Sleeper Flower Bed

[harryandmarv]

Currently beginning the process of building a sleeper flower bed.

The back of it will run against a fence. I’ve read that we’ll need to put gravel in at the bottom for draining but do we need to ‘line’ it as well? If so, does that go at the bottom under the gravel & does it need holes in? I read conflicting advice on this. There will be a few ‘plants/trees’ going in, an acer and palm like tree, it’s a large flower bed! Any advice much appreciated!

I can't see why you would! If you want drainage, a liner is the last thing you want!

I have a sleeper flower bed.
No gravel or liner here!

I'd advise against reclaimed treated sleepers they can leach creosote into the soil and weep tar. I'd suggest a weed protection fabric or something similar to help prevent the sleepers rotting but only against the sides. Gravel as a footing under the sleepers will help prevent rot.

Most sleepers aren't reclaimed though? We have lots, bought from the garden centre and similar which have never been near a train.

Exactly, ours are brand new oak sleepers from the builders merchant. No creosote.

Exactly, ours are brand new oak sleepers from the builders merchant. No creosote
Ours too

@Hebeee

Exactly, ours are brand new oak sleepers from the builders merchant. No creosote.

And mine. But I have a wild hedge at the back of mine (hazel, rose, blackberry, blackthorn etc) and certainly no liner or gravel. It gets an annual dollop of compost and leaf mould.

Thanks for the replies. The sleepers are oak ones, not reclaimed ones.

The actual ‘bed’ is quite deep as it will be housing about 4 or 5 big plants/small trees. Would it be better to plant them into the ground or just into the bed when the soil goes in? Or it doesn’t really matter? The bed is the the same height as the pots that the plants/trees are in, so if we plant them into the ground, obviously that will lower their height they will look a bit low/daft until they grow.