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Wooden sleepers, slippery ?

zak99zak99 Posts: 12
in Garden design
Hi, Are oak wooden sleepers slippery in winter/autumn please.  A designer has suggested them in a low impact front driveway design laid among gravel with some creeping thyme etc. We like the look but a little worried about the slip risk for the postie.  A contractor wondered about routing channels in the surface to reduce the slip risk. 

Rgds
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  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    We have lots of sleepers in our garden, and would not use them as a base to walk on, as they do get very slippery during wet periods.  I wouldn't be happy to use any wood as a base to be walked on (we used to have wooden decking in our previous house, and wouldn't have it again). Adding grooves might help a bit, but unless you clean them periodically, they will just fill up with gunk and may make things even more slippery.  Covering wood in chicken wire is the only thing I have seen, which makes it less slippery, but personally I think that looks awful.

    If you can afford it, I would try to use stone/paving slabs. We have lots of those, surrounded by gravel, and that works well and is more long lasting.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @les_flack  I think any wood is a slip risk when wet. I never understand why people want decking especially in a north facing aspect which is asking for trouble. I guess your drive faces south as thyme has been suggested. It sounds like a good idea but if I was a postie I would avoid it if wet. The problem is the postman won't be the only visitor. I have seen chicken wire used to help with the grip but not at all attractive.
    Also will they sink over time with cars going over them?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree - I think that's a case of style over substance  ;)
    As @KeenOnGreen says - you can add chicken wire to wood, but that's a method for bridging wet ground in moorland areas, and is for safe access reasons.
    We had decking around the back of the previous house @GardenerSuze, in exactly that aspect. Utter madness especially in our climate. I removed all the bit at the back door and rejigged it with the gravel that was in the rest of the area there. I was fed up nearly going on my a*** every day!
    Gravel and paving would be a better compromise - paving for vehicles, and you could still have the thyme, if you wanted it, in the gravel. Much safer for any visitors too.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • zak99zak99 Posts: 12
    edited March 2023
    Thanks all. We did request a low impact design so I think thats why wood was suggested over slabs but the slip risk does worry me. I agree chicken wire looks a mess and is also a hazard if it starts to peel off. I think the thinking was the postie, and all the other delivery folk would tread on the gravel when sleepers wet but i think thats wishful thinking !!  I something could go wrong it probably will eventually. 

    I'm nursing a torn hamstring at the moment and definitely wouldn't want to experience that again !!

    Will have a rethink on the design. 

    Interesting comment re thyme @GardenerSuze as this is a north facing garden but it does also have fairly clear sunlight from east/west
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @zak99 A plant from the med that likes full sun, poor soil and sharpe drainage.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Just how much actual gardening knowledge does this designer have! 
    Some thymes might grow reasonably well- but they won't be at their best unless they have adequate sun/light. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • zak99zak99 Posts: 12
    edited March 2023
    @Fairygirl and @GardenerSuze I think the mistake re thyme is more likely my own, they perhaps meant for another area or maybe I muddled in my own 'research' !!
    On the second design without sleepers and just gravel it shows a note about random 'low nutrient planting'.  

    EDIT
    actually no
    in Gravel -  'Gravel with planting'
    To one side of drive - 'meadow in gravel with sand under pebbles'
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The problem is that most planting won't be great if constantly being driven over. Thyme is one that copes quite well  :)
    If the gravelled areas don't have any traffic on them, apart from feet, that's much easier  ;)
    It'll still depend on what's below the gravel, and the general climate. Some things will do better than others   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I'm pretty sure you can spray with adhesive and put fine grit on the wood for grip. 
  • zak99zak99 Posts: 12
    Fairygirl said:

    It'll still depend on what's below the gravel, 
    Thank you.  This is whats puzzling me re 'random' planting,  contractors says we need a well compacted type 1 sub base below decorative agg so I wonder how the planting works?  Pots below dec agg set in TYpe 1 ?

    It would be nice to break up the expanse of gravel,  the sleepers served that purpose but no good if its a hazard.  some slabs are another option but i guess gravel will always end up on top.

    I wondered about slabbing the main drive area a vehicle with with staggered edges and planting and or gravel/pebbles at the edges and a small area with grid pavers with grass for rare overspill parking. 
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