Cinder block or wood raised bed is a good choice for a home.
The raised garden beds are becoming more popular.You can use a variety of materials to build the walls of the raised bed.Cinder block or wood raised bed will be covered in this post.
Cinder blocks and wood are used for raised beds.A raised bed is a garden bed raised from the ground and surrounded by walls.Any bed that is higher than a ground would be a raised bed.
A raised bed has many advantages.The height makes it easier to work with.If the soil on the ground isn't quite healthy, you can use this alternative.These can help keep rabbits away from plants.
Outside factors can affect which raised bed material you choose.How high do you want the bed, what are you trying to grow, and what is the climate like.Cinder block and wood raised beds have advantages and disadvantages.
The number one advantage of cinder block over wood raised beds is that they are easy to find.Cinder blocks are available for garden beds.These are cheaper than wood, so you don't have to break the bank to put some raised beds in your garden.
Concrete blocks are as low as $1 each.You can make raised beds with cinder blocks for as low as $20.These are a good choice for beginners as they are easy to put together.
Cinder block is a tough material to use in a raised bed.These are easy to give you years and years without needing any repairs or replacements.It depends on the quality of the cinder block.
Cinder block can chip or leak, but you can always fix it.These are a good choice for places that are prone to natural disasters like windstorms and tornadoes since they are so durable.This material is the best bet against both man-made and natural disasters.
Cinder blocks are good for stacking.Even higher raised beds can be created by stacking smaller blocks together.If you use cinder blocks, you can go as high as three feet.
When stacking cinder blocks one on another, you don't necessarily need the same shape and size.A nice design aesthetic can be created by putting a smaller block over a bigger one.The whole structure can be even more durable if you use a brick pattern.
Cinder block is flexible when it comes to the size and shape of raised beds.Corner L-shaped raised beds are good for these.
Tough physical labor is required to work with these heavy blocks.Carrying them from your car to the garden can be a lot of work.These heavy cinder blocks can't be worked on by people with a bad back.
These can weigh anywhere from 20 to 40 pounds.It would add to the cost of your raised bed if you hired someone.You can always ask a friend for help.
Cinderblocks tend to trap heat.In the winter, this is usually not a problem as the atmosphere is already cold.The heat can damage the roots of plants.
Cinder blocks can lower the pH of the soil and make it more acidic.This is not the case all the time.The cinder block raised bed can be monitored if there is any change in the pH of the garden soil.
The most beautiful materials are wood raised beds.They have a better look than cinder blocks.Some people may find cinder blocks to be more aesthetically pleasing.
The option of working with wood is great for those with more experience in gardening.You can change the shapes and sizes of the garden bed you create with it.
You can cut the wood in the size you want if you are making your own wooden walls for the raised beds.
Wood raised beds are easy to install.The wood panels are light to lift and move.They need some tools for installation.
A raised bed garden project can cost a lot of money, depending on the type of wood.cedar, the best material for raised garden beds, can be quite expensive.A small raised garden can cost upwards of $100.
The price varies a lot depending on where you live.Wood is more expensive than cinder blocks.
Cinder blocks are more durable than wood because of their ability to rot easily.The more vulnerable the wood is, the more susceptible it is to damage.It will not last longer than three years.
They look more raw and natural but aren't the best option if you're looking for resilience.There is a solution to this problem.The wood is resistant to bugs.
There is evidence that arsenic can be leaked from treated wood.If you are growing vegetables that you will be consuming, this chemical is not good for your plants.
Prior to 2003 the wood was treated with the chemical CCA.It was banned for treating wood because of its high arsenic content.They use copper azole and ACQ instead.
When buying treated wood for your garden, it's a good idea to find out what compounds were used for treatment.You can use recycled wood made from wood and plastic.These are more expensive.
Cinder blocks can be used to grow food.There is concern that these could leak some chemicals into the soil.
Back in the day, fly ash was used in cinder blocks.Some retailers sell cinder blocks with a small amount of fly ash.Sometimes they are made from recycled materials.
If there is no fly ash in them, the risk is low.Line the block with plastic to make sure no contaminants end up in the soil.
Since 2003 when the compound containing arsenic was banned for treatment of wood, pressure-treated wood has not had arsenic.Pressure-treated lumber still gets treated with a chemical.
There hasn't been a lot of research about the compounds that are being used.It is difficult to say if these can affect your food.
It is good to stick to raw natural wood without any treatment.It will not last as long, but you won't have to worry about any chemical contamination of the soil and food you grow.
You can place pots in cinder blocks instead of putting them in soil.There is another layer of protection to the pots.If you stack them, they can help raise their height.Don't use garden soil for the pots.