Cinder Block Planter

Intro: Cinder Block Planter

The kids were home from college and one wanted to plant some herbs for his summer cooking, the other wanted to make a succulent garden. Since we are under drought conditions and have to cut our water by 30 percent, something that wouldn't require a lot of watering was necessary. This cinder block block planter worked for both!

STEP 1: Materials

Cinder blocks (we used 9 but you can make your planter as big as you want)

Potting soil

Plants - we used herbs and succulents

Galvanized wire mesh

Garden fabric

Two 1/4"x1"x18" galvanized steel strips

STEP 2: Figure Out How You Want to Stack the Blocks

Try stacking the block in different ways to see which will work the best for your space to create interest.

STEP 3: Wire Mesh and Landscape Fabric

To hold the soil up in a single block cavity rather than fill each cavity deep, wire mesh and landscape fabric were cut and put under the blocks to hold the soil and let water drain. Put the mesh first and then cover with the fabric.

STEP 4: Cantilever Block

To create some interest one block was cantilevered. Two strip of metal were cut to length and put under the block to hold the wire mesh and fabric in place.

STEP 5: Time to Plant

Now it is time to fill the blocks with soil and plant the plants. Some cinder blocks at the brickyard had larger holes then others, so you may want to do some research before buying your blocks.

Comments

[JocelyneA5]

What kind and strength of glue was used on the blocks and fabric?

[Maker man10]

They stopped making cinder blocks 60 years ago they are cement now

[gameR1997]

I didn't think the two could mix. Dosnt water explode em?

[Beergnome]

if that was the case then buildings all over the world would be blowing up whenever it rained. what you might be thinking about is when they get neat open flame or extreme heat. they are called cinder blocks because they are made with pot ash. they are not fireproof, and if you use them to make a fire pit they will eventually crumble away, or even explode.

[blipvert]

According to the family civil engineer there is nothing in this project that will explode when it touches water.

[slogo]

I did this a few years ago on my back porch and planted a variety of tomato plants. Very handy!