Landscape Block Planters

Landscape Blocks

• Precast-concrete landscape blocks are designed with a stone-like finish on the front of each unit, so their visual impact is softened to blend in with the landscape. The slight curve at the front and the raised lip on the opposite side are designed to hold the blocks securely in place without the necessity of mortar. They're heavy, too, so only carry one at a time or use a wheelbarrow to move several. At most landscape material outlets you'll have a choice of colors that typically include plain gray and brick red, a softer shade of grayish-red and a yellow-toned sandy color.

Installation Tips

• Place heavy landscape fabric, a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard on the ground for a weed-blocking barrier before you build up your new planter. Position the first layer of landscape blocks with the lip facing down into the ground. Blocks on the next layer up should be centered over the seams between the lower blocks and with the lip down, snug up against the lower layer. Unless you are making circular or oval planters, you will need some blocks cut in half to make tidy-looking corners. This can be done with a masonry saw or by scoring the block and forcing a break with a chisel and hammer. Although they aren't necessary for structural reasons, placing thin, flat capstones on the top layer of landscape blocks gives the planter a neat, finished appearance.

Placement Ideas

• Building a planter from blocks can happen just about anywhere you have a few square feet of space that receives sunlight for several hours a day. In a small urban space, a simple planter sized to fit the limited area available is sufficient to grow cheery flowers, a few edibles or a miniature evergreen tree. On larger properties, landscape block planters can add height and visual interest to the front entryway design and provide a straightforward method of creating an attractive border along the side of a patio. The planters also are suitable for gardeners with disabilities, as they can be built high and narrow enough to reduce the amount of bending and stretching necessary to maintain the plants.

Maintenance

• Whether your new planter is made of just two layers of blocks or reaches waist high, start it out right by filling it with a fresh, out-of-the bag soil mix. Raised beds and planters dry out more rapidly than the areas where you plant directly into the ground, so you will need to be attentive to frequent watering. For large planters, a drip irrigation hose can be a wise investment to keep the plant roots properly moistened. A layer of mulch on the soil's surface will reduce moisture loss from evaporation and help keep weeds from growing up among the plants.