How to Make a Flowerbed With Hollow Blocks

Mark the perimeter of the flowerbed by pounding in a stake at each corner. Tie a string between each of the stakes so that the string follows the perimeter. Use this as your guide when setting the blocks.

Dig around the perimeter so that you create a level area for the blocks. You may need to add dirt to low places and remove it from high spots. Check your results with a level.

Place concrete blocks along the line, fitting them in place carefully. Don’t leave any gaps between the blocks.

Check the blocks with the level. Each block should be level individually. Place the level across two adjacent blocks to make sure they are level as well. If any of the blocks aren’t level, shovel and rake the area to smooth and level it.

Pound a piece of rebar well into the ground in each corner of the wall. Put rebar in at the center of any long sections of wall. Pound it in so that the top of the rebar is below the top of the uppermost block. It should be buried 3 to 4 inches in the ground when you are done.

Fill any blocks containing rebar with gravel. This adds additional stability to the wall.

Set pavers on top of the block wall. They should be about the same width as the blocks and are used to cover the openings and to give the wall a finished look. You can use any kind of pavers for this step, but they should be heavy enough to stay in place on their own.

Lay a piece of landscape fabric on the bottom of the raised bed. It should cover the entire are to prevent unwanted plants from growing in the area.

Fill the flowerbed with topsoil mixed with well-aged compost, to within about 2 inches of the top of the blocks. Gently rake it until it is level. The flowerbed is now ready for planting.