Table of Contents
Can you build planter box out of cinder blocks?
One of the great things about using cinder blocks is that you can easily make your planting beds as high as you want. A bed this high may not provide many additional benefits to the plants, per se, but it would definitely be an easy garden to maintain.
Do cinder blocks make good planters?
I have seen warnings on the Internet that cinder blocks or concrete blocks used in a garden might leach harmful chemicals into the soil and ultimately into your food plants. He found universities recommending the use of concrete blocks in container gardens or raised beds.
Are cinder block raised beds safe?
The cinder blocks that you buy in the store today are actually concrete blocks and totally safe. Unless you’re using antique cinder blocks, there should be no reason to worry, especially when cinder block gardening for vegetables.
How do you make a cinder block garden?
Instructions for Making a Cinder Block Garden Bed If you want a larger bed, simply add more cinder blocks. Line the opening area with recycled and flattened cardboard box pieces or newspaper. Fill the garden with rich soil and spread evenly. Plant seeds and seedlings, water and enjoy!.
What plants grow well in cinder blocks?
Plants can be grown in cinder blocks. Plants that grow best in cinder blocks are typically those with smaller root systems: radishes, carrots, determinate tomato varieties, and lettuce & other greens. However, in hot climates, the thermal mass of cinder blocks can soil too hot for some plants.
Can you grow tomatoes in cinder blocks?
Cinder blocks provide adequate support for compact determinate tomato varieties, but they’ll hardly stand up to sprawling indeterminate or heirloom varieties. If you fill cinder block holes with soil and plant the tomato plants in the holes, then the plants’ growth may be restricted severely.
How many cinder blocks do I need for a raised garden?
Concrete (cinder) blocks are about one foot long, which makes for really easy math! The beds we built were 7′ x 4′, so we needed 20 cinder blocks to build each bed.
What is the difference between a cinder block and concrete block?
Cinder block is made of concrete and cinder. Concrete block is produced from steel, wood or cement. Cinder block is lighter than concrete blocks. Concrete block is heavier because it contains stone and sand.
Does concrete block need rebar?
Steel reinforcing bar — rebar — is used in concrete construction to add strength. Concrete block shares this condition. A concrete block wall will support heavy weights above, but it needs reinforcing against pressure that would cause it to bend, such as earth backfill in a basement.
Does concrete leach into soil?
Can Concrete Leach Chemicals into the Soil? Yes, concrete can easily leach chemicals used in it’s manufacturing process into the soil. The most susceptible leaching of concrete into the soil is when it is freshly poured.
When did they stop using cinder blocks?
Cinder blocks had many uses in the construction industry until about 50 years ago when poured concrete wall construction became more common.
Do cinder blocks leach chemicals?
Concrete blocks, a.k.a cinder blocks, can be made with materials that could potentially cause health issues if consumed. Fly ash, which is a byproduct of burning coal and used to make some types of cinder blocks, can leach toxic substances like calcium oxide, aluminum oxide, and magnesium oxide into the soil.
How do you plant flowers in concrete blocks?
Fill the cinder block centers with potting soil, leaving a one-inch gap at the top in order to make watering easier. Plant your plants, making sure to firmly pat down the soil around the plants’ root balls. Give your plants a deep initial watering to make sure that they are set in the cinder blocks.
What do you put on the bottom of a cinder block planter?
Stack used cinder blocks into a wall, turning some of them in the middle to create a block that sticks out from the surface. You can plant succulents, ferns or other decorative greenery in these blocks as long as you solve the problem of dirt falling out the bottom of the holes.
How do you waterproof a concrete block planter?
Correct waterproofing of concrete planters is important to ensure that they remain aesthetically pleasing. Without proper waterproofing, water can migrate to the outside surface of the planter, causing decorative spoiling. Concrete planters can easily be waterproofed using Vandex Super or Vandex Cemelast.
Do I need to waterproof concrete planter?
Waterproofing your concrete planter box is highly recommended to ensure your plants remain healthy. Waterproofing avoids the leaching of highly alkaline salts into the soil in the planter. The alkalinity of the soil may stunt the growth of some plants.
How do you fill a raised garden bed for cheap?
Put down a few layers of cardboard to kill any weeds or grass. Then, fill the core of your raised bed. The best option for this is to use straw bales, but you can also use leaves, grass clippings, or old twigs. You can mix together a few of those options if you choose, too.
Do cinder blocks rot?
Whether from flooding or from repeated rains, water eventually wears down the structure of a cinder block from the outside, causing it to flake off and crumble. If a block has not been properly cured, water can also infiltrate the interior of the block.
Are concrete planters safe for vegetables?
It is safe to grow vegetables in concrete pots, planters and containers. However, if you are making these yourself, you should leach them for three days. Typically concrete planters that are purchased from a store will already have gone through that process and are also very likely to be sealed.
Can you plant sunflowers in cinder blocks?
I decided to start small one year, and I planted marigolds in each of the cinder block openings. They did quite well, thriving on neglect and heat. I planted sunflower seeds in each of the cinder block openings, and they grew, and grew, and GREW!Jun 9, 2011.
