24 DIY Cinder Block Ideas for the Garden (2024)

FAQs

How many cinder blocks do I need for a garden bed? ›

20 blocks will give an interior bed area of 4′ x 8′. Leave a side open to bring in the soil until the new bed is filled. No mortar or special installation is necessary unless you desire a bed which is higher than 8″ raised over the surrounding area. Just set them on the ground!

There is also little research data on this topic. Ultimately, this becomes a personal choice based on your comfort level. If you plan to use blocks as a raised bed material -- and many people do – and you are concerned about potential risks, you could seal the blocks with polymer paint.

Here's How to Make a Raised Bed Garden with Cinder Blocks:

Lay down some weed fabric, cardboard, or newspaper, and add your soil to both the main bed and all of the holes in the blocks. If you like to sit while you garden, leave a couple of the holes in the blocks empty. Then start planting.

Although it costs more to create these concrete raised beds, they are pretty permanent. We plan to use ours for over 20 years, so our pro-rated cost per bed over time (for both soil and blocks) is under $18 per year.

Before laying cinder blocks, pour a footing below the frost line. The footing is the foundation for the concrete blocks. Let your footing dry for at least 3 days before laying concrete blocks. Start with corner blocks, and use mortar to keep them in place.

It wouldn't be recommended if you are in an area where it will freeze. The dirt will hold moisture, and when it freezes could split the block. Really not a big deal for a planter bed, but it can happen. If it never freezes, have at it, it will not be a problem.

Depends on what the wall is being used for. Filling cinder blocks with concrete depends: Structural walls: Yes, for stability and strength. Non-structural walls: Not always necessary, sand or gravel can add weight.

I planted each of these cloves in its own cinder-block hole. Each one will grow into a full bulb. I also planted two bunches of basil, two bunches of cilantro and one bunch of oregano. Each of these grows in its own cinder-block hole as well.

Cinder blocks are hollow rectangle-shaped structures usually made of concrete and coal cinders which find use in construction sites. Concrete blocks often, on the other hand, are flattened constructs made of steel, wood or cement.

Can mold grow in cinder block? ›

Cinder block walls are strong, long-lasting and resistant to elements such as wind and rain, however, they are still subject to the effects of mold growth.

It acts as a physical barrier to block out pernicious weeds. Usually, 2 – 3 layers of cardboard will suffice, though you may want layers in more weed-prone areas. The damp environment created by the cardboard is conducive to earthworms and other beneficial soil microorganisms.

The Hugelkultur method turns garden and kitchen waste into useful material for filling raised garden beds, allowing you to save a substantial amount of money. You can also repurpose fallen tree branches or dead branches cut from trees instead of carting them away or burning them.

After you have found the square footage of both your wall and your block, determining the number of blocks you need is as simple as dividing the wall square footage by the block square footage. If you're using a standard 8″ x 8″ x 16″ block, find the number of blocks needed by dividing the wall square footage by 0.89.

You could measure the perimeter of the space and divide it by the length of the blocks. For example, if you are using 10” long blocks (0.83 foot) and your perimeter measurement is 180 feet: 180 / 0.83 = 216.87 blocks. Round up to the nearest whole number.

Use cinder blocks. Not only do they work wonderfully as a bed frame, but they also provide under-the-bed storage at the same time. Using cinder blocks allows you to choose exactly how far off the ground you want your bed to be.