15 Creative Cinder Block Raised Garden Beds - Garden Lovers Club (2024)

15 Creative Cinder Block Raised Garden Beds - Garden Lovers Club (1)

Cinder blocks are a common item that you see, but they often do not have much use other than creating a wall. Well, have you ever considered using cinderblocks as accent pieces in your garden? You can create walls, planting pots, and other highlights in your garden by reinventing the usefulness of a cinder block. In this article, we will explore 15 different ways that you can use a cinderblock in your garden. You will see flower gardens, vegetable gardens, and gardens of other varieties that use cinder blocks in unique ways.

Out of all of the images that will be presented below, the idea that really melts my heart is the tenth one that we will examine on the list. The cinder blocks are placed in the garden in a manner that the different heights give the area a look that sports many different levels and angles. Creating a garden that is more than a simple square is a great way to show personality in your backyard.

The other one that really stands out to me in this list is the 14th idea on this list. It is a solid wall that is created from cinder blocks, but certain ones are placed so that one side sticks out from the wall. This leaves the hole in the cinder block outside of the wall, which means that the open area can be filled with dirt and used as a planter. Simple green plants can be used here or you can plant vine-like plants that will hang down over the side of the cinder block; adding flavor and style to the wall.

1. Crops Galore

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Hereis one that shows the life of a farmer. Sections of the area are enclosed by a thin cinder block border, and there are dirt pathways that go between the crops. A hose has been left on the ground, which implies that the plants were recently watered.

2.A Patch of Corn

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This is a picture of a plot of extremely healthy corn that is growing in a garden that is lined with narrow cinder blocks. The cinder blocks are placed in a double layer that is pretty straight, but you can see a thick layer of mortar between each block.

3.Wall of Cinder Blocks

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The narrow cinder blocks are placed in a two layer wall that separates the pebbled path from the flower garden. This design not only gives you that layer of separation, it allows you to create a raised flower garden that will catch your eye as you walk past.

4. Potted Staircase

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Source:Homestead & Prepper

The walls of this beautiful garden are created from cinder blocks that can easily be filled with dirt and growing flowers. Each layer of the garden is designed to be higher than the last, which allows you plenty of room to plant in the garden space that is behind the cinder blocks as well.

5. Lovely Lettuce

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The first thing that you notice in this next garden is that it is filled with lettuce. It looks extremely delicious, but there are other things to take note of as well. The area that the crops are planted in is raised, and the holes are being used to incorporate an irrigation system into the design.

6. Trifecta

15 Creative Cinder Block Raised Garden Beds - Garden Lovers Club (7)
Source: Sunshine and Rainy Days

This garden is designed with three symmetrical cinder block plots that vary in height. The center one is two blocks high, which makes it stand out as the central area of the garden. The ground outside of the raised garden is covered in small pebbles and the grass is perfectly trimmed.

7. Sidewalk Garden

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This raised garden looks like it is positioned along the side a building. You can see windows on the side as well as a brick pavement by the base of the cement plating area. This area is perfect for greeting guests, and this area would be perfect for small colorful flowers that catch your eye.

8. Rose Colored Glasses

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Source: Local Llano

This image shows a rectangular garden that is nearly four cinder blocks high. It is only filled with dirt here, but imagine it with a few rose bushes in the soil. The garden is tall enough to place the plants at the perfect height to easily notice the brightly colored blooms as you walk past.

9. The Protective Wall

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Source: Two Studs and a Hammer

The cinder blocks in this next garden are placed in a perfect square pattern. The dirt inside the walls is the same level as the outside, which provides a barrier from the wind for the plants you place here. To make the garden seem more alive, filling it with bright green bushes will be key.

10. Garden Throne

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The grass in this garden is nicely maintained, and the holes of the blocks are filled with lush green plants. The garden is designed with larger plants in the lower areas and smaller plants higher up, which gives it a sense of style not often seen in an outdoor garden.

11. Rosebud

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The double layer cinder block rectangle garden is placed near the screened-in porch of the home in the image. There is a beautiful pink rose bush planted in the background, and all this raised garden needs to add some flavor to the yard is flowers that stand out and add contrast to the bright pink rose bush.

12. Wild Growth

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The first thing that you see in this image is the overgrown plants that are inside the cinderblock planter. It is not a pristine garden, but it has a lovely personality that will turn a few heads. The purple flowers in the back are beautiful, and the youngster’s bike leaves you with a sense of wonder.

13. Desert Landscape

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The cinder block wall is encircling the home with an accented angle that makes you think of a garden out west. The flowers inside the raised area are lush and colorful, and there are also palm trees and plants that make you think of a tropical location.

14. Holes in the Wall

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This vertical garden is the perfect idea for someone who is lacking ground space. The holes in the cinder blocks are arranged in such a fashion that they can double as planters that make your area a more friendly space.

15. Ebb and Flow Garden

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This garden features a beautiful wall that follows the curves of a natural waterway. The left side is only slightly raised, which makes it perfect for tall bushes, and the right side is raised a few feet higher, making it perfect for flowers and smaller plants. The center is filled with small white stones that add personality and flavor to the space.

15 Creative Cinder Block Raised Garden Beds - Garden Lovers Club (2024)

FAQs

How many cinder blocks for a 4x8 raised bed? ›

Leaving a 1/4″ gap between every third cinder block, place the blocks hole side up. 20 blocks will give an interior bed area of 4′ x 8′.

What do you put on the bottom of a cinder block planter? ›

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

If you're making a really long rectangle, having a level and a tape measure will help you keep it uniform, but those are optional. 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.

What do I put on the bottom of a raised garden bed on concrete? ›

When setting up a raised garden bed on concrete, drainage and root health are key concerns. Start with a layer of landscape fabric to prevent soil from washing out. Above this, a layer of gravel or small stones can aid in drainage. Then, fill the bed with a mix of topsoil, compost, and other organic matter.

What is the difference between a cinder block and a concrete block? ›

Consequently, cinder blocks are much lighter in weight than concrete blocks. 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.

Are cinder blocks safe for growing vegetables? ›

Stay away from old-fashioned cinder blocks, which may contain heavy metals—not a good thing for food gardens. Second, a concrete block bed can affect your soil's pH, making it more alkaline, so it's not good for growing acid-loving plants like blueberries.

Do cinder blocks leach chemicals into soil? ›

As you might be aware of the toxicity that cinder blocks leach into the soil, at least by what some individuals have speculated, but really no data to back it up.

How deep should a raised garden bed be? ›

Vegetable Beds: On the other hand, when it comes to vegetable beds, the bed must be approximately 12 to 18 inches deep to ensure adequate depth for the roots of your plants. This is especially important if your raised bed is placed on cement or the patio, which will inhibit roots from growing deeper into the ground.

How much does a 4 by 8 by 16 cinder block weigh? ›

The 16 in. x 8 in. x 4 in Concrete Block 33 lb. is manufactured to ASTM C 90 specifications and used in foundations and above-grade masonry walls. This heavy weight solid block is uniformly square and free of large chips.

Should I put landscape fabric under a raised bed? ›

Landscape fabric is beneficial for raised garden beds, here are just a few of the many reasons why you should use landscape fabric for raised bed gardening: Prevents soil erosion in a raised bed: As a liner, landscape fabric lets water drain away from the soil while leaving the soil intact.

Why put cardboard in raised beds? ›

The answer is yes. You can line the bottom of your raised garden bed with cardboard and newspaper to block out weeds or act as a barrier against rhizomatous, weedy or invasive plants. While some may opt for landscape fabric, cardboard is a more cost-effective option.

What is the best material to line a raised garden bed? ›

You can line your raised bed to make it more durable and to prevent toxics from leaching into the soil. For lining, use landscape fabric found at garden supply stores or cloth fabric from clothing. Avoid non-porous plastic, as it can retain too much water and discourage beneficial insects and worms.

What blocks to use in raised beds? ›

An easy raised-bed builder

These notched concrete blocks make it easy to add boards to create a 6-inch-deep garden bed, and you can stack them if you want to raise your garden beds even more.

What is the best base for a raised garden bed? ›

Depending on your budget and gardening goals, you can line the bottom of your raised garden beds with wide-mesh hardware cloth, stainless steel mesh, landscape fabric, burlap sack, or newspaper/cardboard.

What is the best material to fill raised garden beds with? ›

To create a bountiful garden bed, organic matter such as rotted hay, plant waste, and compost is added to the soil. Wood debris decomposes slowly, making it a stable source of organic matter.

What is the best base for a raised bed? ›

If you're going to pay for a product to fill your raised beds, again, it should just be really good soil and compost. I only recommend a thin layer of gravel at the bottom of your raised bed and under the edges to help you level the area.

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