I've had three raised beds (single block high made with cement blocks for close to 40 years, they are a bit weathered but still as strong as the day I put them in.
I wasn't so precise. I just put the blocks down, no mortar, level or not, straight or not, I didn't care, and it has been perfect! I was able to plant my tomatoes nice and deep, and filled the holes around the edge with herbs great for Mexican and Italian dishes, and a few marigold to help keep the bugs away! Thank you Gardener Scott!!!
@@siobhanhitchcock204 marigolds produce a chemical called pyrethrin. Check out the label of many bug repellents and you'll see pyrethrin or a derivative.
Thank you for saying this. I would be so worried that mine wouldn’t look like his. But now I feel even if mine does not look like his that’s ok it will do a good job for what I want. I don’t have the equipment and tools he has and I don’t have the money to buy them.
Anniegaddis, how many layers did you make? I really would love to have my bed to be higher. I want to sit on my walker while I work comfortably in the bed planting and weeding.
He saw one of his lawn service customers had done this, I plant Collards, Mustards, Green Onions so far. They're beautiful. I water & fertilize, haven't any weed problems.
I built some several years ago, and I ran rebar through 3 levels to make a taller garden, then packed the holes with earth. They haven't move an inch, and this is my best garden yet!
@@dougroberts3643 not on my clay/caliche HARD dirt in New Mexico. I did pound the dirt before laying them, leveled, watered, dried, then leveled again. Then, I stacked the bricks, drove short bits of rebar through every 4th hole or so, then filled and tamped dirt into the holes of the blocks. I could have easily built a shed on it, it was rock-solid. I had it in place for probably 4-5 years before I moved. But, not much settling. It all comes down to prepping your dirt before you lay them. If you have sandy soil, lay down a barrier cloth, put down gravel, tamp it until it won't move, then some leveling sand, and finally brick. I've never lived somewhere that gets muddy, but I'm sure there's a trick to prepping any type of ground
@@dougroberts3643 here in Florida, I threw down some barrier paper, tossed a ring of brick on the ground, and filled with soil. They're crooked as can be, not level at all, and my garden is growing fine. I can lay a board across them and walk all over it.
@@stevescuba1978 Those are good ideas. I'm close to Lake Erie and we're in an area that's part of the Black Swamp region. This whole area was drained many years ago for farming. We have dark, rich, fertile soil for growing but the downside is that everything sinks. I have an 8'x10' shed with a wooden floor and runners underneath. It even sinks. I just lifted it up last week. Again!! So I'm thinking I will try your fabric method with some stone/sand on top of that and then lay the block. I'm thinking that I shouldn't go any higher than two block high. I appreciate your reply and suggestions
@@dougroberts3643 I believe the Venetians drove poles vertically into the swampy land as a foundation to build homes. Maybe you could drive a rot-resistant wood into the ground under your bottom row?
It was so cute to see the rabbit run across the garden behind you at about 10:17. Probably inspecting your work or seeing what you're going to grow for him. :) Thanks for the great video!
If you are using a two tier block system, you can add aluminum screen between the two layers and just fill the top layer of block, leaving the bottom layer hollow. This provides for a very well drained system within the block themselves for plants that like that kind of drainage. For northern climates, it also minimizes the chance of water building up within the hollow in the blocks, freezing and breaking the blocks.
I love watching all of your videos but this one in particular is really helpful for me. I am a 74 year old retired woman and I am building one of these entirely on my own. It is slow going, a few blocks at a time, but I am making progress. I was a bit uncertain about leveling but watching you do this is helpful. Thanks for all you do for the gardening community.
Did this about 18 years ago. Have four raised beds that are about 4 feet wide (total: growing space is 3 feet wide so i can reach from both sides into the middle without straining) and about 35 feet long. That's about 128 square feet of growing space for each bed. *Tip*: to avoid getting weeds in the spaces in the cinder blocks, just put a 4 x 8 x 16 concrete paver on top. Adds about four inches to the height, you can sit on it if you need to, or put buckets, tools, etc. on it, and no weeds get in!
Scott Good video The best part about the square holes in the block is you can grow fragrant herb/plants that keep bugs away from the main vegetables in the bed
would you mind for us newer gardeners maybe giving a bit of a hint of what would be good to grow in those spaces? I figured the lime bleed-out would make it not habitable honestly. zone 10a.
Hi Scott! Did you planting a okra! I didn’t see a video planting okra if you make it will be great I do very well in okra I m harvesting a lot okra last year and year too are very well protected from pets and disease here in zone 6 b Westchester ny . But I would like your knowledge will be more productive Thanks professor
Made one just like this years ago . . . best tomatoes ever! Brings back a great memory of my father who lived across the street. In the evenings, I would see him breeze past my house with his saltshaker, and I knew he was going to the garden for supper =)
We love ours. I used 4' block instead of 8", and poured a small footer for it to start on, then used mortar instead of dry stacking. Also went 4 courses tall, which is right at waist level, and makes the bed so much easier to work/weed/etc.
I have a mini truck + a bad back. To spare my back from lifting several sacks or from doing double shoveling I have raw dirt loaded and dumped into my plastic lined bed that also has 50 gallon (plastic barrel) containers cut down to about 30 gallon volume/size. The barrel containers catch the lion's share of the soil and I slide them off onto a wheelchair (between the armrests) and can transport the dirt more easily than using a wheel barrow. The remaining dirt in the trucks plastic liner pours into one of the plastic barrels easily enough. The heighth of the barrels in the wheelchair could make it easier to add soil to taller beds from the sides also. For me this was much easier than manhandling bagged soil and easier than a wheelbarrow and shovel. My wife had open heart surgery and the heavy duty wheelchair we purchased was too heavy and bulky to use (my back) so we bought a very lightweight transport wheelchair that was easier for me to unload from her car. The old wheelchair I use exclusively for transporting soil now. I hope this helps somebody (s.)
You had me at "Hi, I am Gardner Scott" I have been thinking of doing raised beds with wood but you have inspired me to do the cinder block beds. I will be back with lots of gardening questions. Thank you in advance.
Helluva bed. In fact, I may finally be able to convince my wife to fulfill my fantasy of a roll in the hay while also meeting her requirement of being in a bed. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Thanks for the informative advice.
Great tips in this video. Someone also mentioned that you can wait to put the last two end blocks in place after you get the soil in place. That way you can move the wheel barrel right through the center lane.
I love cinder blocks. LOL took me awhile to have my husband come on board with the idea. He was driving me nuts thinking I don't want cinder blocks all over my yard. But it's best thing we ever did. Plus at our age in which I'm pushing 70 years old it's a whole lot easier than getting on my hands and knees to dig in the ground. Just one layer helps so much with all the bending we have to do. Anyway I enjoyed the video and I just shared it with my husband. LOL
I think 3 levels would be too high. And totally agree with doing something to hold them in place. Even with two levels I always have to pull some out and put them in place again and we have really no frost here. If they are not filled or reinforced they will move some. when the soil settles it will push a block or two out of line.
I had a cement block garden years ago and it was marvelous. I planted in the little squares as well. I've since moved and at this place I've already gone through a couple of wood beds that just rotted so I'm going back to cement block beds for next year!
@@sandy-rr1by I got what they called pony packs, those 6 pack starter packs of annuals‐ violas, pansies, petunias, lobelia and kitchen herbs- thyme rosemary, oregano and marjoram. Small stuff that could do ok in a small spot. :)
My friend put her herbs, parsley, thyme and sage, etc in the tiny holes. In her beds she used 3 blocks for whatever herb she was planting. A lot of work but she gets a good harvest.
Without doubt the 3 block high by 3 deep by 12 ft long cinder block bed, was the best gardening ever. Multiple crops, ready made planting holes, and very easy to over winter. The 2 summers (before property was sold) were ideal, but yet so many benefits that far out way the labor. 100% do it!!!!
I love using concrete blocks for my raised bed. I bought blocks that have a decorative front. I was concerned about the winter heaving, so I leveled my trenches with sand- like building a retaining wall, before laying down the blocks. I also covered the blocks with landscaping caps. I use the holes like worm towers. Put my vegetable scraps in them, cover with some dried leaves, out the cap stone on and let nature take it's course.
It's 2021... Lumber prices are still insane so I'm opting for cinder block beds. We made one for our strawberries last fall but it was rushed. These tips were very helpful!
Yes, you sir read my mind: the cinderblock structure, higher walls to garden while standing, even the rebar into the holes to pin the walls. I was wondering why nobody has thought of this. I see many projects on RUclips to do these raised beds in wood, they look good but all that work is going to rot away sooner or later not considering the cost of lumber. It has got really expensive in my country. Good job.
Wow, I never thought of this, thanks! I live in the Philippines and in my area (fairly remote island) you simply cannot source regular lumber. I was about to go out and buy 1 inch plywood sheets and then have the hassle of cutting etc. each sheet is about 15 bucks. Hollow blocks here are about 10 cents - it's a no brainer! Especially in our climate, soft wood/ply would not give you more than a year, 2 max, before it rots away. Thanks again, your great idea has solved this for our garden.
I built a raised (4 x 16) concrete block garden for my mom four years ago. I built this two levels high, staggering the blocks on top as I went. Well worth the money. I did use Liquid Nails concrete adhesive on the corners of the blocks to help keep them together. The yard has a slight slope and I knew that over time gravity and hard winters would make this garden shift. I also love the pockets for gardening as well. Living in Nebraska, I learned quickly what to plant in each pocket to help keep bad insects away and get the bees to help polinate the garden as well. I do plan on building a much bigger raised block garden, but I will be using a bobcat to level out the slope and remove the grass time. It can be labor intensive, but when you are harvesting massive amounts of yummy vegetables, you will soon realize that it was worth the sweat.
@@GardenerScott If you started an ASMR Gardening channel (or series for that matter), I would thumbs-up, subscribe, click the bell-icon and share EVEN MORE than I do now!🐰 The sounds of the gardening experience mellow me out so well, I've thought about doing it myself.😊
It was cute seeing the rabbit run by near the end. I think it just finished it's lunch time snack. I know some use a lumber frame with roof steel to make the form. It looks like a great idea. Thanks
I used 4 inch thick solid blocks on top of my single row giving me a 12 inch high bed. I also used mortar ensuring a perminate construction. I used 4 blocks on each end giving a 4 foot wide bed with a 12 inch high seat all the way around the outside. Works great.
AWESOME video. Many thanks for taking the time to present it. I'm tired of my wood beds rotting out. I had even covered them with two coats of raw linseed oil to extend their longevity. But I guess they were telling me that all I'm gonna get out of their lifespan is around 8-10 years of rain, plantings, snow, and ice. I'm liking this new "Cinder Block" religion. Kindest regards...
That's the way I should have done mine, but didn't know what I was doing so it turned out a lopsided irregular mess. Thanks for showing me how to do it correctly.
Not sure how I missed this video from Gardner Scott as I'm usually a regular viewer. Great information and detail on how to use cement blocks to make a raised bed. I still haven't decided to make a raised bed but this is a great option considering the price of lumber. BTW, he was photobombed by a rabbit about the 10:18 mark. Cute!
I made one of these for my sister in her back garden. I've never owned my own raised bed because I don't have the space... I'm really jealous of her raised bed lol
Think I'm going to try to spot the bunny in all your videos from now haha. It's the second time I'm seeing one in your videos. Last time he was on your neighbour's property.
Good video and concept. We have used 6" wide blocks with success. They weigh less and cost less. We did not plant in the cells of the block, like suggested in the video, just left the cells empty. Used silicone seal to attach the 2nd level. After years of usage, the planter has stayed together and produced a lot of plants.
I moved last year and starting my new garden I used cinderblocks for the beds, doubling them this year. They work great, so sturdy, and I can plant small herbs and flowers in the little squares to pretty up the yard (I have no fence and my garden is right along the street). I choose plants that attract pollinators & beneficial insects or that repel pests. You can paint the outside of them too and not worry about it leeching through to the inside of the garden bed.
I love my block beds. Had my son help me build them. I have six 4'x8' and one 4'x4' bed for my strawberries, three blocks high so it's easier for me to work in. :)
Just an incredibly useful video. I hope I remember to do this, but one thing I would be curious to see is someone, after a few years, stick a pH meter into the soil right against a block, and compare it to the pH right in the middle of the bed. My guess is the 'lime' that may leech would have very little effect on the soil that is even right up against the block.
Knowing that cement is made with the ash from municipal incinerators, I'd be concerned about toxins like mercury, cadmium, nickel, and others leaching from the cement into my garden, particularly in places with acid rain.
I used neighbor farmers old truck and made 2 trips to old hotel being torn down. Foreman said " take all you want, because we crush and add it to the base." I got 100 large ones and a bunch of smaller blocks.
We ordered cinder blocks and soil today so we can build our own garden bed! We have plants ready to be transplanted and I can't wait! Thanks for the tips!!
@@charleswidmore5458 they turned out pretty well! We live in AZ so we weren't sure they'd work out but it's been great! We have customized the length and height to fit what we needed.
@@pnwtob8370 That's great! What do you grow in them? Did you line the inner walls with plastic to help with water loss? Did you use mortar? What did you fill them with?
@@charleswidmore5458 so we did a mix! We had a bed about 30ish feet long by 2.5 feet wide. We had a variety of peppers, strawberry, zucchini, Ans tomatoes. We also made a smaller bed for just flowers! We put down weed barrier then built up the beds and filled them with manure and soil. We didn't use mortar since it's only 2 high and so we can take it down if needed. We haven't noticed any major water loss issues but I wish we had sealed them before we filled them
Love this. I found myself in possession of a palette of blocks recently and have done the exact same thing. Works wonderful. Never building a wooden garden bed again.
Good vid. I built 3 of these about 4 years ago. Wasn't as particular about the leveling but got them pretty close by eyeballing it. They are still there and intact. I was fortunate to have a helper, grandson, and was able to move the blocks and the soil with a front end loader on my tractor. Built all 3 in one afternoon. They will last as long as I want them to as the blocks don't deteriorate and the soil in and around them has settled and they will not move. With the price of lumber these days, highly recommend using blocks. Look around your area and on line and you may find some blocks you can get for cheap or even free.
I'm in Colorado too, I really enjoy my area that had bare dirt much more with the woodchips I spread all over, especially when it rains. Less muddy and keeps water in the ground vs evaporating, appearance is better and it helps the soil long term. I want to do some raised beds to prevent bunny chomping without the look of mesh cages.
I’ve done this type bed with great success. Btw if you want a little more flexibility on widths and lengths some box stores sell Half a block you can use
Wesley Hackney is correct. I have seen the half block -- only 1 square, and I have seen a 'skinny' block -- the same length but half the width. If you are supporting with rebar those would probably work and be a little lighter to handle. I think it would be easy to install hoops over your bed made with cinder block. You could insert the ends of the hoops into the holes of the block, over some rebar sticks. It would be extremely easy to space them out evenly -- just count the holes -- not tape measure needed. I am liking this idea. I knew of people using bricks, but you would need less material with cinder block. I think I am getting excited over this prospect. I live in an area that gets sporadic rainfalls -- no two years are the same -- highly unpredictable. Some years are a soggy mess. In ground gardening is very risky. Most people around here use the raised beds because of this, or for serious gardening, they haul in truck loads of dirt to raise their property level. This raised be would be the most cost effective for me.
love your idea of leaving one end open while filling dirt. great idea! I have had several wooden garden beds and in the north carolina heat they do not hold up more then a year or two at the most. so I am looking forward to putting in the cinder block bed. I do believe I will do mine two layer as I am not as agile as you obviously are. thanks so much for your vidios.
1020....gardener scott is photobombed by bugs bunny..... love this episode mr Scott! Now I know that concrete block raised beds are a job for “a couple guys” that I find on the local handy man site 😐 I think it’s a great idea if you intend to have your gardens in place for many years but definitely a job for a very precise individual it seems. Nice to see your merch is up as well! I love the graphic it totally fits with your brand.👍Where’s the “enjoy gardening” coffee mug!?!.
Coming back to this video because I need to remodel my garden and I will definitely be trying this with a liner because I do have quite alkaline Clays soil. The best part was watching that little rabbit though scurry in the background
Glad I found this video. I currently have a wooden garden bed and was thinking of rebuilding it with cinder blocks when it inevitably rots but was concerned about chemical leaching. Your video was very informative and helpful, so thank you for posting.
9:40 Those who will be building a two or three course high wall should consider reinforcing the wall with rebar as Scott suggests. In the winter, repeated thawing and freezing can cause even a low wall of cinder blocks to start to lean.
I LOVE THE RABBIT PHOTOBOMB AT 10:20 LOL.
Me too! 😀
The moment where he first jumps out and goes "OH NO!" and stops for a second to check things out is so adorable.
You need to relocate that rabbit to a permanently frozen climate
IKR :)
Oak Knob Farm - The rabbit became dinner, later. 🐇 🐰 Went great with his veggies!
I've had three raised beds (single block high made with cement blocks for close to 40 years, they are a bit weathered but still as strong as the day I put them in.
That's great
Exciting!
I had a cinderblock raised bed once and broke it with my rooster and my garden crop was lost for 1 year. I regret losing my temper.
@@4toes1nose A rooster is a small adult male chicken, but that's not important right now.
@@barbhealey4933 I do jest, and don’t call me Shirley.
I wasn't so precise. I just put the blocks down, no mortar, level or not, straight or not, I didn't care, and it has been perfect! I was able to plant my tomatoes nice and deep, and filled the holes around the edge with herbs great for Mexican and Italian dishes, and a few marigold to help keep the bugs away! Thank you Gardener Scott!!!
I'm new to gardening, and did not know that Marigold's keep the bugs away! Good to know! :)
@@siobhanhitchcock204 marigolds produce a chemical called pyrethrin. Check out the label of many bug repellents and you'll see pyrethrin or a derivative.
@@jk07ist , actually, pryethrin comes from chrysanthemums. Not marigolds.
Thank you for saying this. I would be so worried that mine wouldn’t look like his. But now I feel even if mine does not look like his that’s ok it will do a good job for what I want. I don’t have the equipment and tools he has and I don’t have the money to buy them.
Anniegaddis, how many layers did you make? I really would love to have my bed to be higher. I want to sit on my walker while I work comfortably in the bed planting and weeding.
With lumber prices being so crazy, this is a great idea. Thanks Scott.
You have that right, to do a 2x8x8AWW it cost $29 versus $15 to do the same 8’ with 6 blocks.
Agreed. With wood prices where they are at now there's no way I'd purchase lumber to make a raised bed!
..it's more about the wood-rot factor .. that no one escapes..:))
This is my first time using the double hole blocks per my son's suggestions. He saw it in a
He saw one of his lawn service customers had done this, I plant Collards, Mustards, Green Onions so far. They're beautiful. I water & fertilize, haven't any weed problems.
I built some several years ago, and I ran rebar through 3 levels to make a taller garden, then packed the holes with earth. They haven't move an inch, and this is my best garden yet!
Did you have any issues with it settling/ sinking ?
@@dougroberts3643 not on my clay/caliche HARD dirt in New Mexico. I did pound the dirt before laying them, leveled, watered, dried, then leveled again. Then, I stacked the bricks, drove short bits of rebar through every 4th hole or so, then filled and tamped dirt into the holes of the blocks. I could have easily built a shed on it, it was rock-solid. I had it in place for probably 4-5 years before I moved. But, not much settling. It all comes down to prepping your dirt before you lay them. If you have sandy soil, lay down a barrier cloth, put down gravel, tamp it until it won't move, then some leveling sand, and finally brick. I've never lived somewhere that gets muddy, but I'm sure there's a trick to prepping any type of ground
@@dougroberts3643 here in Florida, I threw down some barrier paper, tossed a ring of brick on the ground, and filled with soil. They're crooked as can be, not level at all, and my garden is growing fine. I can lay a board across them and walk all over it.
@@stevescuba1978 Those are good ideas. I'm close to Lake Erie and we're in an area that's part of the Black Swamp region. This whole area was drained many years ago for farming. We have dark, rich, fertile soil for growing but the downside is that everything sinks. I have an 8'x10' shed with a wooden floor and runners underneath. It even sinks. I just lifted it up last week. Again!! So I'm thinking I will try your fabric method with some stone/sand on top of that and then lay the block. I'm thinking that I shouldn't go any higher than two block high. I appreciate your reply and suggestions
@@dougroberts3643 I believe the Venetians drove poles vertically into the swampy land as a foundation to build homes. Maybe you could drive a rot-resistant wood into the ground under your bottom row?
You give Mr. Roger’s vibes and it’s so comforting
It was so cute to see the rabbit run across the garden behind you at about 10:17. Probably inspecting your work or seeing what you're going to grow for him. :) Thanks for the great video!
Right!
The bunny was totally unexpected! 🤭
As an former army engineer, I find this video especially satisfying.
If you are using a two tier block system, you can add aluminum screen between the two layers and just fill the top layer of block, leaving the bottom layer hollow. This provides for a very well drained system within the block themselves for plants that like that kind of drainage. For northern climates, it also minimizes the chance of water building up within the hollow in the blocks, freezing and breaking the blocks.
If Bob Ross took up gardening instead of painting, he'd be Gardener Scott.
Exactly ❤😊
Lol
I love watching all of your videos but this one in particular is really helpful for me. I am a 74 year old retired woman and I am building one of these entirely on my own. It is slow going, a few blocks at a time, but I am making progress. I was a bit uncertain about leveling but watching you do this is helpful. Thanks for all you do for the gardening community.
Good for you from 72 year old in Nebraska.
Did this about 18 years ago. Have four raised beds that are about 4 feet wide (total: growing space is 3 feet wide so i can reach from both sides into the middle without straining) and about 35 feet long. That's about 128 square feet of growing space for each bed.
*Tip*: to avoid getting weeds in the spaces in the cinder blocks, just put a 4 x 8 x 16 concrete paver on top. Adds about four inches to the height, you can sit on it if you need to, or put buckets, tools, etc. on it, and no weeds get in!
Love the rabbit running through the garden without any fear.
i saw that
Scott
Good video
The best part about the square holes in the block is you can grow fragrant herb/plants that keep bugs away from the main vegetables in the bed
would you mind for us newer gardeners maybe giving a bit of a hint of what would be good to grow in those spaces? I figured the lime bleed-out would make it not habitable honestly. zone 10a.
Hi Scott!
Did you planting a okra!
I didn’t see a video planting okra if you make it will be great
I do very well in okra I m harvesting a lot okra last year and year too are very well protected from pets and disease here in zone 6 b Westchester ny .
But I would like your knowledge will be more productive
Thanks professor
If you make it 2 or 3 layers high do you have use mortar cement, or use adhesive cement ?
Lavender loves lime.
Thyme would be great on the edges. Attract insects too.
Rabbit alert at 10:20! 🐇 Excellent ideas! Thanks!
Made one just like this years ago . . . best tomatoes ever! Brings back a great memory of my father who lived across the street. In the evenings, I would see him breeze past my house with his saltshaker, and I knew he was going to the garden for supper =)
No leaching concerns?
In Florida, those block openings become a new home for Fire-Ants. I found out the hard way. 🔥
Boy you've got some brave bunnies running behind you in broad daylight,he saw you was busy,the buffet is open,lol
We love ours. I used 4' block instead of 8", and poured a small footer for it to start on, then used mortar instead of dry stacking. Also went 4 courses tall, which is right at waist level, and makes the bed so much easier to work/weed/etc.
I have a mini truck + a bad back. To spare my back from lifting several sacks or from doing double shoveling I have raw dirt loaded and dumped into my plastic lined bed that also has 50 gallon (plastic barrel) containers cut down to about 30 gallon volume/size. The barrel containers catch the lion's share of the soil and I slide them off onto a wheelchair (between the armrests) and can transport the dirt more easily than using a wheel barrow. The remaining dirt in the trucks plastic liner pours into one of the plastic barrels easily enough. The heighth of the barrels in the wheelchair could make it easier to add soil to taller beds from the sides also. For me this was much easier than manhandling bagged soil and easier than a wheelbarrow and shovel. My wife had open heart surgery and the heavy duty wheelchair we purchased was too heavy and bulky to use (my back) so we bought a very lightweight transport wheelchair that was easier for me to unload from her car. The old wheelchair I use exclusively for transporting soil now. I hope this helps somebody (s.)
That last tip about leaving the end open was clever.👍🏼
Cute little bunny ran behind you at 10:20 lol
You had me at "Hi, I am Gardner Scott"
I have been thinking of doing raised beds with wood but you have inspired me to do the cinder block beds. I will be back with lots of gardening questions. Thank you in advance.
Helluva bed. In fact, I may finally be able to convince my wife to fulfill my fantasy of a roll in the hay while also meeting her requirement of being in a bed. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Thanks for the informative advice.
Great tips in this video. Someone also mentioned that you can wait to put the last two end blocks in place after you get the soil in place. That way you can move the wheel barrel right through the center lane.
10:43
a little rabbit ran behind you like a scardy cat hahaha this is such a good idea right now...timber is so hard to get at the mo..
I love cinder blocks. LOL took me awhile to have my husband come on board with the idea. He was driving me nuts thinking I don't want cinder blocks all over my yard. But it's best thing we ever did. Plus at our age in which I'm pushing 70 years old it's a whole lot easier than getting on my hands and knees to dig in the ground. Just one layer helps so much with all the bending we have to do. Anyway I enjoyed the video and I just shared it with my husband. LOL
I think 3 levels would be too high. And totally agree with doing something to hold them in place. Even with two levels I always have to pull some out and put them in place again and we have really no frost here. If they are not filled or reinforced they will move some. when the soil settles it will push a block or two out of line.
Absolutely love this video especially the random rabbit running through the background.
Loved seeing the little bunny scurrying through
I love the cute bunny that made a cameo appearance.
I had a cement block garden years ago and it was marvelous. I planted in the little squares as well. I've since moved and at this place I've already gone through a couple of wood beds that just rotted so I'm going back to cement block beds for next year!
what did you plant in the holes? i have caps on top of mine, thinking of trying to plant the holes. they are kinda small holes. thanks
@@sandy-rr1by I got what they called pony packs, those 6 pack starter packs of annuals‐ violas, pansies, petunias, lobelia and kitchen herbs- thyme rosemary, oregano and marjoram. Small stuff that could do ok in a small spot. :)
My friend put her herbs, parsley, thyme and sage, etc in the tiny holes. In her beds she used 3 blocks for whatever herb she was planting. A lot of work but she gets a good harvest.
@@tspaulding3845I wish could see a picture of what your friend’s garden look like and so I could see how much more work it was.
@@tspaulding3845did she plant rosemary, basil, oregano Italian seasoning in those?
I love the rabbit cameo at 10:18 just trying to sneak in for a quick snack behind Scott's back. They're sneaky!
Without doubt the 3 block high by 3 deep by 12 ft long cinder block bed, was the best gardening ever. Multiple crops, ready made planting holes, and very easy to over winter. The 2 summers (before property was sold) were ideal, but yet so many benefits that far out way the labor. 100% do it!!!!
Love the rabbit in the background at 10:20.
I love using concrete blocks for my raised bed. I bought blocks that have a decorative front. I was concerned about the winter heaving, so I leveled my trenches with sand- like building a retaining wall, before laying down the blocks. I also covered the blocks with landscaping caps. I use the holes like worm towers. Put my vegetable scraps in them, cover with some dried leaves, out the cap stone on and let nature take it's course.
Thanks, Valerie. I like the idea of using them as worm towers.
10:18 -- love the rabbit cameo
So smart with the 32'' spacer!
Love the bunny! All creatures are safe & welcome in my garden!
It's 2021... Lumber prices are still insane so I'm opting for cinder block beds. We made one for our strawberries last fall but it was rushed. These tips were very helpful!
Loved seeing the rabbit run across in the background.
Yes, you sir read my mind: the cinderblock structure, higher walls to garden while standing, even the rebar into the holes to pin the walls. I was wondering why nobody has thought of this. I see many projects on RUclips to do these raised beds in wood, they look good but all that work is going to rot away sooner or later not considering the cost of lumber. It has got really expensive in my country. Good job.
LOL the bunny rabbit at 10:30 min! Great video - thank you.
Wow, I never thought of this, thanks! I live in the Philippines and in my area (fairly remote island) you simply cannot source regular lumber. I was about to go out and buy 1 inch plywood sheets and then have the hassle of cutting etc. each sheet is about 15 bucks. Hollow blocks here are about 10 cents - it's a no brainer! Especially in our climate, soft wood/ply would not give you more than a year, 2 max, before it rots away. Thanks again, your great idea has solved this for our garden.
Very informative, thank you. Also 10:18 BUNNY!
You do a good job explaining details. Others don't seem to get that concept when doing videos.
Lol I made two of these this week. I got some seedlings in the beds already.
Me too! 👏🏽 I’m so excited about this! I got the cinder blocks for free (and a workout too)! Lol
Why can’t people write sentences without putting “lol”. Your all such idiots
@@AreU4Real1 Wow, someone is having a bad day!
@@Thankful_. mmm i'd love to give you a workout too, princess
@@AreU4Real1 It's you're not your.
love the little bunny that runs behind you as your showing stacking blocks
I built a raised (4 x 16) concrete block garden for my mom four years ago. I built this two levels high, staggering the blocks on top as I went. Well worth the money. I did use Liquid Nails concrete adhesive on the corners of the blocks to help keep them together. The yard has a slight slope and I knew that over time gravity and hard winters would make this garden shift. I also love the pockets for gardening as well. Living in Nebraska, I learned quickly what to plant in each pocket to help keep bad insects away and get the bees to help polinate the garden as well. I do plan on building a much bigger raised block garden, but I will be using a bobcat to level out the slope and remove the grass time. It can be labor intensive, but when you are harvesting massive amounts of yummy vegetables, you will soon realize that it was worth the sweat.
Watched this vid before and never noticed the bunny until now!
Another awesome video! You are the Bob Ross of gardening, so relaxing 👍
Wow, thanks!
@@GardenerScott If you started an ASMR Gardening channel (or series for that matter), I would thumbs-up, subscribe, click the bell-icon and share EVEN MORE than I do now!🐰 The sounds of the gardening experience mellow me out so well, I've thought about doing it myself.😊
Jim Morgan I agree
Well said
10:17 "photo bomb" special guest appears 😎, thanks great info!
Brings back memories. I had all cinder block raised beds at one time.
It was cute seeing the rabbit run by near the end. I think it just finished it's lunch time snack. I know some use a lumber frame with roof steel to make the form. It looks like a great idea. Thanks
I used 4 inch thick solid blocks on top of my single row giving me a 12 inch high bed. I also used mortar ensuring a perminate construction. I used 4 blocks on each end giving a 4 foot wide bed with a 12 inch high seat all the way around the outside. Works great.
You got it! This is one of the most ancient ways of raising beds, clay blocks with fire ash added. Nice work, loved the vid!
AWESOME video. Many thanks for taking the time to present it. I'm tired of my wood beds rotting out. I had even covered them with two coats of raw linseed oil to extend their longevity. But I guess they were telling me that all I'm gonna get out of their lifespan is around 8-10 years of rain, plantings, snow, and ice. I'm liking this new "Cinder Block" religion. Kindest regards...
That's the way I should have done mine, but didn't know what I was doing so it turned out a lopsided irregular mess. Thanks for showing me how to do it correctly.
Not sure how I missed this video from Gardner Scott as I'm usually a regular viewer. Great information and detail on how to use cement blocks to make a raised bed. I still haven't decided to make a raised bed but this is a great option considering the price of lumber.
BTW, he was photobombed by a rabbit about the 10:18 mark. Cute!
Great tips and I loved the little rabbit running through in the background. Thank you!
I made one of these for my sister in her back garden. I've never owned my own raised bed because I don't have the space... I'm really jealous of her raised bed lol
Think I'm going to try to spot the bunny in all your videos from now haha. It's the second time I'm seeing one in your videos. Last time he was on your neighbour's property.
I’ve been using 8” cinder blocks from the beginning. Love them. Even my compost bins are made with them
carmine redd They’re still called cinder blocks
My 3 wood ain't made of wood 😁
Good idea about the compost bins...
Great advice, and yes I noticed the rabbit too!
Cinder blocks for raised beds work great. I can reconfigure them according to my needs from year to year.
Good video and concept. We have used 6" wide blocks with success. They weigh less and cost less. We did not plant in the cells of the block, like suggested in the video,
just left the cells empty. Used silicone seal to attach the 2nd level. After years of usage, the planter has stayed together and produced a lot of plants.
I moved last year and starting my new garden I used cinderblocks for the beds, doubling them this year. They work great, so sturdy, and I can plant small herbs and flowers in the little squares to pretty up the yard (I have no fence and my garden is right along the street). I choose plants that attract pollinators & beneficial insects or that repel pests. You can paint the outside of them too and not worry about it leeching through to the inside of the garden bed.
That's a good idea! Paint them so they look more pleasant. I would have to do that considering where I live but I'm definitely doing this 😊❤️
Good instructional video. My wife and I were talking about doing this and he answered my questions.
Like the rabbit running behind him.
Great delivery, perfect pace.. Thank you Sir for sharing your experience and making us better gardeners!!
First impression, you sir are the bob villa of gardening, and im here for it
I love my block beds. Had my son help me build them. I have six 4'x8' and one 4'x4' bed for my strawberries, three blocks high so it's easier for me to work in. :)
Nice Rabbit at 12:04. I'll bet he's well fed! lol
This video was awesome, thank you! So easy to watch and helpful. I will definitely be building a concrete block raised bed. I love the bunny!
Great idea. I had to go back at 10:20 to watch the rabbit. 😂
Just an incredibly useful video. I hope I remember to do this, but one thing I would be curious to see is someone, after a few years, stick a pH meter into the soil right against a block, and compare it to the pH right in the middle of the bed. My guess is the 'lime' that may leech would have very little effect on the soil that is even right up against the block.
Knowing that cement is made with the ash from municipal incinerators, I'd be concerned about toxins like mercury, cadmium, nickel, and others leaching from the cement into my garden, particularly in places with acid rain.
So grateful for your video. Being on a very limited income this is a great solution. Absolutely determined to grow more for myself & others .
That is what all of my raised beds are built out of. 😀❤ Works great!
I used neighbor farmers old truck and made 2 trips to old hotel being torn down. Foreman said " take all you want, because we crush and add it to the base." I got 100 large ones and a bunch of smaller blocks.
We ordered cinder blocks and soil today so we can build our own garden bed! We have plants ready to be transplanted and I can't wait! Thanks for the tips!!
How did they come out?
Did you have any problems?
Did you get to use them?
@@charleswidmore5458 they turned out pretty well! We live in AZ so we weren't sure they'd work out but it's been great! We have customized the length and height to fit what we needed.
@@pnwtob8370 That's great! What do you grow in them? Did you line the inner walls with plastic to help with water loss? Did you use mortar? What did you fill them with?
@@charleswidmore5458 so we did a mix! We had a bed about 30ish feet long by 2.5 feet wide. We had a variety of peppers, strawberry, zucchini, Ans tomatoes. We also made a smaller bed for just flowers! We put down weed barrier then built up the beds and filled them with manure and soil. We didn't use mortar since it's only 2 high and so we can take it down if needed. We haven't noticed any major water loss issues but I wish we had sealed them before we filled them
Love my cinder block beds! We have four of them… each 4x4 with pvc square foot garden dividers laid on the top. Wonderful!
Love this. I found myself in possession of a palette of blocks recently and have done the exact same thing. Works wonderful. Never building a wooden garden bed again.
Wonderful!
Good vid. I built 3 of these about 4 years ago. Wasn't as particular about the leveling but got them pretty close by eyeballing it. They are still there and intact. I was fortunate to have a helper, grandson, and was able to move the blocks and the soil with a front end loader on my tractor. Built all 3 in one afternoon. They will last as long as I want them to as the blocks don't deteriorate and the soil in and around them has settled and they will not move. With the price of lumber these days, highly recommend using blocks. Look around your area and on line and you may find some blocks you can get for cheap or even free.
I’ve started purchasing the larger 12 x 16 x 8 concrete blocks. They’ve been great planters. Relatively inexpensive.
Wonderful video. Full of great tips. Oh, and the bunny running behind you was precious (photo bomb)
Thanks so much. You answered several of my questions: Are blocks safe and how to stack them. I also like your idea of planting in the block holes.
Well I know this videos a little bit old, just watching it for the first time, cute little rabbit running across behind you.
I use the skinner thin ones with 3 holes saves some precious space in smaller yards. Same size only 4 inches deep instead of 8.
I'm in Colorado too, I really enjoy my area that had bare dirt much more with the woodchips I spread all over, especially when it rains. Less muddy and keeps water in the ground vs evaporating, appearance is better and it helps the soil long term. I want to do some raised beds to prevent bunny chomping without the look of mesh cages.
I’ve done this type bed with great success. Btw if you want a little more flexibility on widths and lengths some box stores sell Half a block you can use
Good tip. Thanks.
Wesley Hackney is correct. I have seen the half block -- only 1 square, and I have seen a 'skinny' block -- the same length but half the width. If you are supporting with rebar those would probably work and be a little lighter to handle. I think it would be easy to install hoops over your bed made with cinder block. You could insert the ends of the hoops into the holes of the block, over some rebar sticks. It would be extremely easy to space them out evenly -- just count the holes -- not tape measure needed. I am liking this idea. I knew of people using bricks, but you would need less material with cinder block. I think I am getting excited over this prospect. I live in an area that gets sporadic rainfalls -- no two years are the same -- highly unpredictable. Some years are a soggy mess. In ground gardening is very risky. Most people around here use the raised beds because of this, or for serious gardening, they haul in truck loads of dirt to raise their property level. This raised be would be the most cost effective for me.
This is beautiful. My imagination is filling up with growing food and herbs and flowers.
love your idea of leaving one end open while filling dirt. great idea! I have had several wooden garden beds and in the north carolina heat they do not hold up more then a year or two at the most. so I am looking forward to putting in the cinder block bed. I do believe I will do mine two layer as I am not as agile as you obviously are. thanks so much for your vidios.
Very nice garden. And it's bunny approved.
1020....gardener scott is photobombed by bugs bunny..... love this episode mr Scott! Now I know that concrete block raised beds are a job for “a couple guys” that I find on the local handy man site 😐 I think it’s a great idea if you intend to have your gardens in place for many years but definitely a job for a very precise individual it seems. Nice to see your merch is up as well! I love the graphic it totally fits with your brand.👍Where’s the “enjoy gardening” coffee mug!?!.
Thanks, Derek. Good suggestion. I'll add that mug.
Gardener Scott Schwarzenegger has ‘I’ll be back’ Gardener Scott has “enjoy gardening!” 😀
I live on lava in Hawaii and the only way to garden is up! I’ve been using lava rock and have some challenges, so this is a great alternative!!
I made something similar but left the 2 end blocks our and just barrowed all the fill in then put the last 2 blocks in
10:43
Coming back to this video because I need to remodel my garden and I will definitely be trying this with a liner because I do have quite alkaline Clays soil. The best part was watching that little rabbit though scurry in the background
Glad I found this video. I currently have a wooden garden bed and was thinking of rebuilding it with cinder blocks when it inevitably rots but was concerned about chemical leaching. Your video was very informative and helpful, so thank you for posting.
Love the rabbit.🐰
Your voice is amazing. You sound so calming.
Liked the random rabbit running thru
9:40 Those who will be building a two or three course high wall should consider reinforcing the wall with rebar as Scott suggests. In the winter, repeated thawing and freezing can cause even a low wall of cinder blocks to start to lean.
I love the small pots incorporated in it that's a nice feature