Craigslist Score but have a question

joseph97297 · #1 04/20/08, 09:17 PM

Picked up a load of Cinder Blocks today, got 168 blocks, 68 cap blocks, 45 "L" Blocks and a handful of good ole clay blocks for 85 dollars.

Question is this. We plan to use them as raised bed borders, but should I seal them with paint or a cement sealant? Would that help with water absorption? Or is it not worth the time? Thought I could kill two birds with a nice cement stain, you know seal off the block and make them look less......cinder blocky......????

Any opinions?

Thank you.

Joseph

Wildwood Flower · #2 04/20/08, 09:30 PM

I wouldn't bother. You're going to have a bunch of work anyway. Maybe sometime later. The cinderblocks will age anyway (moss etc.) and you certainly won't destroy them in one lifetime.

Good score!!!

calliemoonbeam · #3 04/21/08, 05:08 AM

I've been doing research on the internet because I want to build my raised beds out of cinder blocks. The general consensus I've found is that it's good that the blocks soak up the water because they hold it in longer and that's good for the plants.

I also saw a neat idea somewhere about someone having their vegetables planted in the main part of the bed, and then they planted herbs, onions or garlic in the holes of the cinder blocks, all the way around the outside edge, so that space was used also. I think this is what I'm going to do with mine.

Of course, painting them would "pretty" them up, lol, but the ones I saw really didn't look too bad. Good luck with yours, what a great deal, wish someone would give me a free load of cinder blocks.

joseph97297 · #4 04/21/08, 08:23 AM

We plant strawberries in ours. We have two beds up and running and love the SFG method.

Our herbs are planted along the house and fence line.

MELOC · #5 04/21/08, 08:58 AM

i made some quasi-raised beds with cinder blocks. i made them about 4 feet wide. i dug down and made a footer of sorts for the blocks. the first row of blocks brings the wall up to just above the soil surface. all the soil from the footers was tossed in the bed. i used a bit of gravel to level the blocks and help keep them from sinking. the second row of blocks is staggered on the first row. you can add gravel or soil to the block voids to help solidify the wall. i stopped at two blocks, but i may add another row someday if i score more blocks.