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Raised Garden Bed made from Treated Pine Sleepers.


Not a "How To" just how FF did it.

 
Obtain 9 Treated Pine Sleepers 2.4m 200x50.  Cut 3 in half and then saw into even lengths so that you have 6 at about 2.4m and 6 at about 1.2m.  Make sure the sleepers are stacked level during this time as they tend to warp e.g. don't leave them leaning against a wall.

 
Paint the sleepers Brunswick Green - no other colour is suitable!  Apply two coats especially on the ends.  This will seal the nasties in.   See CSIRO fact sheet (page 3 of 7) on the safety of CCA timber in vegie garden beds.

 
Make a level base with two lengths of sawn timber.  Lie out two sides and two ends and, using a level and a square, tack the corners using the Rigid Tie Angle Brackets.  These gizmos will pull everything into shape.  That's the top done so turn it over and build upwards.

 
After drilling guides holes, nail the ends with three 75mm bullet head galvanised nails preferably on a slight angle.  Fix some angle brackets using only galvanised flat heads.  Of course, this would be much stronger if bolted.

 
With everything nailed up you could use filler to seal any cracks or holes.  This will improve the appearance and may exclude dampness especially at the ends of the sleepers.  Cut a length of hardwood 100x50 to fit the inside width and skew nail it in place.

 
Nail the connector plates to the sides and ends using galvanised flat heads.  Place them on a 45 degree angle to give added strength.  Now give everything a touch up with the Brunswick Green without stinting.

 
Cut the polythene film so that you have two 1m wide lengths.  Fold over by about 100mm and position as shown at left.  Using the Moulding Cover hide the fold and nail.  Use gaffer tape to join the ends.


 

Raised Garden Bed - complete.
click to enlarge

  ACCOUNTS:  All products Bunnings prices.

AMOUNT ITEM COST
9 Treated Pine Sleepers 200x50 2.4m 143.10
Hire shop ute   20.00
500g Nails Pryda Galv Flathead 35x3 (Abt 180)   13.59
100g Nails Clouts Galv Paslode 25x2.8     4.48
500g Nails Bullet Head Galv Paslode 75x3.75     7.71
8 Multigrips 1mm Pryda 100x35     4.80
4 Bracket Rigid Tie Angles 145x145x35   15.20
6 UniTie 1mm Pryda 170x32     3.90
4L British 4-Seasons Paint Brunswick Green   54.60
4 Connector Plate Pryda 75x380 nail on     6.36
4 Bracket Pergola Angles Pryda 130x50x47     6.72
3 Moulding Cover White 2.4m 31x6   13.02
1 Roll Film Polythene Roll Handy Black 5m x 2m     8.85
            TOTAL 302.33