Is Timber A Viable Alternative To Stone Landscaping For Your Woodsy Home?

If you're the proud owner of a cabin in the deep woods -- or even just a home in a wooded subdivision -- you may be on the lookout for landscaping ideas that help incorporate the rustic, natural feel of the surrounding environment. While paver patios and fire pits are popular and relatively easy to install, they often look too neat and tidy for wild wooded areas. Read on to learn more about some ways to incorporate timber into your home's landscaping as a viable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to pavers, bricks, or stones.    

Edging

Those in need of a clear dividing line between a flower garden or walkway and the lawn can find lumber edging useful. This edging provides a neater appearance while also making it easier to keep walkways cleaned off and weeds trimmed to a uniform height. Depending upon the shape and dimensions of the division sought, you may be able to utilize long slabs of lumber or landscaping timber for straight sections or smaller brick-like pieces of lumber for a curved or irregular border. 

Retaining walls

If the woods on your property have left you without much space to garden, you may be able to build a retaining wall (or two) to create a terraced garden with multiple flat planting spots. Lumber retaining walls are especially handy for the space-conscious homeowner, as the lumber used to create retaining walls is generally thinner and wider than the dimensions of paver stones or bricks, giving you more planting space. 

It's important to use treated lumber for edging, retaining walls, or any other landscaping projects that require the lumber to be placed in (or on) the ground. Moisture, insects, and other environmental factors can often combine to quickly decay organic material like wood, and burying portions of untreated lumber in the soil will often render this lumber porous, damaged, or even unusable after just a couple of years. Most commercial lumber (such as can be found at an outlet like ML Condon Company Inc) has been treated or lacquered to render it impervious to moisture, making it the better option for outdoor purposes. 

Boardwalks

You may be reluctant to install a paver pathway for your rustic wooded home, but also concerned about wood rot if you choose to build (and bury) the same pathway in your yard. Boardwalks -- slightly raised walkways above the ground -- are a great way to achieve an unusual look while also ensuring a long life for the walkway itself by minimizing its exposure to water or other ground moisture. You'll be able to choose any color or configuration for your boardwalk to help coordinate with your home's color scheme or even to complement the neighboring houses.