Cinder Block Planter With Shelves

by Marc Erick

8 Materials

$10

2 Hours

Easy

I was trying to figure out what to do with extra cinder blocks which were laying in the backyard of my apartment. It really was an eyesore! My landlord gave me free reign to take care of the yard so I decided to do a whole yard makeover. ..oh, the ideas I have! A garden. ..flower beds...container gardens...and those cinder blocks! Since I rent, I really wanted to do this inexpensively too. I came up with a cinder block planter with shelves. ..and it was free! (Well, I DID purchase the flowers)

For this project I used:30 cinder blocks - 8 of them were the large ones with two openings, the rest were were smaller in thickness and solid, flowers- petunias, sweet potato vine, straw flowers and celosia, flower pots for the shelves, potting soil and I used some leftover 2x2 wood scraps too.

The first thing I did was to level the ground a bit and begin stacking the blocks, the first (bottom) layer and top layer were made using the large blocks with the openings facing up. You can see the pattern in the picture.

On two of the layers, I allowed two of the blocks to stick out, creating shelves, for a total of four, one on each side.

Next I filled the openings on top with soil. This is where the flowers will be planted.

And then began planting. I used petunias in six of the openings and sweet potato vines in the remaining two.

Make sure to give them a good drink of water!

Then I made a border around the bottom with some old 2x2's. I just removed about 1/2 inch of the dirt around the planter and placed the 2x2's in.

Then I planted four flower pots for the shelves . I already had the pots but you can get the exact same ones at Dollar Tree.

I gave the planter a good wipe down, planted grass seed where the blocks used to be, placed the flower pots on the shelves, and finished!

I really like how it turned out and can't wait until the plants grow and fill it out!

And a view from our deck. ..

Now for a question. ..

Any ideas of what to do with the center opening? I've thought of covering it and placing another flower pot on it or something? !

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this project and hope it inspired you in some way. You can use any kind of plants or flowers . I'm thinking this would be great built around a tree too! Thanks for viewing!

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3 of 50 questions

Coreena on Apr 13, 2023

What about a multi-colour gazing ball or something solar

1
Alice on Mar 29, 2024

Haha I was thinkg immediately 'wot bout the middle? & The lil planters going west.
We've all got diff ideas - put the double bricks stickg out so won't fly away. Or use adhesive under. The middle b nice for lamp. Also I wd put plank across & mayb make 2 or three planters with plank inbetween for luv garden seatg enjoying yr new look - cd b longways or a 3way
Let's see wot others have thort of .. 🙋

0
Leslie on Apr 05, 2024

What about an umbrella for extremely hot days?

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2 of 371 comments

Shara Mccubbin on Sep 15, 2023

Beautiful! I agree with some of the other things people suggested, like a hummingbird feeder or a solar light-up something.....!
You might be able to find a 'VERY' slow growing evergreen or small leaf maple that might work.
As far as keeping the pots in place on the outside, I've had really good luck with Alien Tape. It's good with bonding different materials together and water proof. Also the Flex Seal brand of products are awesome too for these kind of projects.

6 Reply
Katen on Mar 30, 2024

You certainly elevated the look of humble cinder blocks. If you desire you can always add a hanging basket, after cutting off hanger in center hole. But by time plants grow may not even add to plantings Never know until you see what grows best in spot. As we all know plants that NEVER grow in some conditions thrive and some that should thrive barely survive. Thanks for sharing

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