5 DIY Projects You Can Build This Summer
Summer is officially here, so now is the perfect time to get in your garden and get started on that DIY project you've been thinking about all year.
We sell a wide variety of exceptional timber products which are the perfect materials for you to create whatever your garden needs. Here are five ideas we've got for projects you can embark upon this summer using our high quality products...
1 - Sleeper Garden Beds
Our sleepers are ideal for building your own raised planting beds for your garden or allotment. Perfect for planting vegetables or a decorative flower display.
Step One: Simply arrange four sleepers in a square or rectangle (or use more sleepers to create a bigger bed)
Step Two: Drill holes in the corners of your shape and, using screws, secure the sleepers together
Step Three: If you need your bed to be taller, stack another layer of sleepers on top of the existing one, securing the layers together with screws and pre-drilled holes every 50-80cm. For extra stability you can use our timber rails to fix the layers together. You can buy these rails by clicking here.
Click here to purchase your sleepers.
Our sleepers are 200mm tall, but how tall you want your bed to be depends on what you plan on growing...
| Plant | Min. Soil Depth | Ideal Soil Depth | No. Stacked Sleepers Needed |
| Potatoes | 30cm | 40-45cm | 2 or 3 |
| Radishes | 15cm | 20cm | 1 |
| Courgettes | 30cm | 40cm | 2 |
| Cherry Tomatoes | 30cm | 45-60cm | 3 |
| Peas | 20cm | 25-30cm | 2 |
2 - Panel Replacement
If one specific panel on your line of garden fencing is looking slightly worse for wear, you can buy and fit a replacement panel in just a few simple steps...
Step 1 – Measure the Existing Panel to see exactly what dimensions you want your replacement to be.
Step 2 – Purchase your replacement panel on the Timber Supply Centre website. Ensure it's the correct width and height for your needs. Our panels come in a range of heights, but are 6 foot wide as standard. If you need a custom size don't hesitate to call us.
Step 3 - If you have concrete posts, lift your existing panel out and slot your new replacement in. You may need a friend to help you do this. We can also fit your new panel for you with our excellent panel fitting service. Click here to book yourself in.
Step 4 - If you have timber posts, place your replacement panel in the gap and fix it to the posts using screws.
Click here to purchase your replacement panels.
3 - 4x1 Lawn and Flower Bed Edging
Our 4x1 timber rails are ideal for adding a good looking and practical edge for your lawn or flower bed.
Step One - Dig a shallow 25-50mm deep trench along the edge where the rails are to go. Ensure it is wide enough to fit the rails in snugly, but not too wide that they wobble.
Step Two - Place the rails in the trench and drive short timber stakes into the ground every 60-90cm behind them.
Step Three - Screw the rail to the stakes to secure them and enjoy your attractive new boundary. For a taller edge, get our 6x1 rails instead.
Click here to purchase your timber rails.
4 - Sleeper Bench
A basic garden bench can be easily made using just two of our timber sleepers.
Step One - Cut one of the sleepers in half, then cut both halves down so they are at a sitting level when stood up.
Step Two - Drill two holes into each of the top end of the legs for the screws.
Step Three - Cut two groves widthways on the second sleeper wide enough so the legs can be slotted in them. Then drillin holes in that sleeper to match up with the ones in the legs.
Step Four - Lay the sleeper across the two legs, slotting the legs into the groove and ensuring the holes are lined up.
Step Four - Using screws and the pre-drilled holes, secure the seat to the legs to make a basic but practical bench for your garden.
Click here to purchase your sleepers.
5 - Basic Planter
Our 4x1 rails and backing rails can be used to make a basic but attractive and practical planter for your garden.
Step One - Lay your 4x1 rails standing on their side in a square or rectangle.
Step Two - Drill holes in the corners of your square or rectangle and, using screws, secure your bed together.
Step Three - To dictate the height, stack more rails on top of the existing ground ones until you are happy. See project one for our table to decide how tall you want your planter to be.
Step Four - Place backing rails vertically on the inside of the planter, and screw them to each rail in the stack to secure them together. Cut down those rails so they don’t poke out the top of the planter.
Click here to purchase your timber rails, and here to purchase your backing rails.
Picture by Madsen Pest Management, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. No changes were made.