There is a large choice of railway sleepers available for keen garden landscapers today but, it is better to avoid buying ones which have already been treated with creosote as these can seep sticky tar when the weather turns hot. You can find railway sleepers at reclamation yards and at the bigger builders’ merchants and garden centres which also sell building materials.
Sleepers can be used to construct a retaining wall in the garden. If they are placed vertically then you can add interest by creating a curved wall. If you wish to create straight lines in the garden, then place the sleepers horizontally, either on the narrow side or the broad side. It is likely that you will need to add some kind of metal supports to keep sleepers in place.
Railway sleepers are ideal for constructing raised flower beds or beds for growing vegetables. Although work is heavy, the actual construction is quite simple. Do consider drainage carefully otherwise you will end up with a raised garden pond, which incidentally is another good idea. If you are using sleepers to make a pond, then you will obviously have to line the whole thing to make sure that water cannot leak out.
If you have a slope in your garden, you could use sleepers as steps making easier access to a lower or a higher level of the garden. Sleepers can also be used for decking, making a patio area near the house or perhaps a barbecue area at the bottom of a garden, just perfect for relaxing on a sunny, Summer Sunday afternoon!