in the roll and protect the roll from dampness in the ground.
