How to Landscape with Plants & Cinder Blocks

Transform a home's exterior with cinder block landcaping elements.

The versatility of cinder blocks makes them an ideal material for building a variety of structures. Employ cinder blocks to build stable and structural landscaping elements in a lawn and garden. Integrate vegetation to soften or contrast the industrial feel of the cinder blocks. Incorporate cinder blocks and plants in raised gardens, edged flowerbeds and individual planters. Cinder blocks come in different sizes, shapes and colors, allowing landscapers to choose the style that best fits their design goals.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Tiller
• Rake
• Hand tamper
• Gravel
• Soil
• Wire mesh
• Wire cutters

Instructions

1. Create flowerbeds with cinder block edging. Till and rake flowerbed areas along the edges of the house and other architectural structures. Dig trenches along the edges of the bed areas. Tamp the beds of the trenches with a hand tamper. Add a layer of gravel, tamp the gravel and set a line of cinder blocks on top. Back-fill any gaps with soil. Fill the beds with plants, putting tall plants in the back, medium-size plants in the middle and short plants in front.

2. Erect raised gardens. Till a plot of land and dig a trench along the edge. Tamp the bed of the trench, add a layer of gravel and tamp the gravel layer. Add a course of interlocking cinder blocks along the trench. Continue building up cinder blocks to create the walls of the raised gardens until they are tall enough. Fill the beds with garden soil. Reserve beds for different uses such as for herbs, vegetables or decorative plants.

3. Turn individual cinder blocks into small planters. Cut squares of wire mesh just larger than the cavities of the cinder blocks with wire cutters. Stuff the pieces of mesh into the cavities to line the bottoms. Cover the mesh with layers of gravel. Fill the cavities with potting soil. Sow seeds or transplant seedlings into the soil. Place the cinder block planters along the perimeters of patios, driveways and sidewalks.

Tips & Warnings

• Dig trenches for edging and raised garden walls to a depth equal to half the depth of the cinder blocks.

References

• Lowes: How to Build a Block Retaining Wall
• Home Curb Appeal: How To Install Garden Stone Edging for Great Home Curb Appeal