Skip to content
Norwich Landscapers

Sleeper beds and raised beds

Sleeper beds and raised beds in Norwich

Norwich Landscapers builds timber sleeper beds and raised beds for gardens in Norwich and across Norfolk, for growing vegetables, edging a lawn, holding back a slope or bringing planting up to a comfortable height.

Get a free quoteCall 01603 265243

Strong, simple beds that suit almost any garden

Timber sleepers are one of the most useful materials in a garden. Laid one or more high, they make sturdy raised beds with a clean edge that suits a cottage garden as well as a modern one. They can step a sloping garden into level terraces, form a low seat at the edge of a patio, or make a vegetable plot that drains well and is kinder on the back.

Raised beds suit people who want to grow their own food, gardeners who find working at ground level hard, and gardens with poor or heavy soil, because the bed is filled with good soil from the start. Single sleepers laid flat are also a neat way to separate a lawn from gravel or a border, and they make mowing the edge easier.

Each bed is built for its spot, with the height, length and layout planned around the garden and how you will use it.

What goes into a sleeper bed

  • Layout and height

    Planned with you so beds are easy to reach, sit well in the garden and leave room for paths.

  • A level base

    Ground prepared and levelled so the bed sits square and does not rock or lean.

  • Sleepers supplied

    High quality timber in the type and finish you choose.

  • Cut and fixed

    Sleepers cut to length and fixed together securely, with joints staggered on taller beds.

  • Lining where it helps

    A permeable membrane against the inside face to help the timber last.

  • Filled and ready

    Topsoil or a growing mix, so the bed is ready for planting.

Planning your beds

  • Choose the height for the job

    One sleeper high is enough for edging and shallow-rooted flowers. Two or three high gives vegetables plenty of root depth and brings the soil within easy reach. Beds that hold back a slope are retaining walls and need more careful building.

  • Pick the right timber

    Softwood sleepers are kinder to the budget and look crisp; oak lasts longer and weathers to silver grey. For food beds, choose new timber sold for garden use rather than old reclaimed railway sleepers, which were often treated with creosote.

  • Keep beds within reach

    Keep beds narrow enough to reach the middle from either side, around 1.2 metres or less, and leave paths wide enough for a wheelbarrow.

  • Put vegetables in the sun

    Most vegetables want six or more hours of direct sun a day. Shade-loving plants and ferns are far less fussy about where their bed goes.

Good to know about timber beds

  • Timber moves

    Sleepers can twist, split and shrink a little as they weather. It is normal and part of their character.

  • Soil settles

    A newly filled bed sinks a little over its first season, so expect to top it up with compost.

  • Wood in wet soil ages

    Even treated timber in constant contact with damp soil will eventually decay. Lining the inside and keeping the base free-draining help it last longer.

  • Retaining beds carry weight

    A bed holding back a bank of soil is under real pressure, especially when wet, so taller retaining beds need firmer fixing and drainage behind them.

How your beds are built

  1. 1

    Share your ideas

    Tell us where the beds might go and what you want to grow or hide.

  2. 2

    Visit and plan

    We measure up, check levels and sun, and agree sizes, heights and timber.

  3. 3

    Free quote

    A clear price for materials, building and filling.

  4. 4

    Base and build

    Ground levelled, sleepers cut and fixed, membrane fitted.

  5. 5

    Filled and finished

    Beds filled with soil and the area left tidy and ready to plant.

Questions

Sleeper bed questions

Something else on your mind? Ask us and we will give you a straight answer.

Are railway sleepers safe for growing vegetables?

New sleepers sold for garden use are the right choice for food beds. Old reclaimed railway sleepers were often treated with creosote and are best kept away from anything you plan to eat.

How high should a raised bed be?

Two sleepers high gives most vegetables good root depth. Three high is easier if bending is a problem, and single sleepers work well as edging.

Do raised beds need a bottom?

No. An open base lets roots go deeper and water drain away. A bed built on a hard surface such as a patio needs a drainage layer instead.

Can sleepers be used on a sloping garden?

Yes. Sleepers can terrace a slope into level beds or wide steps. Beds holding back more than a small height of soil are built as proper retaining structures.

Softwood or oak sleepers?

Softwood is lighter and more affordable; oak is heavier, lasts longer and weathers to silver. We talk through both at the visit.

Can you fill the beds with soil?

Yes. Beds can be filled with topsoil or a growing mix suited to what you plan to grow.

Related services

Plan your raised beds

Tell us where they might go and what you would like to grow. We will visit, measure up and give you a free quote.

Get a free quoteCall 01603 265243

Free quotes · No subcontracting · Based in Drayton, Norwich