Ideas for Stepping Stones & Railroad Ties in a Flower Garden

Railroad Tie Steps

• Railroad ties are the long, thick, heavy wooden cross pieces that sit between railroad tracks. Since railroad ties are so sturdy, they make perfect steps for steep hills leading into your garden. All a gardener needs to do is dig several level, rectangular tiers into the side of the steep hill and then settle the railroad ties down onto the tiers. Doing this in the fall helps the ties to sink into place and stabilize before the following spring. The gardener may then plant moss or ground cover between the ties and place potted plants at either end of each.

Wood and Stone Fence

• Gardeners with an excess of stepping stones and railroad ties can use them to make a decorative slat fence or retaining wall. This may help delineate your property, separate different parts of the yard or serve as part of a raised garden bed. The project starts with the gardener laying stepping stones on the ground at intervals matching the length of the ties, then suspending ties between the stones. More stones go on top of the seams between the ties and more ties go on top of that until the wall is high enough. Gardeners can also stuff peat and humus between the railroad ties and plant them with Irish moss for an old-world look.

Water Feature Bridge

• If you have a particularly large water feature, you can create a narrow bridge from large stepping stones and railroad ties. The gardener places flat, sturdy stepping stones into the water feature so they stick about 4 inches up out of the water and are securely grounded. He then lays railroad ties on top of the stepping stones to connect them. The stepping stones should support either end and the center of each railroad tie. A little mortar under the railroad ties keeps them in place and stable for light foot traffic. Railroad ties for this use should be free of cracks and rot.