Gardener Builds Gorgeous DIY Cinder Block Raised Bed That'll Last Forever - VNExplorer (2024)

raised-bed

Between homesteading and easily accessible DIY gardening ideas becoming more popular online, gardening is really having its moment. And some people are getting more creative about how they build out their gardens, including using some unusual materials to get started.

Normally, we see a lot of raised gardens built with wood, but this woman says that her experience with wood beds has been nothing but negative, prompting her to come up with a more durable solution. In the end, she built a pretty stunning garden bed in her backyard that is probably going to outlast us all. While the whole endeavor may have been pretty back braking when it comes to the labor aspect, she was able to do this without breaking the bank, making it an affordable alternative to some of those raised bed options that cannot stand the test of time.

It was a failed attempt at building a wood garden bed that lead @olivegreyave to construct her massive cinder block planter. The handy homeowner describes her process in her TikTok video, sharing how she had to rip out the lumber she used not long after building it since it rotted and began to fall apart. And, after watching her new build, we don’t think she’ll have that same problem this time around.

Ruth says that she was able to do all of this for less than $200, which is pretty impressive. She says she shelled out around $1 per cinder block, and that she used 16 blocks for each of the three layers. With the cost of the adhesive (a must to keep everything standing while she leveled and installed it) and the concrete overcoat, we’re willing to bet the most expensive part of this entire project was getting the dirt and plants to fill it up in the end!

Raised beds are easier on your back, can be more visually appealing, and normally cut back on the amount of weeding you need to do. Here are some other tips about getting the most out of your raised garden bed.

Build Your Garden Bed During Winter

We don’t normally think of winter as being the time for gardening, but it can actually be the perfect part of the year to work on those structural items, like raised garden beds. Not only is the weather cooler, but you won’t have as many other outdoor tasks stealing your attention away.

Plus, if you start building your garden beds today, they’ll be ready for planting as soon as the first signs of spring appear.

You Can Make a Raised Garden Bed on a Budget

You don’t need to drop close to two bills like Ruth did, instead there are some even more affordable raised bed options, like this one that can help you build up your garden for $20.

You’ll need to head to the hardware store to get some landscape stakes, four cedar fence planks, and some screws before you can put these 3×3 foot beds together. Build just one or add a few and watch your growing space increase ahead of the spring thaw.

Use Cinder Blocks In Your Raised Garden

As soon as Ruth said that she had to pull out her old wood beds and replace them because they started to rot we were sold on these blocks. Not only does using cinder block mean it will last longer, but you won’t have to go through all of that hard work twice: first to put it up, then to take it down.

That’s a good enough reason to skip the wood in our book. Now all we have to do is find out how we can get some cinder block delivered. We don’t feel like lugging each block to and from the car on our own.

Go ahead and start doing some garden math of your and decide how many raised beds you’ll build for the upcoming growing season. Trust us, it’s going to be here before you know it!

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