There are times when the eye loves to be fooled. The accomplished artist has learned this and often only need suggest the approximate shape of an object, and leave it up to the viewer's eye to complete the picture. This way, each of us can complete it in the exact way we believe best.

You can use this same technique when there is a need for landscape timbers in your garden area. In places such as a formal curb for a pathway or a driveway, distinct edges for planting beds, or even as a step edge for terraced walkway areas.

No great strength is needed for these applications. All they need do is to LOOK heavy and provide a definite line of departure between two merging areas. That means these timbers can as easily be hollow as solid. In many cases, a hollow timber is the better choice as it can be more easily moved and placed in the desired position.

This then is an opportunity to make use of some of the many short lengths of 1x4 or 2x4 material we have collected, to fabricate hollow box or solid section landscaping beams of any required length.

This is also an excellent opportunity to use stock that may only have one face of acceptable quality, as the bad side can so easily be faced to the inside, where only the bugs will see it.

Using standard 1x4 stock, hollow beams of 3-1/2" x 5" or 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" size can be easily built. Standard 2x4 stock will produce solid beams of several sizes along with some extra sturdy hollow ones. Just stack them up and nail them together to create the size you want. And speaking of nails, this is a good place to use some of those many nails you have probably salvaged from the pallets, crates and boxes that supplied the wood you are now using.

For best appearance, you might want to reverse-bevel the end joints of mating pieces in order to eliminate open gaps that may develop from shrinkage. Adding cleats to the inside surfaces when the beams are built will help reduce but never eliminate shrinkage gaps. You can also use some large staples made from salvaged coat hanger wire. Just nail them across the end joints.

One other suggestion will help you make these assemblies reasonably sturdy. Make sure that you stagger all joints so that no two joints of any side of the box section timber are adjacent to or across from each other.

Painting or staining these timbers will make them look better and last longer in any climate. Since they will also be comparatively light in weight, you may also choose to move them under cover to avoid the elements of the Northern climate during those winter months you will be spending more time with the snow shovel than your garden hoe.

(c) August 2001 Jerry Buerge