7 Awesome Cinder Block Garden Ideas for Your Home (2024)

FAQs

How do you make a cinder block house look nice? ›

If you're tired of looking at that plain cinder block wall on your property, you have plenty of options for giving it a facelift. For a quick and simple cover-up, try concrete or stucco. To give the wall a more unique character, consider stone wall veneer or climbing plants.

I have had a lot of success growing the pak choy in the holes. I have also grown onions and shallots, herbs and flowers.

Garden beds: Cinder blocks can be stacked to create raised garden beds. This can be a great option for growing plants in areas with poor soil quality or for creating an organized garden layout.

Stay away from old-fashioned cinder blocks, which may contain heavy metals—not a good thing for food gardens.

Parge Cementitious Coating. Parging involves applying a clean, smooth cement coating over a concrete wall surface, which creates a neat, finished appearance that hides surface imperfections. Adding materials like pebbles or smooth rocks to the cement coating can also achieve a textured appearance.

20 blocks will give an interior bed area of 4′ x 8′. Leave a side open to bring in the soil until the new bed is filled. No mortar or special installation is necessary unless you desire a bed which is higher than 8″ raised over the surrounding area. Just set them on the ground!

I planted each of these cloves in its own cinder-block hole. Each one will grow into a full bulb. I also planted two bunches of basil, two bunches of cilantro and one bunch of oregano. Each of these grows in its own cinder-block hole as well.

Wood is a common choice. Bricks and stones are good options, too. But if you want something cheap and attractive that's not going to go anywhere, you can't do better than cinder blocks. Keep reading to learn more about raised garden beds made from concrete blocks.

What is the difference between a cinder block and a concrete block? ›

Cinder blocks are hollow rectangle-shaped structures usually made of concrete and coal cinders which find use in construction sites. Concrete blocks often, on the other hand, are flattened constructs made of steel, wood or cement.

Also, the wood will eventually rot while cinder block will last essentially forever. I know I could just lay the blocks on the surface and let them be, but I want them to be at least a little aesthetically pleasing.

High-quality acrylic cinder block paint is essential for this project. You want to ensure the longevity of the paint job. Low-quality paints can fade and peel quickly, in addition to looking chalky. Acrylic latex paint will provide the best smoothness and coverage for the job.

Shelves. If you have a lot of cinder blocked wall space, consider hanging shelves like this simple one from Urban Outfitters for more dimension. It's a clever way to display smaller items such as decorative bowls, small plants, and mini framed photos or art.

Wallpaper will adhere to drywall, new and old plaster. You can find wallpaper for concrete walls, masonry, and paneled walls. You can even wallpaper over tile and other slick, nonporous surfaces, such as concrete block, or synthetic laminate paneling.

Concrete block homes provide a greater durability and protection against earthquakes and fire than home built from wood, a concern for all Southern Californian homeowners. Also, owners of concrete block homes do not have to worry about problems of wood warping and termite damage like owners of wood framed homes.