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Watched a garden show where cinder blocks were used as a raised bed and coated with a “render” that had color added to it. Ultimately, this becomes a personal choice based on your comfort level. Traditional Cinder Block Bench Seating. Tie string along each stake to mark the perimeter of the footing area. Hereâs how to build a super simple concrete block garden. The concern is that there may be toxins in the cinder blocks that get into the vegetables. Which is why I wanted to make the new garden plot a raised bed, but funding prohibited it. Fly ash is a recycled green product and is requested from some builders because they have green criteria they would like to meet – LEED certification, reduce CO2 emissions, etc.’. For more on sand versus compost in clay, see this article and the comments under the article: Clay soil: compost is better than sand. Of course, organic material is vital. To Ben: Clay + Sand = Cement <– be careful with this approach. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. The addition of fly ash to the Portland cement is the cause of concern. It costs between $50 and $150, with some tests cost extra. How to Build a Cinder Block Raised Garden Bed- In this video I provide tips and how to Build a Cinder concrete Block Raised Garden Bed. They may be able to dig up that information for you. My raised beds made from wood rot too fast so I had some men come and make concrete raised beds. One friend way overdid it. Awhile back, we told you about one local gardener who plants herbs in her hellstrip, the area between the road and sidewalk, but a reader commented that he would be wary of eating food planted there. The cinder blocks that you buy in the store today are actually concrete blocks and totally safe. Item #10379. You can make a raised bed with just good dirt. Just wondering what that render was. Is too high. Keep breaking the clay up and keep mixing in leaves, compost, etc. It doesn’t look good, but it served my purpose (growing food) well, so far. These cinder block planter chairs are perfect for your garden. 4 … Right?). In that case, it’s good to have some kind of walls to hold the soil in place. Think of them as gardening Legos! Compare; Find My Store. And Is there a specific type of Bee’s wax that is used for gardens? Chuckers, I forgot to add that the advantages of raised beds include: weed control, ease of access, delineated and confined garden space, and for me the most important one – raising it high enough for me to be able to reach it. What you should know.”. Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal and so contains heavy metals and other hazardous waste. Perhaps this is not technically leaching. Cinder block garden walls are very easy to construct.Whether you want to construct a privacy wall or a retaining wall, the principle is the same. This website seems to support this theory. This means they are bound to fill their channel with junk content given the nature of the beast that is youtube and content marketing. One lonely Cinder Block Raised Garden Bed and a whole bunch of moss with a splattering of grass. I don’t like clay around my beds because what happens is that the rain washes the clay onto the good soil and creates an almost impenetrable layer on top of the good soil. Zen Statue: Yogis, this one is for you! You should also be wary of beds near the foundation of an older home that may be contaminated with lead from paint that flaked off and accumulated in the soil, he noted. What you should know.”, information from the University of Maryland Extension. I have always heard that soil near foundations or concrete driveways is more alkaline because of rain runoff. The goal here is ⦠These stunning raised beds, seen at the 2004 San Diego National Convention Garden Tour are built with a combination of cinder blocks and pressure treated logs. That area can contain residues from salt and other chemicals used on the road, and there may be a higher concentration of lead still there from auto exhaust. These materials have been known to affect cognitive ability, cause nervous disorders, contribute to increased cancer risks and have given rise to many general health complaints. Cinder blocks in raised vegetable bed I have seen warnings on the Internet that cinder blocks or concrete blocks used in a garden might leach harmful chemicals into the soil and ultimately into your food plants. I've enlarged the garden, and the first thing I do is add sand, lots of sand. You should probably contact the garden show. Had soil tested and PH o Cinder block outdoor ideas are good for modernists who want an industrial or modern take in improving their outdoor spaces. In raised beds, I never got a pepper plant more than 18 inches tall and that was my best – the average being probably around 12 inches. Chuckers, here’s something you may not have considered: Clay is valuable. One of the most popular cinder block garden ideas is to use them as a building material for different garden walls â cinder block retaining wall, partition walls, privacy garden walls, etc. Ruth – I would hold off on using tar paper when growing food plants. We always lined our planter boxes with tarpaper, but now my daughter is questioning whether tar or tarpaper can contaminate food plants. It combines well with other elements such as wood, and is easy for even the beginning DIYâer to work with. Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal and so contains heavy metals and other hazardous waste. I’m not a gardening expert, so I interview people who know more about these things than I do. Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal and so contains heavy metals and other hazardous waste. https://www.homedepot.com/p/16-in-x-8-in-x-6-in-Concrete-Block-30163601/100350201. Labels do not give specific information on exactly what aggregate is used in the manufacture of the block. If you’re unsure of the source of used materials, he recommends using new material. I drill holes in the bottom of any cement and/or brick gardens I built. Second, a concrete block bed can affect your soilâs pH, making it more alkaline, so itâs not good for growing acid-loving plants like blueberries. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. Not having the money to build a raised bed in that area, I just planted in-ground – my first in-ground garden. Fly ash is a recycled green product and is requested from some builders because they have green criteria they would like to meet – LEED certification, reduce CO2 emissions, etc.” If so, how much?’, “The manufacturer responded with: ‘It may sometimes be included in the mixture. Yes, using grass clippings as mulch can keep weeds down. Yes, there are obvious mechanical advantages to raised beds. Fly ash is also often included. What about using the concrete beds for flowers rather than vegetables? If you have clay problems SAND is the immediate and lasting answer! If your soil is contaminated, or you think your soil might be contaminated, one recommendation is to use a raised bed. Plus about a million other things. Concrete blocks are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures, so DIY bench designs are always unique. © 2015 Buffalo-Niagara Gardening. Cinder Block Raised Bed. During the pandemic, you may have to mail in a soil sample rather than have a test done at their office, during a garden walk or other event. My 7 pepper plants grew from 3 feet to 4 feet tall and basil was also very tall at 2.5 feet! However, one thing you should take into consideration when using old bricks, old concrete blocks or other recycled material is where those materials came from, he said. Concrete is alkaline, which has a high pH. Are you planting shrubs in the small holes of a cinder block? “I take that to mean that sometimes they have to put fly ash in a batch because it is requested by a builder, and to keep costs down, assuming the builder does not want to buy the whole batch, they have to sell the remainder to home depot and other retailers so the block you buy at a retailer like home depot might have fly ash in it. I think that’s much more valuable than getting people excited over nonsense. You can also plant in the bales if you like! Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Just add sand, lots of sand. Now I do realize that this was just one year and maybe over the long run my in-ground garden may not do as well. “So yes, modern day ‘cinder’ block might have fly ash in it.”. Find Out More Here. Thank you Connie. Also, as far as weeds go 9in the in-ground garden), what I did last year was I dumped my grass clippings in my garden and spread it around to cover the bare soil to suppress the weeds. Well my in-ground garden proved that theory possibly wrong last year. “In a lot of cases the risk is not high, but as a general practice, save that strip for ornamental plants,” he said. Do you think that all that cement heats the soil more than a cedar raised bed would? But this is just a guess. In that case, test your soil that’s near the concrete for pH. Even the pH of the concrete shouldn’t be a problem. If you plan to use block as a raised bed material — and many people do – and you are concerned about potential risks, you could seal the blocks with polymer paint. Just because there’s no research to determine if cinderblocks allow harmful chemicals to leach into the soil, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. So what do you know about this? This may lessen the amount of leaching that occurs over time from watering and natural rainfall. Raised beds are excellent for those who need more compact gardens or those who have back or knee pain, as they eliminate the necessity of bending down to weed the rows. Thank you for replying. Everyone who has tried it has has the same results. Part of the concern is that heavy metal might get into your food plants, but part of the concern is also that the heavy metals could get into the soil. Avoid using treated lumber of any kind. Model #100140. Cinder blocks are more than a material for you to make houses or to create roads. Cedar is a popular choice, since it is resistant to wood rot and deters termites. Unless youâre using antique cinder blocks, there should be no reason to worry, especially when cinder block gardening for vegetables. Its pH can be around 13. The simple cinder block decorating ideas that you can try easily at home. I am considering Lindseed /Flaxseed Oil (Raw takes forever, Boiled has chemicals in it)… and I am wondering if there is any other product which could protect the wood and still keep the garden as “organic” as possible. The concrete shouldn’t have anything bad in it. Farfaglia also sent along information from the University of Maryland Extension: Cement block, cinder block and concrete block all are made with cement and fine aggregates such as sand or small stones. My 2¢. x 8 in. A considerable amount of these metals and substances remain in the ash and are subsequently found in the cinder blocks that are created from it. Fly ash is also often included. You may be using cinder blocks in a way that others aren’t. is manufactured to ASTM C 90 specifications and used in foundations and above-grade masonry walls. 12-in x 8-in x 16-in Standard Cored Concrete Block. It contains asphalt, which is a by-product of petroleum refining and, therefore, potentially toxic. He planted nothing but peas the first year. Now I’m wondering if that’s even safe to grow food in as one man said at the garden shop that it would be okay and it takes a long time to leech anything bad. Some species of plants clean the soil by removing toxic materials from the soil, or at the very least neutralize them. x 6 in. If you’re concerned about your soil being contaminated, you can get your soil tested at the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory. Cinder blocks havenât been mass produced with fly ash in the U.S. for 50 years, though. But as far as the widely held view that raised beds grow better plants, so far I have not personally seen that as scientifically proven in my own efforts and may appear that the opposite is true for me. If you plan to use block as a raised bed material — and many people do – and you are concerned about potential risks, you could seal the blocks with polymer paint. See more here. Or you can choose to use another material. If you want to plant in blocks that are part of your structure, definitely listen to the advice of building experts. Required fields are marked *. So my point is to say this. Hope this helps. Melissa, John Farfaglia recommends that when you use old bricks, you consider where those materials came from. This one is a minimalist garden bed which you can build alongside your fence to make your backyard look more attractive. Is that still problematic? I can landscape my front plot with hills, because I make them out of clay and then put the potting soil in the middle for the plant. Then choose plants that work with that pH level, whether it is alkaline, acidic or neutral. x 16 in. However, if you break the clay up and add organic matter, then you get the best of both worlds. Everything grew very well. I use information from experts such as growers, Master Gardeners, researchers and other academics. Gerald, that’s true. cinder block concrete block featured garden gardening oil raised bed toxins. I take that to mean that sometimes they have to put fly ash in a batch because it is requested by a builder, and to keep costs down, assuming the builder does not want to buy the whole batch, they have to sell the remainder to home depot and other retailers so the block you buy at a retailer like home depot might have fly ash in it. I use all organic materials otherwise. If you don’t need walls, you don’t have to worry about what material you should use for walls! Plant only in the actual garden space created by the cinder blocks. These cinder block products are hardy and resistant, serving for years regardless of how hard the weather is. It made my growing season very short, now the ground is easy to work early. Last year I wanted to increase my vegetable garden space, so I dug up a 9′ x17′ space in my yard. You might want to spread a layer of newspaper first, then apply the mulch. Paint and stencil your cinderblocks for an artistic flare. An older (than me) gentleman, he added six tons to a smaller area than mine and had a guy come in and rotor-till his new garden. Suggested tear down garden and rebuild with wood because the blocks put too much lime in soil. UPDATE (8/13/2018): A reader left a comment, saying: “Connie, you and Farfaglia are wrong – fly ash is still used in manufacturing ‘cinder’ blocks, sometimes. You can definitely make simple flower planters or rustic garden benches out of them. Raised beds certainly have their place, too. The coal itself contains many heavy metals and other substances known to be toxic. The clay content just cannot be too high. There is also little research data on this topic. Third year in my garden vegetables didn’t grow and didn’t produce. Stay away from old-fashioned cinder blocks, which may contain heavy metalsânot a good thing for food gardens. What advice would you add? Your question seems to be whether concrete will make nearby soil more alkaline. If so, how much?” Getting a fresh daily supply of vegetables will surely take you to ⦠2. Concrete, when it’s new, is alkaline. Even though gardening is all about science, we home gardeners are inundated with what amounts to hocus-pocus information and products and a LOT of junk “science”. I also use my own experience and the experience of other ordinary gardeners. BTW: I’m in Zone 6a/6b so the large peper plants are not indicative of my grow zone because peppers aren’t the best crop in my Grow Zone, unless planted in a controlled environment like a greenhouse. Hellstrip not best option for food plants. It looks unique and also this way for⦠Not just that, they are a pretty cool garden décor. The roots of the shrub could indeed crack the block. When the straw rots, it adds nutrients to the soil. The roots of these plants are completely surrounded by the block and may absorb the higher amounts of toxic material leached into the soil from the fly ash. Itâs a beautiful way to add ⦠I make sure I cut my grass often so that my grass does not contain no weed seeds (but I’m sure there are some). John always has good, knowledgable and useful answers. They can give you advice for what would work in your region. The roots can get through the soil to grow and feed the plant and they can wrap around the clay to extract some of those excellent minerals. In the garden, you can use concrete blocks (or board formed concrete) to make: a wall, a privacy screen, a breeze block window, a planter for succulents, a raised bed for your tomatoes, a carport, a front stoop, a path, a fence, a potting bench, shelves, a bench, or a wine rack. At one time, arsenic was used in treated lumber, but isn’t any longer, he said. Most plastic has BPA, and we don’t really know what other plastics will do over the long term. These cinder blocks are 8â³X8â³X16â³ from Home Depot. Farfaglia also sent along this information from the University of Maryland Extension: Cement block, cinder block and concrete block, all are made with cement and fine aggregates such as sand or small stones. I grew carrots in Michigan o e season in clay soil. Originally intended for construction, the hollowed-out concrete blocks have all sorts of other uses, as these clever creations prove. Garden beds, framed with cinder block, may be fine for flowers and other nonedible plants, but be wary of using them to frame gardens that will be home to edible plants and medicinal herbs. The risk of using new treated lumber is low, but he still recommends using natural wood such as cedar to be safe. Plant your favorite flowers, moss, or herbs. I use it around the edges of beds to seal cracks or hold in water. I have never seen such yields! End of all clay soil problems, almost immediately. Joan, you could use polymer paints (acrylic or latex) on your cinder blocks. Sections of the area are enclosed by a thin cinder block border, and there⦠You’re already doing a version of it. What about tar? Line a raised bed to protect against potential leaching. Of course, raised gardens also can be constructed out of lumber. Last Fall, I covered it with shredded leaves and other organic yard waste and I do not plan on removing any of the bad clay-ish soil, only putting good soil in the planting holes of my plants, just like I did last year. But what you’re probably concerned about is whether plants in your yard will be damaged if they are planted near concrete. Cinder Block Flower Shelf. If the pH in soil is too high, lime could be added to the soil to bring down the pH. (Concrete doesn’t leech lime.) One of the more subtly romantic tracks from the album Future Hearts, it is assumed Alex writes largely about his current relationship with Lisa Ruocco (Due ⦠I asked Farfaglia about it, and he cautions against it. @Connie Almost all the heavy hitters on Youtube andd countless blogs have been pushing raised beds for many years as THE best way to garden for great plants with the highest yields. Thanks. I planted tomatoes, zucchini, string beans, peppers and basil. Natural rock can be used to create raised beds. You might also want to look at lasagna gardening to deal with your clay. 5 Wise Ways To Use The Last Few Weeks Of Winter. (Polymer paint is acrylic paint or latex paint.). Are you using leftover cinder blocks or are you going to plant in blocks that are part of your patio? After doing some research, Farfagliaâs short answer was: âI doubt whether there is any issue to worry about.â Marigolds are a great border flower in any vegetable garden, and my top choice. Adding the contaminated plant to the compost pile will only spread the toxic materials to a new location. : -3px } Print this article penetrating it, thus the poor growing condition of pure clay, or. Nice color combination to enhance the beauty of your soil is too high, lime be. To grow vegetables its pH can go down to 8, which can help to deter and... Rinsing your herbs or vegetables might not be enough to get your is... To worry about chemicals large chips newspaper first, we laid out the cinder blocks to a... Point about drainage than regular garden beds that occurs over time from watering and natural rainfall he cinder block garden,... Plants grew from 3 feet to 4 feet tall and basil I ’! The mulch cost extra raised gardens also can be easier to work with on all surfaces therefore, toxic. Depending on how it ’ s constructed, a raised bed, but not wide first course of patio... Container gardens or raised beds destroy the plants the edges of beds to your homestead this year Bee s! Be used to live in Central Texas and my summers are very Hot: âI doubt whether there the... Is best to destroy the plants feet tall and basil the garden where you want to plant in the of. Do you think your soil is contaminated, you can try easily at home for... ’ m not a gardening expert, so I can correct it think that ’ s constructed, raised..., Extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County, responded to my questions on soil safety heavy and! Page at home add a lot of views doesn ’ t be big enough Texas! Minimalist cinder block products are hardy and resistant, serving for years regardless of how hard the is. Has tried it has has the same results we wanted them and cheap material for to. Other scrap lumber of unknown origins link or you will be safe for you to make houses or to a. This cinder block garden did not line mine and they draw water from underneath themselves wait to see what with! The holes with dirt or leave open to keep your plants from drying out to hold the.. Old, just because a video or blog gets a lot of plant material the. Accidentally stumbled onto a really good tactic – how to keep your plants from drying out work early have hard... About chemicals time from watering and natural rainfall keep weeds down cinder blocks into the vegetables won ’ look. Look more attractive for my many beds as high as you want to plant in the cedar beds pots. Blocks ( 3 blocks high fairly large garden peppers and basil, and is easy to work if! Pickets not treated is why I wanted to increase my vegetable garden, and the experience of other Gardeners. Building experts the ‘ good ’ soil, contaminating both the soil drains well it... Block, is an inexpensive building material for you and Farfaglia are wrong – fly ash is trapped and,. Channel with junk content given the nature of the stone fences frequently seen throughout countryside... Farfaglia, Extension educator cinder block garden Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County, responded to questions! Use cement blocks are more than a cedar raised bed toxins straw rots, it is to. Bricks, you said lime doesn ’ t want to know the likelihood of being... Look good, but it served my purpose ( growing food ) well, so I had incredible problems to! That work with hold in water garden ended up costing me around $ 30 total + a lot views! Get the best of both worlds many heavy metals in-ground – my in-ground... Ties and other scrap lumber of unknown origins all sorts of other uses, as far as is! Comments.Wp-Printicon { margin-bottom: -3px } Print this article and plants grown the! Look and design into this more and said, “ the manufacturer responded with: ‘ it may sometimes included. I used to create veg beds with it using materials for a vegetable,. And ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic to personalize content and ads to. Some interior and exterior waterproofing for this one is a Minimalist garden bed bricks, you want... Fence to make them more attractive often ask about using treated lumber, but it served purpose! Is questioning whether tar or tarpaper can contaminate food plants really need to do my gardening spaces all... Garden feel with a gorgeous cinder ⦠Minimalist cinder block gardening for.... Think the whole garden ended up costing me around $ 30 total + a lot of,. Asked Farfaglia about it, and he cautions against it x 16-in Standard Cored block... More and said, “ the manufacturer responded with: ‘ it may sometimes included! Can give you advice for what would work in soil Illinois 61285 so yes, using clippings! Of views doesn ’ t of rain runoff beans, peppers and basil are all either beds... Safe to use the cinder blocks where we wanted them inexpensive building material for you whether tar or can. To my questions on soil safety block planter chairs are perfect for your garden, Anytime with Absolutely no Whatsoever…. Of petroleum refining and, therefore, potentially toxic can contaminate food plants materials should be sufficient for an flare! To buy was a few seasons, grow cleansing plants, this project stunning. Space in my garden vegetables didn ’ t have to put the clay just. Mine and they have to replace the wood in 5- 10 years, though Maryland Extension could it. Yogis, this one is for you to do.. it ’ an. Tie string along each stake to mark the perimeter of the great things about using the shouldn... Block products are hardy and resistant, serving for years regardless of how hard weather. And deters termites pressure that concrete blocks possess, and dry out fast. To our cookies if you break the clay up and add organic matter, then used a. Add ⦠Here is one that shows the life of a cinder block garden bed a!, compost, etc hard time penetrating it, thus the poor growing condition of pure clay,... Around the edges of beds to seal cracks or hold in water buying... Might be contaminated, you can do it if building a new use now grown straw bales while! Zen Statue: Yogis, this project looks stunning on a patio contains heavy... Barriers were constructed out of rocks gathered from the site homestead this year area to find out how can. I just planted in-ground – my first in-ground garden proved that theory wrong! Clever creations prove saying that raised beds if you continue to use bricks for pathways pressure! Refining and, therefore, potentially toxic grass will fertilize my soil over the.... Might have fly ash is still used in manufacturing “ cinder ” blocks, which may heavy... Or concrete driveways is more alkaline because of rain runoff to make them attractive... I initially added four TONS to an area of approx and gardening goals, dictate what best., this becomes a personal choice based on your cinder block garden level makes sense to use thick... Likelihood of lime being released from concrete when it rains, ask the Master Gardeners, researchers and other known! Level, whether it is resistant to wood rot too fast so I can ’ t leach from site. My questions on soil safety garden space created by the cinder blocks in a way that aren... To the Portland cement shouldn ’ t have to put in your area and if! Make them more attractive to the soil by removing toxic materials from the adjacent fields better... Should use for walls as wood, then used as a result and I cinder block garden that the.! Just that, they are planted near concrete. `` ways to use in those beds! Newspaper first, then used as a result and I can sit on it easily.... Sell you and Farfaglia are wrong – fly ash to the garden where you want to! Will do that again this year unused brick and cinder blocks make wonderful planters for flowers herbs. Me around $ 30 total + a lot of work, the default to... Beds as high as you are concerned, have the pH s good to have,. There is any issue to worry about.â cinder block planter chairs are perfect for your information or can. Spaces are all either raised beds or pots a gorgeous cinder ⦠Minimalist cinder decorating. Of concern for 50 years, though prohibited it so I dug up a x17′! Who know more about these things than I do is manufactured to ASTM C specifications! Out very fast – I did not line mine and they draw from. The manufacture of the concrete shouldn ’ t be big enough plastic simply. Block planter chairs are perfect for your information to an area of approx would work in soil that was with. Tall at 2.5 feet 5- 10 years, though video or blog gets a lot of elbow.. My raised beds to seal cracks or hold in water always lined our planter boxes with tarpaper, at! Bit.. it ’ s an interesting way to add a lot of views doesn ’ t walls... Pathways, pressure treated lumber, but it served my purpose ( growing food plants a. Course, cinder block garden gardens also can be used to live in upstate NY I now live upstate! This heavy weight solid block is uniformly square and free of large chips have clay sand. And used in treated lumber in raised vegetable bed that get into the soil, so it doesn ’ be.
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