Cinder block boxes

Wyldflower on Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:33 pm

I've been haunting Craigslist to find appropriate materials to build my boxes at little-to-no cost, and finally scored a slew of cinderblocks - 52 of them. So that'll be enough to make three 4x4 beds and one 3x3 (almost, anyway...it'll be 32" square).

So now my question is... how do I 'seal' the weed-guard to the cinderblock? If I were using wood for my boxes, I'd staple the stuff up on the inside the box. But you can't staple cinderblock. (not with my stapler, anyway!) How would you suggest I ensure that the weedguard cloth is doing what it's supposed to - that is to keep Mel's Mix in and weeds out?

boffer on Thu Apr 01, 2010 9:02 pm

How about lay out the cloth like a sheet, build you block walls on top, and then trim the cloth to the outside face of the block.

Or, make the block box, throw the cloth over it, start filling with soil, which will hold the cloth against the block. You could then trim the cloth to the top of the block. Don't forget you have all those little block holes to grow stuff in!

Wyldflower on Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:24 pm

CHANGE IN PLANS!!!

Craigslist today had an ad for TREX composite decking project leftovers... this stuff goes around $1.75-2.50 a linear foot. I'm going after work today to pick up about 80 linear feet for $35.... The guy tells me there are two 12 footers, and several 6 and 8 footers (all 5/4x6"). WOOOHOO!!! So now I get to play with my circular saw and my drill and my stapler, etc.....

The cinder blocks will be put to use elsewhere!

Kabaju42 on Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:30 pm

Nice find! Think you'll still do anything with the cinder blocks?

Wyldflower on Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:37 pm

Not sure yet what to do with the cinderblocks... but I'm sure I'll find something - or else I'll freecycle them to someone else.

I wonder if it would make sense to use some of the cinderblocks for my potato bed...
And I'm thinking to make three compost bins at the back of the garage... open bins that I'll turn one over into the next.. maybe I can use them for that.....

Kabaju42 on Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:46 pm

Both sound like great ideas.

A while ago there was a discussion about potatoes and how you can build up the soil around them as they grow to get more potatoes. That would be really easy to just keep stacking up the cinder blocks. Here's the thread on it:

http://squarefoot.creatingforum.com/general-sfg-talk-f5/potatoes-and-sfg-t456.htm?highlight=potatoes

timwardell on Fri Apr 02, 2010 3:24 pm

Great score on the composite decking material. I'm jealous! tongue

The cinder blocks would be great for making your compost bin(s).

camprn on Fri Apr 02, 2010 3:27 pm

+1 on the block for compost bin walls. Been there, works great. Very Happy

Cinder block boxes

Cinder block boxes

Re: Cinder block boxes

Re: Cinder block boxes

Re: Cinder block boxes

Re: Cinder block boxes

Re: Cinder block boxes

Re: Cinder block boxes

Re: Cinder block boxes