Building a DIY cinder stop planter is fun , inexpensive , and look fantastic . Plus you’re able to get extremely creative with it , and come up with your own unparalleled blueprint .
It ’s also various , so you could put it anywhere – and make it as modest or orotund as you need . Another thing I love about this project is that you’re able to custom-make it to fill your space .
In this mail , I ’ll give you the detailed step for how to make your own concrete clinker closure planter , including price , conception , printable educational activity , and set tips .
Close up of concrete block holes with plants in them
Table of content
How Much Does It Cost To Build A Concrete Block Planter?
When I built this project , the cement blocks were only $ 1.00 each ; which came to a totality of $ 16 for my entire plantation owner . But the precise price may diverge depending on where you hold up .
I needed more grime to sate it than I have a bun in the oven though , and that end up costing almost as much as the blocks . But I still built the intact affair for under $ 30 , an amazing cost for this large of a container !
plant can also be a expectant expense . I saved money by using ones that I already had in my garden . But if you need to buy new ones , then you should also factor out that into the toll if you ’re figure out on your undertaking budget .
Tips For Building A DIY Cinder Block Planter
Before you adjudicate to take on this project , I commend reading through the next couple of section to check that it ’s for you .
I also included bakshis for selecting the cinder blocks , so there are no surprises when you start construct your planter .
It Is Heavy Work
The concrete blocks are very heavy . I must have moved each one at least ten times in the procedure of building mine , and my back was tender the next day .
I wanted to mention this to you so you know what you ’re getting yourself into . I did n’t imagine about this when I decided to make mine .
Also , if your intent requires a batch of cinder blocks , you ’ll belike ask a motortruck or laggard to transport them since they are so heavy ( and be sure to bringwork glovesto the shop with you to hold open your hands when debase them up ) .
I was able to get mine home in my railcar with a few misstep to the store ( which is less than a Admiralty mile from my house ) so it was easy for me .
Not All Cinder Blocks Are The Same
After I bought my concrete blocks and hauled them home , I noticed that they were n’t all the same . Some have ridges on both remainder ( top block in picture ) and others have a flat closing ( bottom block in exposure below ) .
This did n’t affect the way they conform to together , but I had to give attending as I built it to insure the monotonic ends confront the front so they all match .
To prevent this from happening to you , I recommend checking every mental block to make indisputable all of the 1 you buy are the same . That room you do n’t have to care about which ones go where , and elaborate your projection .
Save Yourself Money On Soil
Another lesson I learned the knockout way ( and realized after I finished my planter ) was that most of the clinker blocks on the bottom wo n’t have flora in them . Of course , I buy high quality potting land for all of mine .
So , if there are gob in yours that wo n’t have anything growing in them ( i.e. : the ones that have other blocks stacked on top ) , save yourself a few superfluous dollars by satiate those with rock’n’roll or sleazy filling dirt rather than high - character potting soil .
Do n’t lead them empty though , fill up the muddle adds supererogatory stableness to your planter .
Be Sure To Choose The Right Plants
One affair to observe about using concrete blocks for planter like this is that the cementum can cause the soil to dry out very promptly .
The corner where I ramp up mine is one of the driest and hot area of our yard . So I meet it with hardy drought - resistant cacti and succulents .
You could paint the cinder stuff on your planter to help seal the moisture in , and add a dainty decorative spot . Or you could instal an inexpensivedrip irrigation systemto keep it consistently watered .
Whatever you decide to do , just verify that you use the industrial plant that will thrive in the spot where you build your plantation owner .
How To Build A Concrete Block Planter
Ok , now that you sleep together what you ’re getting yourself into here ( and you ’re still reading , so that ’s a estimable sign that you ’re ready to construct your own ) , let ’s get go . Here are the step - by - footprint instructions for build your own clinker mental block plantation owner :
Supplies require :
footmark 1 : Figure out your plan – If you have an eye for design or any artistic power , then you may take in your conception layout on paper before you purloin your first mental block .
Even if you ’re not artistically fain , it ’s still a ripe musical theme to make a rough cartoon and take some measurements of the area so you have an idea of how many clinker block you ’ll need to purchase .
tone 2 : set out your plantation owner designing – I recommend taking the time to lie out your pattern using the actual cinder cube before you officially start building your planter . It ’s heavy work , but it ’s deserving it to make certain you like it , and that it fits in the space .
At this point , you ’re just stacking the concrete blocks to get your basic plan lay out . Do n’t fill up any of them with soil yet , we ’ll do that in a late measure once the design is final .
Related Post : How To Build A Raised Cinder Block Garden Bed
Step 3 : Take a picture of your design layout – Once you have your cinder blocks laid out and stack the mode you need them , take a picture of your final planter design .
I demand a picture purely for the purpose of writing this web log post – and boy was I happy I did . I mention to it constantly as I worked to construct the final projection . Below is the photo of my initial layout .
Step 4 : Lay the first row of block – Once the blueprint is done , disassemble everything , and originate position the bottom rowing .
The first rowing of clinker block will take the longest to lay because the planter bottom must be wholly level . If it ’s not , then your planter will be lopsided . Not only will that look speculative , it could terminate up being very dangerous . You do n’t want it falling on someone !
So be sure to utilise alevel toolas you lay the first course , and atamper toolto flatten the ground . Once the ground is stratum , tamp down some paver basis over the top of it to create a unanimous foundation for the bottom words .
gradation 5 : Fill the hole – After the bottom dustup is in place , fill the holes that will be covered by other block with fill - dirt and/or small-scale rock , and the ones that will have plants in them with potting soil .
gratuity : Do not do this until you fetch up lay the whole bottom quarrel . Once the cementum blocks are fill , they are a pain to move and re - level ! Trust me , I learned this the tough way .
Related Post : Choosing The Best Potting Soil Mix For Container horticulture
Step 6 : Add extra sustenance under the corners ( optional ) – If your concrete block planter is satisfying , you wo n’t have to vex about this stride . But if you copy my design and build a curved one , then you ’ll need to figure something out for this too .
remark : After add the second stratum of cinder block to my corner planter , I discovered that my curved aim created break . That made filling some of the golf hole impossible because the territory would just flow out the bottom . Oops !
My solution was to take somewire garden fencing(chicken wirewould work too ) and lay it across the col under each of the corner blocks for support .
Then I laidlandscape fabricover the wire fencing material , and placed the next closure on top . Whew , that did the thaumaturgy .
Step 7 : occupy the cinder blocks as you go – After each quarrel is done , fill the holes with soil . Remember to use chinchy dirt for the ones that will be cover by blocks , if you want to keep a few extra penny .
Step 8 : summate the plant – When your plantation owner is done , you’re able to add any type of plants that you require . I filled mine with hardy succulent . Once they become established and cascade over the sides , it ’ll look even more awing .
I am thrilled with the way my DIY cinder block plantation owner turned out . It ’s unadulterated in the corner of mysucculent pane garden , and does a great job of hiding the slimy corner . Just retrieve , while this labor is n’t hard , it does ask heavy lifting . So make trusted you are up for the manual labor , or recruit some muscle to help oneself you ( ehem , hubby ? ) .
