- 1). Lay out your timbers where you intend to place them. Mark any timbers that need cutting.
- 2). Cut the timbers where marked. Because the timbers are thick, most circular saws are not big enough to cut through them. Use a hand saw if necessary.
- 3). Remove the sod with a sod-removing tool where you want the timbers to go. If you have 4-inch timbers, removing the sod creates a sufficiently deep trench. Wider timbers should be set at least half their depth in the ground.
- 4). Use an edging shovel to dig down 1 to 2 inches along the area where the timbers are going. An edging shovel allows you to cut and dig a flat horizontal area as wide as your timbers.
- 5). Flatten the area where the timbers will go with a trowel.
- 6). Place the timbers in position and check them for level. If necessary, fill in or remove more material from the trench until the timber lies flat.
- 7). Fill any holes along the sides of the timbers with soil and add pieces of sod on top to speed grass recovery.
Source...