Landscaping Ideas: Walls With Railroad Crossties

Terraced Wall

• A terraced wall is a retaining wall with level platforms and steps built into a slope. Many local building codes place a height restriction of 3 feet for homeowner-constructed retaining walls, so this type of wall is the ideal choice for the do-it-yourselfer. Build the railroad crosstie retaining wall 3 feet high at the base of the slope; cut away the slope above the wall to create a level platform of about 6 feet, and repeat the steps until you've built the desired number of small walls. The platform areas can be deeper than 6 feet for homeowners who wish to have an entertainment terrace. Cut steps into the slope for easy access to each terrace. You can also add plants and water features to the terraces.

Curved Wall

• The length and straightness of railroad crossties mean the walls you build won't have the smooth-flowing curves that a stone wall would, but you can achieve a curved wall nonetheless. A curve in a crosstie retaining wall helps to soften the straight lines and makes a large wall seem less overwhelming. Construct the curve using three stacked columns of railroad crossties, with the two end columns coming out at an angle from the center column. Overlap the connecting end joints of the cross ties to achieve greater stability in the wall. The finished curve makes an ideal backdrop for a flowerbed, garden statue or water fountain. Alternatively, spread out soil over the tops of the crossties and onto the slope behind them. Add plants like sweet potato vine, English ivy, flowering maple or pennywort to cascade over the wall.

Sloping Wall

• Use railroad crossties to create a wall that descends with the natural slope of a hillside. Start by building the first course of crossties to a desired length or to extend the length of the hillside. Stack the second course of ties on top of the first course, but extend it just short of the length of the first course. Lay the third course in the same way but shorter than the second level. The difference in length should be equal from one course to the next, so if the second course is 18 inches shorter than the first course, the third course should be 18 inches shorter than the second course. The height of each level should be roughly equal to the height of the hillside.

Water Feature

• Natural wood, such as railroad crossties, makes the ideal backdrop for a cascading waterfall feature in the landscape. Build a 3- to 4-foot-tall railroad crosstie wall in the desired location in your garden; dig out a small pool at the base of the wall and line with black plastic. Drill a few holes into a piece of pipe or tubing for water to exit; attach one end to a water pump and cap the other end. Install the pipe at the top of the wall for water to circulate into the pool. Pressure-treated railroad ties are water-resistant and work well in water features, but used railroad ties are often treated with toxic creosote. If the ties contain creosote, which can leach into the water, install the pipe out so the water doesn't touch the ties as it flows.