leylandi trunks and query about sleepers
Hello,
I hope that you can help.
We are currently re-doing our garden and want to raise the beds with sleepers. First question is what type of sleepers should we use, as the sleepers will be in contact with the ground and soil (preferably cheap and long lasting). Our soil is clayey and are garden faces west.
The other query is that we have some leylandi that have been there a while, and are a bit bare at the bottom, where the neighbours dog, cats etc have come through. Can I raise the level of the soil to bury these bare sections of trunk, or will this harm the hedge?
Also what would you suggest to keep the dogs from coming through the gap at the bottom of the hedge (preferably hedgehog friendly).
Thanks
Aimee
I hope that you can help.
We are currently re-doing our garden and want to raise the beds with sleepers. First question is what type of sleepers should we use, as the sleepers will be in contact with the ground and soil (preferably cheap and long lasting). Our soil is clayey and are garden faces west.
The other query is that we have some leylandi that have been there a while, and are a bit bare at the bottom, where the neighbours dog, cats etc have come through. Can I raise the level of the soil to bury these bare sections of trunk, or will this harm the hedge?
Also what would you suggest to keep the dogs from coming through the gap at the bottom of the hedge (preferably hedgehog friendly).
Thanks
Aimee
0
Posts
Will that be ok for hedgehogs, or will they get hurt by it? I can put small pipe sections for the hedgehog to get through. Iassume that raising the soil level around the leylandii isn't a good idea then?
If you don't like the look of chicken wire you could try attaching a roll of screening to it, cut to size.
I used it under compost bins folded and with the spikey ends well folded and buried but for other blocking things issues stiff clematis plastic square mesh is also good.
Or that might be what @Lizzie27 means. It is usually a dark green so blends in a bit better.
I do not know if I just don't know how to handle or if there is a better or proper way to use with chicken wire?
I would think if you can tuck or bury the pointy bits it would be okay for hogs if you are doing separate tunnels for them anyway.
I might be being over cautious but thinking of hoggies getting spiked noses.
Do not bury the tree trunks. They will rot and die.
Sleepers are made from hard wood which is slow to grow but lasts well. They are not cheap.
As Obelixx says they can be expensive, not sure what you are looking for but old reclaimed untreated hardwood ones are a bit cheaper. They would be okay with wet soil as used for water features ponds etc?
There are others but this site link is to give you an idea of cost.
https://www.uksleepers.co.uk/product/Untreated_Reclaimed_Tropical_Hardwood_Sleepers
I am not advertising, no affiliation or anything. This site used to have pages of really good ideas and information for how to use and the explanations of grades and what is or is not treated.
Not all used railway sleepers are covered in tar or nasty preservatives. You might find something suitable for clay at a cheaper rate?
I feel the cheap ones from diy stores are a false economy and they won't last.
Aimee
He did it so I didn't measure hoggie seems to get in/out okay. Are they five inches?
Try the search there are some hog fanatics here and a couple of threads with lots of info.