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RE: raised bed via cinder blocks .. small problem

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Hi, Kim-

Yes, when I say cinder block I mean cast concrete blocks.  The archetype is
8" x 8" x 16" with holes in the middle -- usually 2 big holes, but you find
other patterns.  On the top of a block wall, you might not want holes, so
you can buy 4" x 8" x 16" solid blocks.  That's what I called "capstone" and
it's a little cheaper than the big blocks.  One option that you could find
at a concrete products company, but probably not at the hardware store, is a
"half-block" that looks like a big block split lengthwise through the holes.
The result is 4" x 8" x 16" and has one smooth face and one face with
ridges.  These are sometimes available very cheaply.

Call around.  Prices on all of the above vary by +/- 50% or more.  Brick and
block companies have more variety, but cost more -- unless they have excess
stock that they are dumping.  Hardware giants (Home Depot, etc.), have good
prices on the basic shapes and sizes.  Having them delivered may well be
worth the money, if you have big beds to do.

One thing I considered, but could not quite work out in my yard, would be to
pave around the garden squares with lots of full-size blocks, smooth-side
up.  This would make a raised patio with (relatively) sunken beds that would
prevent weeds from growing between squares.  Instead, I used capstones on
edge to make raised beds and made walkways of wood chips between them.

Hope this helps!

-BT

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Kim Kiernan [SMTP:kkiernan@home.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, May 11, 1999 2:55 PM
> To:	Jeff Taylor; sqft@listbot.com
> Subject:	Re: raised bed via cinder blocks .. small problem
> 
> Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
> 
> I'm sorry to be dense here, but what are cinder blocks?  Is that the
> same thing as concrete blocks?  I've also heard of slumpstone, which is
> slightly smaller than concrete block.  Also, someone mentioned capstone.
> What the heck is that?  I am not building inclined and I have to replace
> all the raised beds in my flower gardens (a lot of space).  Not sure how
> to do it, so any info would be appreciated.
> 
> zone9
> so cal
>


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