Building a Cinder Block Raised Garden Bed

How to build a raised bed out of cinder blocks

Building a raised bed out of cinder blocks is easy and if you watch the local classified ads you can probably get the material for free (I did for this one). Also, cinder block raised beds have the added advantage of creating thermal mass which stores heat and warms the soil longer.

Here's a 4x5ft cinder block raised bed garden I built for a spice garden. Step one is lay the blocks in a rows.


Try to make the blocks level by clearing the dirt.

I wouldn't go any wider than 2 blocks and then the length is up to you. This one is shorter because I'm using it for a spice garden and then I want to trellis cucumbers behind it against the fence.

The holes in the brick can be filled with rocks, gravel and sand to create thermal mass for absorbing solar energy. it will help warm the soil and release it back later in the evening.

Some people also fill it with soil and plant individual plant in each hole. Plants that like to spread are great for this, plants like mint. etc...

Here we go, done and ready for planting.

I asked the kids to put the rocks they find in the holes, so it will take a while to fill, but the little ones always like something to do.

I'll show you how I used an old tractor tire in my next post.

Happy gardening,

--Greg