DIY Concrete Block Planter

For a budget DIY garden project, create planter boxes from concrete blocks (aka cinder, besser or cement blocks). There are endless possibilities from single block planters to painted or stencilled multilevel designs.

Step 1: Design your planter
It’s a good idea to sketch your design before you begin. You may need to take some measurements of the area where you want to position your planter.

Step 2: Assemble your supplies

• Concrete blocks
• Wire mesh and landscaping fabric
• Potting soil
• Plants* – save money and replant from your garden
• Level
• Gloves

*Concrete blocks can cause the soil to dry out quickly so choose hardy drought-resistant plants like succulents or ensure you water frequently.

Step 3: Trial your design
If you’re creating a complex planter, stack your empty blocks to trial your design. Take a picture before you disassemble it.

Step 1: Design your planter
It’s a good idea to sketch your design before you begin. You may need to take some measurements of the area where you want to position your planter.

Step 4: Level the ground beneath your planter

Step 5: Wire mesh and landscape fabric
To help keep the soil where it belongs and allow water to drain, cut the wire mesh and landscape fabric to size and place under the blocks.

Step 7: Assemble your blocks
With the wire mesh and landscape fabric in place, assemble your blocks.

Step 8: Time to plant
Fill your blocks with your soil and plants.

Note: For cantilevered and multilevel planters you may need to reinforce your design with metal strips.

Download instructions.