How to Reuse Old Cinder Blocks

Raised Planting Bed

• 1

  Form a solid rectangular outline using the cinder blocks, making certain the hollows in the block face up.

• 2

  Add an extra row of cinder blocks on top of the first one if you want a higher raised bed.

• 3

  Fill the area outlined by the blocks with soil, so that the soil, once patted down, is even with the top of the blocks.

Flower Pots

• 4

  Place the blocks in the design you want them. They can be placed back to back, side to side, in a pattern, or even just randomly placed individually. Make certain the hollows in the blocks are vertical.

• 5

  Fill the hollows with soil.

• 6

  Compact the soil gently.

• 7

  Follow your regular planting instructions based on the plant of choice.

Shelving

• 8

  Start with two cinder blocks, making certain they are parallel to each other and not too close together. Place the blocks upright for narrower and taller shelves, or place them laying down for deeper shelves; these can still be made tall by stacking more than one cinder block between each shelf.

• 9

  Lay a plank of wood atop the two blocks. Make certain the wood is thick enough that the shelf will be solid.

• 10

  Keep adding layers of cinder blocks and planks of wood until you have reached your desired number of shelves.