Hard work will do that for you my grandfather didn't start ageing like crazy until after he retired once he stoped working day in and day out not only did he start looking older but his health started going downhill he still rides his motorcycles but not nearly as much as he did 15 years ago
Awesome! This is like the third or fourth video I've seen on this subject and you're the first person to address structural integrity at all. The other videos just put the blocks next to each other and call it a day, which is not ideal for me as I'm in an earthquake zone and get very large animal visitors. This method looks like it'll actually hold together!
So Mr. Wade, I know I am only echoing the positive comments others have left, but figured you wouldn't mind another thumbs up about how informative and actually inspiring your video is. In my 30's I had no problems building and rebuilding raised planter beds. Now, in my mid 50's I feel like everything I do, I just don't want to redo it again. I just hope I can be as active in my 70's as you are. Also, great tip about pouring concrete mix at the base layer to reduce sinking cmu blocks!
True, but saw dust, or wood shavings like those used for pet cages mixed with the garden soil will likely not shrink as much over time. The catch is any wood product takes a while, as in years to break down and will soak up nutrients while doing so. The only way to get around those issues is to gather rotted wood from a forest that will include a lot of critters, or wood from an old compost pile.
Hi Phil, Deb from the Gold Coast Australia here. Thank you for your easy going but precise videos. They are informative but simple & leave no room for 2nd guessing. At 63yo I feel so encouraged to follow in your footsteps, on a much smaller scale to suit my yard bit am now more enthusiastic than ever. Thankfully I will be able to acquire the blocks for free, so I'm already ahead of the game. Stay happy, stay safe & healthy living 😀🙏❤
Another suggestion for placing the hoops would be to place 1/2 " steel in the ground and then place the pvc pipe over it. Just a thought. Love this video thanks 😊
Have an over order of blocks, so thought this would be the next project. My understanding is that blueberries do not care for blocks. Thanks for the ideas.
Just saw your channel scrolling around and subbed. I really like your raise block bed alot. I have been thinking a lot about something like this. We live very close to the coast with a high water table and I need to build a couple of these probably at least 5'-6' square and 24" high to plant my avocado trees in so that they are safe from sitting in water , the same thing I'll have to do for a mango trees which all will need rebar or something sticking up out of the corners so as I can slip pipe over it to tent them for hard winter cold snaps along with lights to keep them warm😁👍
@@craigjacob3704 That is great. I like the idea of a rod standing at the corners. I wish we could grow them here, zone 8. But we have one avocado from seed in a planter.
I like the idea of using just plain dirt to hold your blocks in place. In my case, our soil is predominantly clay and when it hardens, even my sharpest garden tools have a tough time penetrating it. So, I could use the clay soil to pack the PVC base into the cinder block holes, serving both the purpose of holding the blocks together and providing the anchor for the PVC hoops to hold up the bed netting. Thanks for sharing your video.
You have done exactly what I wanted to do here in Seattle. Thanks so much for the tips. I'm leaving soon to go to my local hardware store for cement. Great presentation, easy to follow, subscribed.
Best video I've seen on making a concrete block raised bed. Loved all your tips (especially the one to keep the varmints from digging up......I have a real ground squirrel problem here in northern Illinois) Thanks so much!
My exact same material for raised beds . You have everything in excess of ritting the wood . And i like useing the pockets in the bricks holes for planting marigolds and places to put my trellis . Allows for greater height of . I enclose my pvc for watering . With drains . Ive tried styrofoam insulation. And plan on more of it being used .
So glad I found your video! This really seems like the best way to do a raised bed! I have a tiny yard so I may be doing one a third the size of yours. But I really like the height of this one. It's just for my husband and me and we're new at this so this should be a great start. If we really like it we can decide to designate more of the yard for raised bedding.
You have done exactly what I wanted to do here . Thanks so much for the tips. I grow all types of squashes, herbs and heirloom tomatoes for cooking classes. Let's get cooking.
Thanks for clarifying that blocks don't need to be cemented together, I'm having a landscaper build one of these for me, and he wanted to cement them together.
I would need more detail to visualize your suggestion. But the bricks pulled the fabric down flat against the blocks and really cut down on the butterflies that could get in.
Excellent video. You covered just about everything anyone could want to know about building one of these. Been on the fence about how I wanted to go about this and now I'm pretty sure I'll use blocks. Was that a full pallet of blocks? I'm afraid my one axle trailer wouldn't hold a full pallet....cute helper. Liked the timelapse too.
Hey have you looked into lasagna gardening? Also many other layered garden ideas for using less soil fill, like adding wood, cardboard etc to the bottom which will eventually decompose adding nutrients to the garden and saving you $$$ on fill costs!
Have you considered using your open block holes as additional growing space , I'm sure you have , and possibly decided not to , but just an idea I've seen others do .
Great video! I'm coming to the conclusion that concrete block beds are the best combination of both durability and cost. I don't ever want to have to rebuild wooden walls. And cedar and redwood are outrageously expensive. In order to pretty this up, could you add stucco to the outside walls to cover up the joint lines of the blocks?
Thank you for the video! I am inclined to follow your method. I really appreciate you including a video of the construction process towards the end. Question: I don't think you are using any adhesive to glue the blocks together. Or did I misunderstand? I think you are just stacking the blocks on top of each other? Are you concerned that the pressure of the soil could push the stones over if given enough time? Thanks!
What a great job. I was thinking about something like this but my wife had doubts. You convinced her! 😁 Does your cover system handle strong wind? We don't have tornadoes here but usually it gets quite windy in September
Oh yes. The hoops do really well in the wind. I just bricks to hold the netting down. I use the post holders, the short pieces of PVC as a base for hoops and the string trellis
Concrete blocks for construction meet ASTM standards and do not contain potash (cinder). This is what is sold at big box stores like Lowes and Home Depot.
Your raised beds look good except they will not work here. We have nut sedge (among 10 of the worst weeds in the world), and aggressive grasses that grow up from the ground no matter how well it is tilled. In fact, rototilling spreads them. Nut sedge grows laterally under the ground to invade anything from a small pea like bulb several inches under the ground. However, I have a system that can adapt to your system. I mow down close, use roundup and salt water to kill everything. Then I put down two layers of black porous landscaping cloth. On top of that I use 1 foot square pavers. This still allows drainage through the cracks. From this foundation I can use cement blocks, two high, and continue like you do.That gives us 16 inch sides. Our hoops are 1/2 inch conduit, bent on a jig. We space them 4 feet apart. Between each hoop, we use 3 each 1x2 wood with a U shape at each end to fit around the conduit. To tie it all together, we use galavanized wire to draw the hoops together. Instead of pvc pipe, we pound rebar into the ground with 6 inches sticking up (1/2" paver spacing there), and then place the conduit over the rebar. I plan to adapt your system to our situation.That will make a raised bed that will last many years. I am starting a web site: www.GAediblelandscaping.com to share ideas from all over, and could include your you tube site if you approve. It is still in rough draft development, take a look if you wish, but when ready, perhaps us vets can help get the info out there to help others. We also go to church with Jerry and Caroline. Blessings from Russ & Shirley
I got a question for you. Do you have problems with moles voles or groundhogs? I noticed your dog sniffing in the block. Dogs got good hearing. He could of heard one moving around down there. I always lat stainless hardware cloth in the bottoms of my raised beds, If I build one I don’t want nothing snatching my vegetables. I live in Oklahoma so they are like insects if you don’t have the soon you will. They are attracted to peavey organic soil like in a pretty yard or garden. Thats because that kind of soil attracts worms. I like you beds. I am getting ready to build a block one. I have had railroad tie beds in for thirty years and some are starting to show their age.
Just wondering if you ever had a problem with grass or weeds growing up through the bed from the bottom. I was thinking of laying down black plastic sheeting to stop such intrusion but I don't want to stop necessary drainage during rainy periods or flooding. Don't want to drown the plants.
I hear ya about the prices going up. Most prices are 30% higher on everything. It's crazy how every time a certain political party takes over gas and taxes go up.
The video is 2 years old. 2017/2018 Tarriffs on building materials caused the increase. Low gas prices was due to no one was driving through 2020. Russians oil taps remained wide open throughout 2020. When summer blends were going stagnant in tanks the price went to nothing because they needed storage space for winter blends. As far as gas prices. They are low when the ecomony is bad due to lack of demand and increase when the economy is good. Interest rates are raised to slow growth. Interest rates are reduced to stimulate growth. We are still on the 2017 tax plan signed into law in 2018 and expires in 2025. So your statement is true depending on who and what party you are refering to.
Concrete blocks that included “cinders” in their ingredients is where the nickname cinder block came from. Any blocks that contain fly ash have the potential to leach toxic heavy metals into the soil. Consuming toxic metals from contaminated soil, or plants grown in it, is pretty extensive. Concrete blocks are ok if it does not have pot ash which makes it lighter, harder to find,
Hi, I was wondering the concrete bed. Do you experience any overheating of your roots with them? That was the one thing I was cautioned about with the concrete bed.
Good question. We have an inground pool with the original concrete walk around it and later it was made wider. The old concrete would get so hot in the summer you could not walk on it. But the newer concrete was much cooler. I bought a concrete paint and it made the hot concrete much cooler. Before then I never realized how hot concrete could get. The older raised beds are only about 1.5 blocks tall and the last one is 3 blocks tall. The blocks are hollow so that should reduce the heat from the outside of the blocks to the inside. I sit on the blocks and they never felt hot. That being said, I have to water the taller raised bed more frequently than the shorter beds. Is that due to more root heating or just that the soil can drain deeper. I don't know.
No. It's not necessary. There are no toxins in concrete blocks. They are just made of Portland cement and sand. They don't really leak the water out so they don't need to be sealed.
TLC is much easier. You focus more on a small plot than a large garden. You pull a weed here or there as you walk by. You don't need a tiller. The soil is special. It's hard to make the soil in a large garden as special as a raised bed. You don't have to bend down as much. My wife and both like that.
Are there any benefits of building it 3 blocks high besides less bending reaching? I just think I’d go 2 high and use cap because it looks nicer, I have open corner lot.
I love this idea!! Just one question. how do the blocks stay in place if they are not cemented together? I am going to build this for sure. Have you had any issues with blocks moving at all?
If concerned, and you have materials available within your budget, you can pound rebar down in the corners of every other block, or fill with more concrete mix for a more sturdy and permanent structure, or just reinforce the corners, or invest in outdoor caulk-type sealant. Alternatively, you could fill the holes in the blocks with more soil and plant ground cover into the tops of the holes so you end up with some eventual taproot structure tying the layers together. Without any modifications, you should be able to sit, kneel, and brace against the top surface without much, if any, movement. He mentioned you can make it more permanent, but unless you run into it with mower, etc., the surfaces in contact with each other provide quite a bit of friction to have to overcome to get any movement, especially with the weight of another course of blocks on top of them.
First, sunshine. Will it get sun for most hours. North/South versus East/West? Either way. My thought is; the further North you live, say Michigan, you might lean more toward East/West to maximize sun.
Do you have any issues with dirt seeping out through the cracks after watering? I just finished my concrete block raised bed 3 blocks high and it has been seeping dirt through all the cracks and making the outside look bad.
We might still call the blocks we buy at the big box stores 'cinder', but they are actually cement and sand, concrete blocks. That's all. I don't even know if cinder blocks made with ash are even available any more. They can't sell them for construction because they do not meet the building code requirements for strength.
@@llrainll Never a problem. The blocks are not a waterproof wall and the bottom is on the normal ground. If I did over water, the excess would seep through the block wall
We have too many Crape Myrtles at our house. They are along the 100 yard drive way. I already took many of them out. They are also on the front of the house and some in the back. That one is still there. It was not planted. It just came up about 12 years ago. The only way to get rid of one is to dig it up and every little piece of root or it will grow back.
You look dang good for 71 Sir. I would have NEVER thought you were that age. I would have said late 50’s early 60’s.
so funny. Thanks.
Hard work will do that for you my grandfather didn't start ageing like crazy until after he retired once he stoped working day in and day out not only did he start looking older but his health started going downhill he still rides his motorcycles but not nearly as much as he did 15 years ago
You got to be kidding me! 71 years old??? I thought you were my age in your mid 50s!!
Time flies. I'm now 73
Awesome! This is like the third or fourth video I've seen on this subject and you're the first person to address structural integrity at all. The other videos just put the blocks next to each other and call it a day, which is not ideal for me as I'm in an earthquake zone and get very large animal visitors. This method looks like it'll actually hold together!
For some stability, you can fill some blocks with dirt and not concrete. That would make it stronger and less permanent
So Mr. Wade, I know I am only echoing the positive comments others have left, but figured you wouldn't mind another thumbs up about how informative and actually inspiring your video is. In my 30's I had no problems building and rebuilding raised planter beds. Now, in my mid 50's I feel like everything I do, I just don't want to redo it again. I just hope I can be as active in my 70's as you are. Also, great tip about pouring concrete mix at the base layer to reduce sinking cmu blocks!
A good replacement for fill dirt is large rotting logs. Takes up space and is great for the soil long term.
True. Anything organic put in as filler still only lasts until it rots also.
True, but saw dust, or wood shavings like those used for pet cages mixed with the garden soil will likely not shrink as much over time. The catch is any wood product takes a while, as in years to break down and will soak up nutrients while doing so. The only way to get around those issues is to gather rotted wood from a forest that will include a lot of critters, or wood from an old compost pile.
13:07 The hole 🕳 inspector 🐕 😂
He is wonderful
Raised garden beds sure can be expensive to make and fill, but at least the investment like yours can last more than a few years.
Love your dogs! Great job on the construction. Thanks.
@@danaeseemann117 Thanks
Hi Phil, Deb from the Gold Coast Australia here. Thank you for your easy going but precise videos. They are informative but simple & leave no room for 2nd guessing. At 63yo I feel so encouraged to follow in your footsteps, on a much smaller scale to suit my yard bit am now more enthusiastic than ever. Thankfully I will be able to acquire the blocks for free, so I'm already ahead of the game. Stay happy, stay safe & healthy living 😀🙏❤
Thanks for this. Im about to get to work , greetings from Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪
Another suggestion for placing the hoops would be to place 1/2 " steel in the ground and then place the pvc pipe over it. Just a thought. Love this video thanks 😊
Have an over order of blocks, so thought this would be the next project. My understanding is that blueberries do not care for blocks. Thanks for the ideas.
@@drybud83 we grow our blueberries on the field and not raised beds. Enjoy your project. It will provide years of enjoyment
Outstanding job, young man! Great job, great information, and great video!
Thank you so very much for this video. Hubs is building me a bed for my Mother’s Day Present, and this helps a lot.
Just saw your channel scrolling around and subbed. I really like your raise block bed alot. I have been thinking a lot about something like this. We live very close to the coast with a high water table and I need to build a couple of these probably at least 5'-6' square and 24" high to plant my avocado trees in so that they are safe from sitting in water , the same thing I'll have to do for a mango trees which all will need rebar or something sticking up out of the corners so as I can slip pipe over it to tent them for hard winter cold snaps along with lights to keep them warm😁👍
@@craigjacob3704 That is great. I like the idea of a rod standing at the corners. I wish we could grow them here, zone 8. But we have one avocado from seed in a planter.
I like the idea of using just plain dirt to hold your blocks in place. In my case, our soil is predominantly clay and when it hardens, even my sharpest garden tools have a tough time penetrating it. So, I could use the clay soil to pack the PVC base into the cinder block holes, serving both the purpose of holding the blocks together and providing the anchor for the PVC hoops to hold up the bed netting. Thanks for sharing your video.
cutting corners will lead to a giant mess
Thank you for sharing your cinder block beds it makes sense. aloha from Hawaii 🌺
Me ke aloha from lower Alabama
Thanks from Lisbon, Portugal 🎉
Thank You Sir for this Video, I'm building mine this weekend. Appreciate the tips
Me too
Thanks for sharing. First time building a raised bed and so glad I came across your video.
You have done exactly what I wanted to do here in Seattle. Thanks so much for the tips. I'm leaving soon to go to my local hardware store for cement. Great presentation, easy to follow, subscribed.
Awesome informative video! Thank you sir!! Love your hole inspector!😂 Blessings!😄
That was cool man, thanks. Haven't seen anyone comment on the rabbit mesh to prevent moles.
Best video I've seen on making a concrete block raised bed. Loved all your tips (especially the one to keep the varmints from digging up......I have a real ground squirrel problem here in northern Illinois) Thanks so much!
Great video. Thank you for putting this together. All the best!
My exact same material for raised beds . You have everything in excess of ritting the wood . And i like useing the pockets in the bricks holes for planting marigolds and places to put my trellis . Allows for greater height of . I enclose my pvc for watering . With drains . Ive tried styrofoam insulation. And plan on more of it being used .
also, i am hoping you plan on doing more videos! would love to see your progress!
Great video! It was very helpful & thorough! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing I am on my 2nd raises bed.
We have really learned a lot from doing ours.
very informative! thank you for taking your time making this video! I am currently building these; your video was very helpful. Happy Growing!
So glad I found your video! This really seems like the best way to do a raised bed! I have a tiny yard so I may be doing one a third the size of yours. But I really like the height of this one. It's just for my husband and me and we're new at this so this should be a great start. If we really like it we can decide to designate more of the yard for raised bedding.
You can also start with a short bed and extend it longer later. Good luck.
@@countrylivingwiththewades8784 thank you!!
You have done exactly what I wanted to do here . Thanks so much for the tips.
I grow all types of squashes, herbs and heirloom tomatoes for cooking classes.
Let's get cooking.
This video was packed full of great information! Thank you!
Glad you liked it, Phillip
Could you just use rebar to put the hoops onto?
Dropping gems!!! Much appreciated sir!
This is the video I needed! Thanks a zillion. I had to subscribe.
Thanks for sharing. I am planning a few beds myself and east/west makes sense to me but I haven't seen anyone else mention it.
I guess the further north it becomes more important. Having as much full sun as possible without trees blocking is most important.
Very helpful video! Thank you
Thanks for clarifying that blocks don't need to be cemented together, I'm having a landscaper build one of these for me, and he wanted to cement them together.
To stop shifting and not have to do cement for the less experienced. There are some great block adhesives that come in caulk tubes as well.
sounds like he knows what he's doing.
looks great boss. instead of the red block, pvc cut to about 3", same diameter, with about a 1/2" gap cut length wise could act as a fabric clamp.
I would need more detail to visualize your suggestion. But the bricks pulled the fabric down flat against the blocks and really cut down on the butterflies that could get in.
Excellent video. You covered just about everything anyone could want to know about building one of these. Been on the fence about how I wanted to go about this and now I'm pretty sure I'll use blocks. Was that a full pallet of blocks? I'm afraid my one axle trailer wouldn't hold a full pallet....cute helper. Liked the timelapse too.
I think a pallet of blocks is more.
Thank you so much for this video. I had been wondering how to go about this for the longest time
Hey have you looked into lasagna gardening? Also many other layered garden ideas for using less soil fill, like adding wood, cardboard etc to the bottom which will eventually decompose adding nutrients to the garden and saving you $$$ on fill costs!
On my first raised bed I used a couple bales of wheat straw on the bottom but it rotted in before the next season and I still had to add more fill.
This video has more likes than you have subscribers. I subscribed and liked it.
excellent video!
Awesome video. Thank you for taking the time to do this. So much good information
We are learning as we do these. Thank you
Have you considered using your open block holes as additional growing space , I'm sure you have , and possibly decided not to , but just an idea I've seen others do .
Yes. On the first raised bed Debora planted some of her strawberry runners last year, now she picks a handful most mornings
Every good idea to make green house.
Great video! I'm coming to the conclusion that concrete block beds are the best combination of both durability and cost. I don't ever want to have to rebuild wooden walls. And cedar and redwood are outrageously expensive. In order to pretty this up, could you add stucco to the outside walls to cover up the joint lines of the blocks?
I reckon you could add stucco.
Thanks for sharing.
Hello, how can I attach a liner to the cinder block? I have the same garden bed 😊
Thank you for this video! 💚
Thank you for the video! I am inclined to follow your method. I really appreciate you including a video of the construction process towards the end.
Question: I don't think you are using any adhesive to glue the blocks together. Or did I misunderstand? I think you are just stacking the blocks on top of each other? Are you concerned that the pressure of the soil could push the stones over if given enough time? Thanks!
Ah! I want to see what you've written at the end but TH-cam put videos over it dang it!
I guessed like 45 years old. Mans said 71!! Lol
What a great job. I was thinking about something like this but my wife had doubts. You convinced her! 😁 Does your cover system handle strong wind? We don't have tornadoes here but usually it gets quite windy in September
Oh yes. The hoops do really well in the wind. I just bricks to hold the netting down. I use the post holders, the short pieces of PVC as a base for hoops and the string trellis
@@countrylivingwiththewades8784 great, thanks I will try it!
Can also fill the block with sand instead of mortar mix or cement.
yes.
Very nice. IT definitely isn't going anywhere Lol
Thank you for sharing
Not worried about traces of Grazon in cow manure?
Actually we use mushroom compost. Although Debora did use Black Cow on strawberries 3 years ago.
I lernt the taller you build a raised bed garden the more dirt it takes to fill it
Yes. It's a one time expense but it is much easier for my wife to work it.
@@countrylivingwiththewades8784 we just completed a 24 inch high raised garden for my Wife .
I enjoyed the video was very helpful. I didn't find mentioned how long is the pvc pipe loop and size? thanks
!/2" schedule 40 PVC water pipe 10' long
Hi. Thanks for a very fine description :-) But why Concrete blocks, and not cinder blocks?
Concrete blocks for construction meet ASTM standards and do not contain potash (cinder). This is what is sold at big box stores like Lowes and Home Depot.
Your raised beds look good except they will not work here. We have nut sedge (among 10 of the worst weeds in the world), and aggressive grasses that grow up from the ground no matter how well it is tilled. In fact, rototilling spreads them. Nut sedge grows laterally under the ground to invade anything from a small pea like bulb several inches under the ground. However, I have a system that can adapt to your system. I mow down close, use roundup and salt water to kill everything. Then I put down two layers of black porous landscaping cloth. On top of that I use 1 foot square pavers. This still allows drainage through the cracks. From this foundation I can use cement blocks, two high, and continue like you do.That gives us 16 inch sides. Our hoops are 1/2 inch conduit, bent on a jig. We space them 4 feet apart. Between each hoop, we use 3 each 1x2 wood with a U shape at each end to fit around the conduit. To tie it all together, we use galavanized wire to draw the hoops together. Instead of pvc pipe, we pound rebar into the ground with 6 inches sticking up (1/2" paver spacing there), and then place the conduit over the rebar. I plan to adapt your system to our situation.That will make a raised bed that will last many years. I am starting a web site: www.GAediblelandscaping.com to share ideas from all over, and could include your you tube site if you approve. It is still in rough draft development, take a look if you wish, but when ready, perhaps us vets can help get the info out there to help others. We also go to church with Jerry and Caroline. Blessings from Russ & Shirley
That's wonderful. God is GOOD!
Very helpful! Thank you!
I got a question for you. Do you have problems with moles voles or groundhogs? I noticed your dog sniffing in the block. Dogs got good hearing. He could of heard one moving around down there. I always lat stainless hardware cloth in the bottoms of my raised beds, If I build one I don’t want nothing snatching my vegetables. I live in Oklahoma so they are like insects if you don’t have the soon you will. They are attracted to peavey organic soil like in a pretty yard or garden. Thats because that kind of soil attracts worms. I like you beds. I am getting ready to build a block one. I have had railroad tie beds in for thirty years and some are starting to show their age.
Great video boss am what did u stick the blocks with thank u 🙏🏽
Just wondering if you ever had a problem with grass or weeds growing up through the bed from the bottom. I was thinking of laying down black plastic sheeting to stop such intrusion but I don't want to stop necessary drainage during rainy periods or flooding. Don't want to drown the plants.
Never. The soil is too thick. Bermuda grass would be most likely, but the soil is too thick for it as well.
You could use cardboard boxes and lay that down before putting in your soil. Just make sure there is no tape left on them.
I hear ya about the prices going up. Most prices are 30% higher on everything. It's crazy how every time a certain political party takes over gas and taxes go up.
You ain’t lyin 🫏
The video is 2 years old. 2017/2018 Tarriffs on building materials caused the increase.
Low gas prices was due to no one was driving through 2020. Russians oil taps remained wide open throughout 2020. When summer blends were going stagnant in tanks the price went to nothing because they needed storage space for winter blends. As far as gas prices. They are low when the ecomony is bad due to lack of demand and increase when the economy is good.
Interest rates are raised to slow growth. Interest rates are reduced to stimulate growth.
We are still on the 2017 tax plan signed into law in 2018 and expires in 2025.
So your statement is true depending on who and what party you are refering to.
@@gwilliams1001 Spit out the kool-aid
Thanks.I learned alot.
4:26 genius !!
Concrete blocks that included “cinders” in their ingredients is where the nickname cinder block came from. Any blocks that contain fly ash have the potential to leach toxic heavy metals into the soil. Consuming toxic metals from contaminated soil, or plants grown in it, is pretty extensive.
Concrete blocks are ok if it does not have pot ash which makes it lighter, harder to find,
Concrete blocks for construction meet ASTM standards and do not contain potash. This is what is sold at big box stores like Lowes and Home Depot.
Hi, I was wondering the concrete bed. Do you experience any overheating of your roots with them? That was the one thing I was cautioned about with the concrete bed.
Good question. We have an inground pool with the original concrete walk around it and later it was made wider. The old concrete would get so hot in the summer you could not walk on it. But the newer concrete was much cooler. I bought a concrete paint and it made the hot concrete much cooler. Before then I never realized how hot concrete could get. The older raised beds are only about 1.5 blocks tall and the last one is 3 blocks tall. The blocks are hollow so that should reduce the heat from the outside of the blocks to the inside. I sit on the blocks and they never felt hot. That being said, I have to water the taller raised bed more frequently than the shorter beds. Is that due to more root heating or just that the soil can drain deeper. I don't know.
Do you coat the bricks with anything on the inside of the bed?
No. It's not necessary. There are no toxins in concrete blocks. They are just made of Portland cement and sand. They don't really leak the water out so they don't need to be sealed.
Thank you!
Did you have to line your concrete block on the inside from deterioration of long-term moisture
No. It's not necessary
What is the purpose of a raised bed if you have plenty of land?
TLC is much easier. You focus more on a small plot than a large garden. You pull a weed here or there as you walk by. You don't need a tiller. The soil is special. It's hard to make the soil in a large garden as special as a raised bed. You don't have to bend down as much. My wife and both like that.
Are there any benefits of building it 3 blocks high besides less bending reaching? I just think I’d go 2 high and use cap because it looks nicer, I have open corner lot.
How do you handle polination with the mesh?
Do you putt any manure on your raised beds with your fill dirt
@@melissashreve2400 No. But you can. I just mushroom compost and potting soil. I get it in bulk at the local nursery.
@@countrylivingwiththewades8784 thanks
I am located in Florida, do you think the blocks will get too hot, especially in summer?
Don't think so. We are just 18 north of the Florida line and ours do well.
I love this idea!! Just one question. how do the blocks stay in place if they are not cemented together? I am going to build this for sure. Have you had any issues with blocks moving at all?
They just stay. Some are cemented where I made the cups for the hoops. The rest are just empty and cross stacked.
If concerned, and you have materials available within your budget, you can pound rebar down in the corners of every other block, or fill with more concrete mix for a more sturdy and permanent structure, or just reinforce the corners, or invest in outdoor caulk-type sealant. Alternatively, you could fill the holes in the blocks with more soil and plant ground cover into the tops of the holes so you end up with some eventual taproot structure tying the layers together. Without any modifications, you should be able to sit, kneel, and brace against the top surface without much, if any, movement. He mentioned you can make it more permanent, but unless you run into it with mower, etc., the surfaces in contact with each other provide quite a bit of friction to have to overcome to get any movement, especially with the weight of another course of blocks on top of them.
Thanks for sharing...any reason why you didn't line up blocks on 2nd level the same as those on bottom?
Stagger stacking the blocks or bricks is more solid.
How do I choose the correct spot in my backyard?
First, sunshine. Will it get sun for most hours. North/South versus East/West? Either way. My thought is; the further North you live, say Michigan, you might lean more toward East/West to maximize sun.
Do you have any issues with dirt seeping out through the cracks after watering? I just finished my concrete block raised bed 3 blocks high and it has been seeping dirt through all the cracks and making the outside look bad.
I haven't any dirt seepage. Maybe my dirt is more coarse being heavy with potting soil and compost.
Did you explain why potash is👌bad??
No, I did not.
Can you tell me how many blocks you used? You dont have to cement them??
I used 30, 3 across each end and 12 down the side. Cement not needed.
90 block per bed:- 3 across the sides, 12 along the length and 3 deep
@@kathynix6552 the comment I was looking for!! Thanks!
Cement & rock's?
What kind of bricks are these?
There is a brick store in town. I just asked for solid bricks and he showed me these.
Cinder block beds shouldn't be used for food I thought? Fly ash....
We might still call the blocks we buy at the big box stores 'cinder', but they are actually cement and sand, concrete blocks. That's all. I don't even know if cinder blocks made with ash are even available any more. They can't sell them for construction because they do not meet the building code requirements for strength.
So u don’t have to put anything on the bottom
Nope. The ground here is hard.
I meant cement blocks😂
What about drainage?
@@llrainll Never a problem. The blocks are not a waterproof wall and the bottom is on the normal ground. If I did over water, the excess would seep through the block wall
❤
concrete = cement + aggregate
Sacrificing a Crape Myrtle was a poor way to solve a very preventable problem.
We have too many Crape Myrtles at our house. They are along the 100 yard drive way. I already took many of them out. They are also on the front of the house and some in the back. That one is still there. It was not planted. It just came up about 12 years ago. The only way to get rid of one is to dig it up and every little piece of root or it will grow back.
Sacrificing … 🫣🤦♀️
What a stupid way to do think...If everyone would use that much cement to grow food, we would all be dead by now.