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Railroad Tie Retaining Wall Ideas – Railings and railroad ties are often seen in older landscapes, but are old railroad ties safe to use in gardening situations? Railroad ties are made of treated wood that has been soaked in a poisonous mixture of chemicals, the most prominent of which is creosote.
Old railroad ties are available for purchase at a variety of locations, including garden stores, which makes the topic difficult to answer. The Environmental Protection Agency has labeled these repurposed barriers as harmful and has advised against using them in the garden.
Although a huge sloping backyard may seem pleasant at first glance, once you begin mowing this useless side hill, you may begin to contemplate the advantages of getting rid of it completely. As a result, the idea of constructing a railroad tie retaining wall is conceived.
It is feasible to create a habitable and use-able back yard by excavating a big portion of a sloping yard and building a retaining wall to keep the soil from washing away into the yard. Let’s look at why railroad ties are used for landscaping and what alternatives are available that are both safer and as effective.
Why Using Railroad Tie Retaining Wall is a Good Idea
If you have just acquired a property and want to construct some raised garden beds, railroad ties seem to be a cost-effective and straightforward choice. You could wonder, on the other hand, “should I use railroad ties in my garden?” Indeed, you’ve undoubtedly seen them at your friends’ landscaping, and they’re abundant in communities where they’re planted.
It is unfortunate that what we have done in the past has been shown to be an error in recent years. It is possible that using railroad ties for garden beds can endanger your soil along with your dogs and children, as well as the food you cultivate.
Using railroad tie retaining wall to create long-lasting barriers for beds, walkways, and retaining walls is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option. They may be found everywhere, and many people find their weathered aspect to be inherently appealing. By soaking it in creosote, which is comprised of over 300 compounds, many of which are harmful and persistent in soil, the wood may be kept for a long period of time.
It has been shown that exposure to creosote causes cancer. Even the smallest amount of interaction with creosote may be hazardous. In order to avoid this, it is not a good idea to use railroad ties in vegetable gardens where contact will inevitably occur. Furthermore, when the wood slowly decomposes, it will discharge this hazardous brew into your soil, polluting it as well as your food.
If you already have wood in your landscape, it is better to get it removed as soon as possible. Many experts suggest that you also remove several inches of dirt from the surrounding region. Removal, on the other hand, may be difficult and risky. Long sleeves and trousers, as well as a mask, eye protection, and thick gloves, are recommended. If the wood is prone to break apart, speak with a professional team that will guarantee that all of the pieces are removed securely.
Once the ties have been removed, they should be disposed of properly. You must not burn the bonds, no matter what you do. This results in the emission of hazardous fumes, which may be much more deadly than mere topical contamination in certain instances.
The railroad tie retaining wall used in vegetable gardens as raised bed barriers, which are quite prevalent, represent the greatest danger. There should be no doubt that the dirt should be removed to a depth of several inches in these regions. Remove the dirt and replace it with new, uncontaminated soil for the purpose of growing your crops.
Some Basic Options of Railroad Tie Retaining Wall for Landscaping
It’s difficult to obtain border materials for beds that won’t degrade soon. Use a pressure treated product from your local lumber shop if you want to save money, but be aware that these products may contain potentially toxic chemicals.
When constructing retaining walls, it is preferable to utilize pavers or pebbles rather than concrete. Because they are natural and non-toxic, the rocks seem to be the safest option in an abundance of caution because they come from the soil.
Broken and crumbling cement pavers, as well as low amounts of naturally radioactive materials, are possible. They may also include undesired additions and radioactive elements in low concentrations. Natural alternatives should be used wherever possible, particularly in the vegetable garden where potential soil contamination might be absorbed into your food.
