Using reclaimed wood is a big trend right now. Pallets are all the rage because they can be used for just about anything. But have you ever thought about using old railroad ties? Railroad ties are the wooden tracks on a railroad and they can look really cute as part of your landscape. Here are 8 adorable railroad tie landscaping ideas.
Railroad Tie Landscaping Ideas:
Image Source: Pro Garden Biz
1. Reclaimed Fence
Railroad ties are pretty large and sturdy. You could make a fence with minimal effort. Stack and nail the ties together and create a sturdy fence that won’t be coming down. You can paint or stain the fence to give it whole new look too! You’ll have more curb appeal with this reclaimed fence.
Image Source: Tumblr
2. Front Steps
Railroad ties would make an awesome entrance into your home. Stack your ties on an incline so they create steps up to your front door. They will look unique and catch people’s eyes as they go up the steps.
Image Source: Tumblr
3. A Rustic Walkway
If you have access to a lot of railroad ties you can make a rustic walkway that no one else will have. You’ll need to dig where you want the walkway to be so that it’s even with the lawn. Wouldn’t it be cute to have a wooden walkway up to your house instead of a cement or concrete one? It’d be unique and give your yard a rustic, country feel.
Image Source: Pinimg
4. Railroad Raised Flower Bed
It wouldn’t be hard to lay your railroad ties down and create a box to plant flowers in. You’d just need to stack your railroad ties on top of each other and form a square or a rectangle. Then all you need to do is plant flowers in it and you’re done! Easy peasy.
Image Source: Pinimg
5. Railroad Retaining Wall
If you’re yard is starting to slope, install a railroad retaining wall. Retaining walls prevent your yard from washing away when it rains. You might as well make the retaining wall look super cute too. Stack the railroad ties on top of each other and screw them together to make sure it’s stable. It needs to be strong so that it won’t topple over when it starts to rain.
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6. Pergola Posts
Railroad ties make great posts for pergolas because they are really thick and sturdy. You could make your entire pergola out of railroad ties but you’d need to know what you’re doing. Make sure the railroad ties are really stable to make sure the pergola doesn’t come crashing down. Consider putting the posts in cement.
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7. Horseshoe Pit
It would be so much fun to be able to play horseshoes whenever you wanted or when friends came over. Put your railroad ties in the ground in a rectangle and put sand in the middle of it. Stick a piece of rebar in the middle of the sand and you have a horseshoe pit! Simple!
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8. Light Post
Hang a lantern from a railroad tie and you’ll have a light post that looks like it belongs in a Western movie. This will be a fun accent to your yard and it will also shed some light on your yard for outdoor parties or guests.
Summing Up
There are so many creative things you can make out of railroad ties. Railroad tie landscaping is fun and it allows you to think outside the box. Any of these ideas will look amazing in your yard. Try making an old railroad tie become a beautiful piece to your yard and see how much fun it can be.
Image Source: Pixabay
Caution: Many (maybe all?) raiload ties have been treated w/creosote as a preservative to delay rot and decay. To use these products in the garden, you’ll likely see soil contamination as the organics (from the oil based preservative) leach into the soils…not at all desirable, and not suitable for use in gardens (or anywhere?)
If you’re considering using these products, please consider doing some research on the toxicity of the preservative, which the EPA considers a pesticide, and the soils that come in contact with it, contaminated. You can start here: httpss://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2017/09/how_long_does_railroad_tie_con.html