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How to Landscape With Pressure Treated Wood
How to Landscape With Pressure Treated Wood. Pressure-treated wood is produced to endure weather and ground contact without rotting. When installed with a proper base, treated wood can last for 10 to 20 years. Also referred to as landscape timber, it can be used for a range of projects, including edging walkways and gardens. With basic tools and...
Pressure-treated wood is produced to endure weather and ground contact without rotting. When installed with a proper base, treated wood can last for 10 to 20 years. Also referred to as landscape timber, it can be used for a range of projects, including edging walkways and gardens. With basic tools and carpentry skills, you can install landscaping wood yourself in a day.
Things You'll Need
Tape measure
Ropes
Flat shovel
Landscape fabric
Crushed rock
Circular or hand saw
3/8 inch drill
9 inch spikes
Hammer
Pressure-treated wood
Choose where you want to add pressure-treated wood. Consider edging an existing garden to retain the soil and protect it from wayward grass, or use it to edge a gravel path or driveway to contain the stones.
Measure the width of treated wood with a tape measure. Lay ropes around the garden or surface you plan to edge. The distance between the ropes and the area you're edging should be equal to the width of the treated wood plus 4 inches.
Use a flat shovel to unearth the grass and dirt from the roped-off area. Create a canal 6 inches deep. Pack the dirt down with the back of the shovel to compact the subsoil.
Lay strips of landscape fabric over the bottom and side walls to deter weeds.
Pour 4 inches of crushed rock into the canal and spread it even with the shovel. The rocks improve drainage from the garden or walkway and protect the wood edging from frost heaves.
Measure lengths of treated wood to fit each side of the garden or walkway and cut the wood with a circular or hand saw.
Drill pilot holes through the center of the wood and 6 inches from each end with a 3/8 inch drill.
Place the cut wood on the gravel base against the outer wall so the ends are flush together. Secure the wood to the ground with 9-inch landscape spikes. Drive the spikes through the holes with a hammer.
Backfill the canal with crushed rock to reinforce the wood edging.
Tips & Warnings
Pressure-treated wood is available at home improvement stores. Standard sizes include 1, 2 and 4 inches thick, and 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 inches wide. Lengths will vary by store, but most will offer lengths of 8- to 22 feet increasing in increments of 2 feet.
