Cavity Block ‘Wall’ in garden

Addle

I’m thinking of building a low wall with cavity blocks, maybe 3 or 4 high, in the garden and filling the cavities with soil and flowers.

Just placing blocks on top of each other. There’d be no structural support.

Is there be a danger of it falling over?

con747

Short answer is yes.

Addle

Thanks.
So I shouldn’t do it?!
What if it was just 2 blocks high?

Are you literally just placing them on top of each other? No cement or anything to hold them together?


If so it'll fall over the minute anyone puts any kind of pressure on it. Unless you make it tight against a wall, so it's more difficult to knock it over, but it will still just fall over the minute you pull at it (or a child does, naturally you're likely to go pulling it over yourself)


*not my photo, belongs to Pinterest


(but even on that, if you stood on one of the steps, the rest of the wall may buckle and separate, causing partial collapse, as your weight would cause the block to press up on the inside, effectively trying to catapult the higher bricks).

Addle

Just something I hoped to do myself, so no cement. It’d be in an open area with very little traffic, but I wouldn’t want a block falling on the dog or anything.

I really like the example in that picture. But mine would be a lot simpler with just a straight row of blocks.

Nothing is ever as simple as I first think in the garden!

con747

Addle wrote: »

Just something I hoped to do myself, so no cement. It’d be in an open area with very little traffic, but I wouldn’t want a block falling on the dog or anything.

I really like the example in that picture. But mine would be a lot simpler with just a straight row of blocks.

Nothing is ever as simple as I first think in the garden!

You could just make planters out of wood. It would be fairly cheap.

con747

A few ideas here https://blog.gardenloversclub.com/container-gardening/planter-boxes/

Addle

Addle wrote: »

Just something I hoped to do myself, so no cement. It’d be in an open area with very little traffic, but I wouldn’t want a block falling on the dog or anything.

I really like the example in that picture. But mine would be a lot simpler with just a straight row of blocks.

Nothing is ever as simple as I first think in the garden!

You should give it a shot with some cement. 10-15 minutes on youtube, and a bag of 'readymix' and you're away. Cost a pittance (unless shops have ramped up the prices due to Covid?) and you'd be surprised how quickly you'll learn something new.


And if it doesn't work out the way you wanted it to, you're down very little money and can just break the cement on the blocks and throw it in the bin.

Addle

Not as daunting as I thought after watching this. I’ll give it a go. Thank you.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X0q_2VuFUOI
Now I think I’ll need to dig foundations...

Addle

con747 wrote: »

You could just make planters out of wood. It would be fairly cheap.

It’s as much about the masonry wall as the planting for me.

con747

Addle wrote: »

It’s as much about the masonry wall as the planting for me.

If you attempt a block one make sure you research foundation dept and materials needed, also the hardest part will be keeping it level and straight. I have built walls before and it is easy if done right. Good luck

Addle

Oh well. I give up!

con747

Addle wrote: »

Oh well. I give up!

Have a look here https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Cinder-Block-Wall and on YouTube before throwing the towel in. If you think you could do it, Then give it a go.

Lumen

Build a dry stone wall instead. It'll look better and won't fall over.

Calahonda52

Addle wrote: »

Oh well. I give up!

12 posts in is too soon to give up.:)

Your original idea was a single row placed long ways as normal blocks are laid, giving you a 9' wide wall which would be unstable.
However if you place them sideways they will much more stable.


The attached might give you some ideas, you may not have the room.

If you had a good compacted hard core base, level, then you can get bags of premixed plaster that would be easy to work with.
Juts bitter the sides of the block where thy meet, I would not try put mortar between the rows, too hard as blocks will be upside down
be aware that 9" hollow blocks are not light and the block work will dry out rapido unless you line the holes or use small plastic pots or perforated plastic bottles or milk cartons in the holes .

Have fun and take care

Addle

Thanks all for the advice and the encouragement, but it’s a lot more work than I am willing to do.

bfclancy

Addle wrote: »

Thanks all for the advice and the encouragement, but it’s a lot more work than I am willing to do.

It's a minimal amount of work few hours at most, sense of satisfaction would be worth it. Turn off the TV and the phone for half a day, amazing what can be achieved

Personally, I'd see is it possible to just cement the bottom block to the ground (assuming it's going on a solid surface and not on grass). Might give it enough 'grip' to avoid tumbling over. Will only work up to a certain height though, of course.

GreeBo

I'd go with a variation of Calahondas idea.

1 row of blocks perpendicular to the wall direction, with another row on top parallel to the wall.
You can put the top row in the centre or on the edge, depending on if you want planting on both sides.

If you want to go higher than 2 (without cement) then you need to make the base wider.
You could get to 3 layers by having 2 bricks end on end on the bottom (parallel) and then just continue as per my first example.

3 blocks high and no danger of falling over.

You could buy some rebar and bury it down between the opening of the blocks to tie them together, but if only soil inside its more of a token effort.

one other thing to be aware of, those blocks will drain very quickly, so you will need to be constantly watering whatever you put in it. (think teracotta on steroids)