How to Build a Cinder Block Flower Bed

Cinder blocks are a cost-effective building material that can be used to build a flower bed. Your local classified ads in your newspaper often have listings for cinder blocks at discounted prices. Sometimes people give these blocks away just to get rid of them. You can also buy new ones at your local home improvement store. The cinder blocks are set in the shape of a square or rectangle and then the shape is filled with planting soil. Cinder block flower beds can last for years because the blocks won't decompose like wood.

Surveyor stakes

String

Tape measure

Shovel

Garden rake

Cinder blocks

Flower planting soil

Level the ground where the flower bed will be built using the shovel and the garden rake. Cut the high spots down with the shovel blade and spread the soil back and forth with the rake to fill in the low spots.

Pound a wood surveyor stake into the ground at each corner where the flower bed will extend. The bed can be as wide, narrow and as long as you'd like.

Tie a string around all of the stakes to outline the shape of the bed and provide a guideline for block placement.

Dig a trench 2 inches deep and 4 to 8 inches wide along the inside edge of the guide string. The width of the trench will depend on the width of the cinder blocks being used. There are 4 and 8-inch wide blocks available. The 8-inch blocks are more common and make better support walls for the flower bed soil.

Lay the blocks in straight lines between the surveyor posts with the holes facing up and down with the sky and ground. Butt the ends as tightly together as possible. Ensure the blocks fit into the trench evenly.

Fill the empty space inside the bed and inside the holes of the cinder blocks with flower bed planting soil.

The cinder blocks naturally store thermal heat from the sun keeping the soil warm.