Tag Archives: Create

How to Build a Retaining Wall with Railroad Ties Retaining walls are essential landscape features that prevent soil erosion, create usable flat spaces on sloped terrain, and add visual structure to a yard

December 01, 2025   Shane

While materials like concrete blocks and natural stone are popular, railroad ties offer a rustic, durable, and often more affordable alternative. Their substantial size allows for quicker construction of taller walls. However, building with railroad ties requires careful planning and execution due to their weight and potential environmental considerations.

Important Preliminary Note: Modern railroad ties are often treated with chemical preservatives like creosote, which can be toxic. For any project near gardens or areas frequented by children and pets, it is highly recommended to seek out “new, non-treated” landscape timbers or recycled composite timbers designed to mimic the look of railroad ties. Always wear gloves, long sleeves, and a dust mask when handling old railroad ties.

Planning & Safety

  • 1. Check Local Regulations::

    • Before you begin, contact your local building department. Many municipalities have codes governing retaining walls over a certain height (often 3-4 feet), which may require a permit or professional engineering.

  • 2. Call Before You Dig::

    • In the U.S. and Canada, always call 811 or your local utility locating service at least a few days before digging. They will mark the location of underground lines for free.

  • 3. Design Your Wall::

    • Determine the wall’s length, height, and layout. A wall taller than 3-4 feet requires advanced techniques and professional consultation. For stability, the wall should lean slightly back into the hill (a “batter” of about 1 inch for every foot of height).

    Materials & Tools
    Materials:
    * Railroad ties or suitable landscape timbers
    * Drainage gravel (¾-inch crushed stone)
    * Landscape fabric (non-woven geotextile)
    * Deadmen anchors (for walls over 3 feet): extra railroad ties cut to 4-5 ft lengths
    * Rebar pins (12-18 inch lengths, ½-inch diameter)
    * Galvanized spikes (12-inch landscape spikes) or large lag bolts

    Tools:
    * Shovel, spade, and digging bar
    * Tape measure, level, and string line
    * Circular saw or chainsaw (with a sharp blade for treated wood)
    * Sledgehammer
    * Drill with a long wood bit (for pre-drilling spike holes)
    * Plate compactor or hand tamper
    * Wheelbarrow

    Step-by-Step Construction Guide

    Step 1:

    Excavate the Trench
    Mark the front line of your wall with string and stakes. Dig a level trench along this line. The trench should be wide enough to accommodate the full width of your tie and deep enough to bury the first course (layer) by at least one-third of its height. For a standard 7-inch tall tie, dig a trench about 4-6 inches deep. The trench base must be perfectly level and compacted.

    Step 2:

    Establish Drainage and Foundation
    Line the back of the trench (the side against the hill) with landscape fabric, allowing excess to drape up the excavated slope. Fill the trench with 2-3 inches of drainage gravel and compact it thoroughly. This gravel bed is critical for preventing water from pooling under the ties, which causes rot and heaving.

    Step 3:

    Lay the First Course
    Place your first railroad tie in the trench on the gravel bed. Check for level from front to back and side to side. Use gravel to shim and adjust until it is perfectly level. This course sets the stage for the entire wall, so take your time.

    Step 4:

    Secure the Ties and Build Up
    * Drill and Spike: For each subsequent tier, stagger the vertical joints like bricks for strength. Pre-drill holes at an angle through the new tie and into the one below. Drive 12-inch galvanized spikes through the holes to pin the ties together. Use at least two spikes per tie, positioned about one foot from each end.
    * Anchor with Rebar: For additional lateral stability, drive 12-18 inch rebar pins vertically through pre-drilled holes in the ties and into the ground below. Space these pins every 3-4 feet along the wall.
    * Install Deadmen (For Walls Over 3 Feet): Every 6-8 feet along the wall, install a “deadman”—a tie that extends perpendicularly back into the hillside. Bury it in a trench and spike it securely to the face ties. This acts as an anchor, tying the wall into the stable soil behind it.

    Step 5:

    Install Backfill and Drainage
    As you build each course, immediately backfill behind the wall with drainage gravel. Do not use native soil. The gravel layer should be at least 6-12 inches thick directly behind the wall. Wrap the landscape fabric over the gravel to prevent soil from clogging the drainage zone. Continue this process—lay a course, backfill with gravel, compact—until you reach the final height.

    Step 6:

    Cap the Wall (Optional)
    A final “cap” tie can be spiked horizontally along the top of the wall for a finished look. You can use a full tie or cut one lengthwise for a smaller cap.

    Step 7:

    Final Grading
    Once the wall is complete, backfill the remaining area behind the gravel drainage zone with native soil. Slope the final grade slightly away from the top of the wall to direct surface water runoff away from the structure.

    Long-Term Maintenance
    * Inspect Annually: Check for signs of bulging, leaning, or rot.
    * Ensure Proper Drainage: Keep weep holes (if installed) or the gravel base clear of debris.
    * Address Vegetation: Prevent tree and large shrub roots from growing into the wall structure.

    Conclusion
    Building a retaining wall with railroad ties is a demanding but rewarding DIY project that can transform a sloped, unusable area into a beautiful and functional landscape feature. By prioritizing a solid, level foundation, robust internal drainage, and secure mechanical fastening, you can construct a wall that is both strong and enduring. Always prioritize safety, don’t hesitate to seek help with heavy lifting, and consider professional advice for taller or complex walls. With careful work, your railroad tie retaining wall will serve your property for decades.

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    Create A Garden To Remember With This Useful Advice.

    November 30, 2022   Matt

    Create A Garden To Remember With This Useful Advice.

    Gardening is not just a popular hobby for those who own property, but a family activity and even a profession for some. As with any endeavor, gardening is a lot easier if you know a few things before you get started. Read on to learn some pieces of advice sure to make your thumb a little greener.

    If you want a patch of green in your garden, consider planting a ground cover instead of a lawn. Lawns require a lot of water and maintenance. On the other hand, a ground cover usually uses less water, and certain varieties discourage weeds from growing. Many varieties of ground cover have the green color comparable to a lawn. You can save time and money with a ground cover.

    Choose silvers and grays to lighten up the garden on dull days and shine in the moonlight. While most gray-leafed plants are attractive enough to hold their own in the garden, they are often used due to the effect they have on surrounding colors. They make pastel colors look brighter, and tone down the effect of vivid colors. Most plants with silver or gray foliage are native to the Mediterranean, therefore requiring little watering in the dry months. The best known silver and gray plants are dusty miller, lychnis, silver lace and artemisia.

    A great tip to consider when cleaning up after gardening is using a nail brush for your hands. This is a great tip because having the correct cleaning tools will ensure that you can get your hands looking great in no time.

    Create warmth with golden or yellow foliage. Visual vibrancy and warmth exudes from golden and yellow-leaved foliage. They are particularly effective in shady locations, giving the illusion of light and depth. They coordinate beautifully with purple flowers or deep bronze foliage. Good choices include Caryopteris ‘Worcester Gold’, Viburnum ‘Aureum’, various Hostas and Spirea ‘Gold Flame’.

    When deciding to take up gardening, it is important to study and know your geographical area. Some vegetation simply can’t survive a northern winter. Contrarily, some plants can’t survive a Texas summer. As such, it is important to know where you are and what the plants that you intend on growing can handle.

    To make a dull plant look greener, bury match heads near the plant’s base. The primary reason for a plant looking dull or faded is sulfur deficiency. Putting match heads in the soil around the plant will allow the soil to absorb the sulfur and feed it back to the plant.

    An old wagon can help save time as well as your back. Instead of constantly having to retrieve your gardening tools as you work your way around your garden, commandeer an old child’s wagon. An old wagon works as well as a garden cart, and can often be obtained free or very cheaply if you get it used.

    You were told in the opening of this piece that if you read on, you would learn a few things about planting and growing. Hopefully, that has taken place and you are ready to go out in the yard and plant some seeds. Keep in mind what you have learned, and you’ll have fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers in no time.

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    What it takes to Create Picture Perfect Landscaping Designs

    July 17, 2022   Matt

    What it takes to Create Picture Perfect Landscaping Designs

    Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

    This is a well-noted adage and is often one of the principles of landscaping designing.

    Landscaping designs are not constrained to the premise that what is beautiful is magnificent. It is more than just beautification and enhancing of a garden to fit to an individual’s taste and preference. It dwells more on the aspects of placing plantings in the proper places.

    The basic concept of landscaping design is considered more as a work of art. Despite the obvious technical competence, there is a pleasing quality and movement of every landscape designer to his or her masterpiece.

    The creation of landscape designs are not just mere formation of ideas and visions, they show respect for the uniqueness of the area and should always be given careful consideration. The personality of the area is determined by the size and availability of the resources.

    Landscape designs generally add value to the worth of the property. In fact, experts say that through these landscape designs, the total value of a particular property is increased as much as 25%. No wonder almost 20 million American households utilize landscaping services for their properties.

    The Concept

    Landscape designs are actually subdivided into two categories. These are the softscape and the hardscape.

    The softscape part of a landscape design is the different green vegetation to be used in the area, and includes grass, shrubs, and trees.

    On the other hand, the hardscape portion refers to the “architectural elements of the design, and may refer to the benches, fountains, poles, or other materials, not including plants.

    These two main categories of a landscape design are significant to the overall outcome. Landscape designs also employ five additional elements that are considered the foundation of good design. These are the line, color, texture, form, and scale.

    The point here is that all of these elements should constitute the design, and the design is vital to the total personality of a landscape. This is why it is important for a landscaper to incorporate all of the necessary elements when landscaping. In this way, the landscape designer will be able to create a design that is not just artistic but also dynamic and will speak for itself.

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