Resting wall and raised beds - Oak Sleepers

[EdF_uk]

Hi again,

I’m just about to embark on phase 2 of the garden landscaping and looking for some advice.

I’m planing on building a kitchen garden area with raised beds (see photo) and because of the garden slope am planning on using sleepers as a retaining barrier. I’m planning to use Oak for durability and bedding them on mortar piers on top of the type 1 MOT. Do you think I need to water proof the retainers which will be holding back the soil?

Many thanks,

E

 

[Mr Chibs]

Will be interested to see how you get on with this. I will be doing my garden and had similar idea, but decided I'd make mine out of brick instead.

Don't think I'd bother with mortar, you might as well just be on hardcore. better drainage.
All wood will rot over time when in contact with soil, I see folk stapling DPM on inside, or painting blackjack (presume they are not veg beds).

On thought, you will need a large chop saw to cut those angles in an oak sleeper, I've seen chainsaws used but it looks rough afterwards, don't think your are after the rustic look.

Good luck

Just realised you were talking about the retaining wall also...
It will probably lean over slightly, over time, if there are now fixings.
Because you are able to see most of the sleeper, you can't hide and fixings on the grass side. Perhaps you might need some form of concrete footing and embed some rods/threaded bar into it pointing upwards, then drill some holes into sleeper and slide it onto footing.