How to Landscape With Hemlock Timbers

Stake out the border of the bed or structure where the timbers will be placed. For square or multisided beds, stretch string between the stakes and use a framing square to ensure that the desired corner angles will be achieved.

Dig a trench between the stakes. Make the trench about 6 inches deep. In coarse soils or for walls that will be more than a few stacked timbers high, the trench should extend slightly deeper.

Replace about 2 inches of soil from the bottom of the trench with concrete sand if the soil is coarse, difficult to work with or otherwise unstable.

Level the entire trench. Work around the trench with a level and move soil around as necessary to make the trench bottom entirely flat.

Compact the soil in the trench using a tamper. Check again to make sure that the trench is level and add, move or compact the soil as necessary.

Cut timbers as needed to fit in the planned trenches. Use a hand saw, chainsaw or other suitable cutting tool for this.

Place the timber in the trench. Make sure that the timber is level and even with the marking string. Adjust the timber and add soil or fill under the timber as necessary. This first timber, the base timber, should be placed deep enough so that its top is nearly level with the soil line.

Cut and place timbers in adjacent trenches or in trenches for the sides of the box. The multiple pieces of timber should fit together snugly and have overlapping corners.

Drill holes near the center and at each end of the timbers.

Drive spikes through the drilled holes into the ground.

Cut and place timbers for the second layer atop the base timber course. Layers of timber should be placed so that seams do not overlap.

Drill two or three holes in each piece of timber and drive spikes to hold each timber to the timber beneath it.

Repeat this stacking and anchoring until the desired height is reached.

Fill the new landscape feature with soil or aggregate and landscape as desired.