I have a shed that was creosoted back in the day and i feel that is why it is still standing. I creo-coated it when i moved in 5 yrs ago and it looked totally restored and lovely. Now it is back how it was when I moved in. Patchy old creosote still there, looking how it did: creocote all gone!
Moral of the story: it will match the colour and look (and smell) the part but sadly won't last like the real thing did so as long as you're prepared to repeat it's almost real.
Thanks @Cloggie. My fear is that none of the available alternatives will match creosote. I do have a means of getting hold of creosote though and, as it's a retaining wall that won't be touched or sat upon, I'm minded to use it.
I'll give you an answer and you can tell me why I shouldn't be going down this route... 😁
The design will leave around a 250mm width at the top of the sleepers, between the wood and our boundary. I'm tempted to line the back edge of the treated sleeper and put in some shallow planting of very gritty soil and put something Mediterranean in. If there's a DPC between the shallow bed and the sleeper, seepage should be prevented but it's still a risk!
Only that chemical leach into the soil is an issue with coal tar creosote and it's possible that it's a carcinogen. Hence removal from domestic use. As long as you don't eat the lavender ...!
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Moral of the story: it will match the colour and look (and smell) the part but sadly won't last like the real thing did so as long as you're prepared to repeat it's almost real.
The design will leave around a 250mm width at the top of the sleepers, between the wood and our boundary. I'm tempted to line the back edge of the treated sleeper and put in some shallow planting of very gritty soil and put something Mediterranean in. If there's a DPC between the shallow bed and the sleeper, seepage should be prevented but it's still a risk!