Gardening is a hobby that’s good for both body and mind. Tending growing plants is a meditative, contemplative process that (for me at least) provides something beautiful to focus on when the world is hard to process. And home-grown produce almost always tastes better than store-bought because it’s picked when it’s perfectly ripe. There’s also the added confidence of knowing exactly what went into the soil that produced it all.
But before you reap, first you must sow. Though much of gardening is passive—simply watering, waiting, and watching—the hard work is all front-loaded: lifting bags of soil, compost, and fertilizer; tilling the earth; and, of course, building beds for your plants.
A few years ago, my partner and I moved into a new house—our first as homeowners. We were tired, our bank accounts were nearly empty, and we didn’t have many tools in the garage. But we knew we wanted to invest in a garden, and we knew we wanted raised beds.
Being a Wirecutter writer, I’d love to tell you that I obsessively researched the subject before building my garden beds. I didn’t. Instead, my partner was at our local home-improvement super-center and stumbled upon Oldcastle’s planter wall blocks.
While she browsed the tomato starts, I scoured YouTube. I quickly discovered that people really love these bricks. In video after video, gardeners of all experience levels gushed over the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of these concrete blocks, and they shared tips on how to put them to best use. I was convinced. I rushed outside, measured our space, and texted her the dimensions. Several hours later (yes, that same day), the beds were complete.
As it turns out, I wasn’t the only Wirecutter staffer who was bewitched by these marvels of modern engineering: Two of my coworkers were building their own block-based beds at the same time. In the end, all three of us were impressed by how cheaply and easily our gardens came together.
These notched concrete blocks make it easy to add boards to create a 6-inch-deep garden bed, and you can stack them if you want to raise your garden beds even more.
Bricks are a versatile and durable material that can be used to create raised garden beds in any outdoor space With a little planning and elbow grease, you can construct a raised bed from bricks that will provide years of gardening enjoyment In this detailed guide, we will cover everything you need to know about using bricks to make a raised garden bed, including
Benefits of Brick Raised Beds
There are many advantages to using bricks for raised garden beds:
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Bricks don’t rot, crack or warp like wood beds can over time They provide a permanent structure.
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Bricks have good thermal mass to absorb and retain heat, extending the growing season.
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Brick beds have a clean, finished aesthetic and can enhance garden design.
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Constructing from bricks allows good drainage and air circulation for healthy roots.
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Brick raised beds keep plants up off wet ground and deter burrowing animals.
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Using recycled bricks saves money compared to buying new materials.
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Freestanding brick designs allow flexibility to move or expand beds later.
Important Factors When Planning Your Brick Raised Bed
When deciding on the design of your raised bed, keep these key factors in mind:
Height
For freestanding raised beds without mortar, a maximum height of 2-3 feet is recommended for stability. Taller beds may require mortared construction.
Width
Aim for a maximum width of around 4 feet so you can comfortably reach the center for planting, weeding and harvesting.
Shape
Simple rectangular raised beds are easiest to construct from bricks. You can also create squares, circles or custom freeform shapes.
Location
Choose a level, sunny spot with good drainage and access to a water source. At least 2-3 feet of space around the bed is needed.
Soil
High quality raised bed gardening soil will provide nutrition for healthy plant growth.
Choosing the Right Bricks
Used or new brick can work well for raised beds, as long as you choose an appropriate type:
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Clay bricks are naturally porous for good drainage. They are more durable than concrete blocks outside.
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Avoid painted, glazed or limestone bricks that may leach chemicals.
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Reclaimed bricks must be structurally sound without crumbling or cracks.
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Inspect used bricks closely and clean thoroughly before using for edible gardens.
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For mortared beds, choose bricks made specifically for outdoor use like engineering bricks.
Design and Construction Options
There are a few different ways you can design and build your raised bed from bricks:
Mortared Brick Beds
Using mortar to cement bricks together allows constructing taller and deeper beds that won’t shift. This provides the strongest structure but is more complex to build.
Dry-Stack Brick Beds
Stacking bricks without mortar creates freestanding garden beds up to 2-3 feet high. This simpler method allows later modification of the design. Just ensure the first layer is stabilized on packed gravel.
Brick + Wood Beds
Using brick walls with a wooden top frame combines the benefits of both materials. The bricks provide sturdiness while the wood is easier to work with for curved shapes.
Partially Sunk Brick Beds
Burying one to two courses of bricks underground helps anchor the walls and prevents leaving gaps that rodents can enter underneath.
Step-by-Step Building Instructions
Follow these steps to build your own raised bed from bricks:
Plan and Prepare
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Decide on size, shape, material and mortared or freestanding construction method.
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Gather bricks and other needed materials like lumber, gravel, landscape fabric, etc.
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Mark out shape and remove any grass or plants from the bed site.
Level the Ground
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Dig down several inches and fill with packed gravel or crushed rock for drainage.
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Level and compact the gravel. This is especially important for freestanding beds.
Lay Out Bottom Row
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Place first row of bricks end-to-end around the perimeter of the shape.
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Fill gaps with gravel and use a long board to level bricks.
Build Up Walls
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Apply mortar if using for stacked bed or dry stack bricks.
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Check each row is level as you stack bricks in staggered formation.
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Add interior support poles or rebar if needed for taller beds.
Finish Bed Structure
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Place landscape fabric along inside walls to block weeds.
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Fill with high quality raised bed gardening soil. Level and lightly tamp.
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Consider adding drip irrigation.
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Start planting and enjoying your brick raised bed!
Tips for Success with Brick Raised Beds
Follow these tips to get the most out of your brick raised garden bed for years to come:
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Inspect bricks for cracks annually and replace as needed to maintain structural integrity.
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Monitor freestanding beds after hard rains for shifted bricks and refill gaps with gravel.
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Add supplemental fertilizer and compost each season to replenish nutrients.
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Avoid soil compaction by never walking directly on the bed and using boards to kneel on.
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Check drainage holes and clear debris after heavy rains to prevent waterlogging.
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For mortared beds, use flexible sealant between bricks to allow for expansion and prevent cracks.
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Rotate crops each season and sanitize beds regularly to prevent disease.
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Consider installing hardware cloth underneath beds to keep out burrowing animals.
Get Creative with Your Brick Raised Bed Design!
One of the great aspects of using durable bricks is you can construct raised beds in any shape or pattern. Here are some fun design ideas to try:
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Incorporate brick pathways between square beds for an ornamental look.
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Make a petite circular herb garden with brick borders.
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Use brick edging to lining an existing in-ground bed.
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Construct a geometric hexagonal or octagonal shaped bed.
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Add visual interest by using different brick colors and patterns.
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Create multi-level tiered beds on slopes for better drainage.
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Combine bricks with other materials like wood, stone or metal for custom accents.
So don’t limit yourself to just simple rectangular raised beds! With the right planning and bricks, you can create a unique and stylish garden feature that will stand the test of time.
Raised beds made from brick provide a permanent, protective structure and give gardens a polished finished look. By following basic construction methods, selecting appropriate materials and employing sound design principles, you can build a stunning and functional raised bed tailored to your space. Plant up your new brick garden bed with vibrant flowers, herbs, vegetables and more to enjoy for many seasons to come. With just a little care and creativity, you’ll love gardening in your hand-built brick raised bed.
Your garden can be any shape (as long as that shape consists of right angles).
Your garden beds become exceptionally modular with the Oldcastle blocks because every side of each block has a slot to grip the end of a 2-by-6 board. You can play Tetris with your garden, adding extra boxes to the side of an existing bed or creating different shapes that make it easier to access different plants. You can also have beds of different depth attached to one another, to create a terraced look.
Jessica told me that because her mother, Jeanette, is “really short,” they calculated her wingspan in order to determine the width of her garden beds. “We decided on a U-shape since it allowed her to reach all parts of the garden,” Jessica said. “It was also a more interesting shape, and she kinda liked that.”
Why a raised garden bed?
If you live in an area that has fertile soil, in-ground gardening is simple and cheap. You can amend your naturally occurring dirt and get straight to planting.
But if you’re dealing with a high water table, bad soil pH, or a rocky hardpan underlayer (like me), raised-bed gardening is a great alternative. Building a raised bed allows you to create the soil mix you want from scratch. And you don’t have to deal with rocks, roots, and other obstacles to getting your plants seated in fertile ground. Raised beds are our best bet here in Central Oregon, because our rocky, volcanic soil makes it nearly impossible to plant anything directly in the ground without some serious work.
Raised beds can also make gardening easier on your back, help keep some pests away from your bounty, and allow you to start planting a little earlier in the season than you could with in-ground beds.
But why go with these Oldcastle blocks rather than with other raised-bed solutions? Oh, I’m glad you asked!
The Best Raised Garden Bed Option for you!
FAQ
Do bricks make good garden beds?
There is nothing in brick that would harm plants or contaminate soil. Nothing in cinder blocks (CMU’s) either, although concrete products can leach lime. Lime is a common soil amendment and affects soil pH but other than that, has no deleterious affect on the plants.
Can you make a raised bed with bricks?
You can make a brick raised garden bed with or without mortar.
How many bricks to make a garden bed?
We used four layers of bricks to create our brick raised garden bed. Each layer required 20 bricks. For the second layer, we centered the bricks on the gap between the bricks of the foundation or base layer.
What is the cheapest material to build garden beds?
Wood Is Often the Cheapest Raised Bed Material. Wood is the least expensive and most popular option for constructing your raised garden bed.