planter boxes

[coll23]

I am starting a project to make some planter boxes for my garden outside, I have picked a 100mm Cellular Dense Concrete Block , and has a 3.5kn rating and measures 215mm x 440mm x 100mm.
I will be going two blocks high and would like to know if this type of block would be ok to use for this job?

 

[John D v2.0]

yes you'll have to use strong mortar and probably protect from frost as the blocks will often be saturated

 

[23vc]

If you’re referring to hollow blocks, it’s overkill and will result in thicker sides, and you could use normal 100mm solid blocks.

 

[JohnD]

If you can build it round a plastic liner (with drainage holes) this will reduce water penetration and it will last much longer, and get less shabby.

 

[23vc]

I build them then line the inside sides with heavy gauge dpm before filling with soil, and render with waterproofer in.

 

[coll23]

I will be using cement but can i lay them on top of soil ?

 

[Alastairreid]

I will be using cement but can i lay them on top of soil ?

Better to put a foundation in.

 

[John D v2.0]

I will be using cement but can i lay them on top of soil ?

I'm suddenly wondering whether we're over engineering something you're intending to be very simple and not really permanent.!
If you are happy to lay the blocks on flat you could scrape the soil into the middle, level the outside, and lay 2 courses on their sides dry to make it 200mm high, and that would be fine, if a little ugly it would do the job and be unlikely to move, but if you wanted to move it in future, you could go ahead and do so.