This bit of inspiration comes from Annette over at Pot-ted, a nursery and patioscaping company (and also one of our favorite shops for great plant containers, mid century outdoor furniture and succulents galore). When we were in the other day she showed us pictures of the planter she had just built. Here's how she did it:
"The wall was built with 12" cinder blocks (the kind you would use to build a column) and we used Liquid nails to hold them together because I didn't want grout lines and also it gave us more flexibility. In fact in order to make bottoms for the blocks that are sticking forward, we cut pieces of cinder block to fit the inside and then liquid nailed them in. We love liquid nails."
The planting is new and as it fills in and starts trailing, this baby is going to look even better. What we love about the use of cinder blocks is how many different iterations you could make depending on how much space you have. Also, they're really cheap and can be painted if you want to match them to your decor.
(Images: Julie Maigret)
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This is a really great idea! I love the mention of painting them too. This could work really well next to a building. Or with larger plantings, or an array of overflowing and smaller ones. Great idea.
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com
I love the way this looks -- and so simple. Do they sell these at Potted?
ok is that not the cutest pup?
oooooooh... this is getting bookmarked! It seems modern and bold/simple outdoor stuff is always really expensive. It's nice to see something that fits my taste AND budget! :)
what kind of dog is that? so cute!
great idea and GREAT puppy!
This is absolutely brilliant! I love it!
he's a golden retriever/chow mix. and very sweet, to boot. he's actually around 4 years old (we're not certain about this, since he just showed up at our doorstep one day).
glad you're enjoying the wall! its even more beautiful in real life.
Very clever! Love a good diy!
~Tracy @
http://www.dailydecorator.com
I saved this idea, thx :)
We don't actually make the walls at Pot-ted but we could come and make one for you at your home (or come in and well tell you how). Depending on where you put it, there are endless possibilities on the design...falling forward, doing a corner...whatever you want. It's just cinderblocks from a building supply lot.
I think it could be interesting to arrange the blocks in something other than straight 'one-block-on-top-of-the-other' columns... maybe stagger them a bit, (the way the blocks in the background wall shown in the photo are staggered) to produce a more 'organic' effect?
That arrangement -- plus the natural aging and mellowing of the blocks' patina, plus of course the eventual increased growth of the plants -- could make for a nice finished product.
this is such a great idea! i am bookmarking it for our next summer project.
and that pup is adorable!
i have a black thumb but would actually try this. super cool! nice job!
seriously, we need to start pet therapy :) too many cute companions pop up in pics not to!
Amazing! A truly great DIY as it, in no way, looks like a DIY. Architectural, modern and I love your puppy!!!!!
if anyone is interested, you can find more photos of the work annette did in our backyard here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49254603@N00/
she added a fountain area and additional succulent bowls. she rocks!
Could this work as a low retaining wall? Say, 4-6 blocks high? Or would you have to build a retaining wall behind it and then use this as a decorative facade?
wow I love this - will have to replicate =)
These cinderblocks are what you would use to build a retaining wall (although you would use mortar and rebar to add strength). I would, however, hire a professional mason if I were building this wall to keep earth from falling on my house. But you could show the photo to your mason and tell him this is the effect you are going for. Because the blocks actually aren't stacked up on each other (some are pulled forward for effect) he or she would have to make some structural adjustments, but totally doable.
Amazing and wonderful. I'm really loving the fountain you built out of cinder blocks. Any way to get the plans for that?
What a wonderful inspiration - this project meets all the criteria for a great DIY. Adaptable, affordable and beautiful.
I am not surprised this came from the uber-creative (and resourceful) mind of Annette Gutierrez! Her Los Feliz shop is filled with hip and fabulous concepts in innovative outdoor living. If in So. Cal: check it out!
awesome!! this is so gorgeous - can't wait to do something like this on my own little patio. great effect in a small space.
and yes, that is the most adorable puppy! :)
Jaytee - small world, followed the link to the pics on flikr to save for my DIY planter file and I see an old neighbor, Lingka in your pics. Tell her Courtney from Costa Mesa says hi! Love your planter, and cute pup!
Planter and Pupkie= Priceless!
Katy
http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com
courtney - small world, for sure! i have sent ling your hello... i have met you before, actually. too funny!
glad you like the planter - i still get happy every time i look at it.
Look really cool. One question... How do you make it so the dirt and plants don't just wash through the open cinderblock passages? I assume there is a bottom added to each pot, and it would be great to see how you did this!
It looks like 8-bit pixel art therefore I adore it!
In response to Baltimoreerowhouse, there is no bottom to the planter. The only place you do have to do something is under the pieces that cantieliever. In those we just cut pieces of the cinderblock and liquid nailed them in place. The whole thing has liquid nails on it so you can't knock it over. You could also use backerboard, heavy duty screen or anything else that will fill the void under those few that stick out. You don't have to worry about drainage because the back part is still open. This planter is set on concrete so that could be a problem underneath but it doesn't seem to be an issue so far.
Love the simplicity of style and DIY
Do you have any trouble keeping the plants healthy with the lime that seeps out of concrete block? Are you using amendments to correct the soil pH?
Great idea!
I have some spare cinder blocks in my garden - now all I need is a suitable space to build this! Awesome, thanks for sharing :)
Thank you for sharing. I love this!
What a great idea! Could also look great to include some patterned blocks, turned on their sides.
Terrific idea, love the pooch!
I would like to start on a project like this in a couple of months and this may sound silly but how do you keep the dirt from falling out the bottom?? please email me at greenimonster@hotmail.com
Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this and want to duplicate it! But sadly I can't find any 12x12 concrete blocks in stock anywhere. And I'm determined to duplicate the lines you have in here, as opposed to what I'd get w/ the more common 8x16 blocks. Where do you find these?
This is a great idea, but being a mosaic artist it would have to be mosaiced. It would be a real eye catcher and a work of art if it were mosaiced as well.
If possible can you give an idea of the succulents in the pots? I'm going to do a wall on a smaller scale but would love to have an idea of the plants that are in the photo. Thanks in advance.
Okay so it's really weird that I was looking for something in the archives and just happened to click on the House Tour from a few years ago showing the house that accompanies this patio.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/julie-and-robs-current-twist-o-159937
and to save you a few clicks here's the picture of the wall itself:
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/la-maigrethousetour-bethanynauert/item/299882
I love it both ways. Did you just rebuild this recently or is this a picture from when it was first built? The house tour pic has blocks with more age. If you rebuilt it, why?
Thanks!
Ok AT is recycling posts and making me think I'm going crazy..... so disregard the above question about whether or not the wall was rebuilt. I see now that these pictures are from the 2009 and the house tour was from 2011.
Not to be snarky, but ... "easily findable"? Who says something is "findable." At least where I live, the phrase is "easy to find."
I love this idea - I think it's one of the coolest ways to bring impact to a small garden!
A couple of points, and a couple of concerns.
Points: You will get more choices of block sizes from masonry supply centers, landscape supply, etc. than you will at general home stores (i.e. home depot, lowes). Take a look through your yellow pages and you will be surprised what you can find! Call ahead to make sure they have what you want in stock. These places are often on the outskirts. You might be able to protect the roots and soil from the lime in the block by pre-treating the inside (soil side) of the block with a paint applied waterproofing product. On the other hand, you might be able to amend your soil to be lime-less so the lime in the block might actually be helpful? (I bet someone else can answer that a lot better).
Concerns: I'm concerned with the idea of placing this directly against a wall, especially a structural wall of a rental home or apartment. The water that leaches through the block could adversely affect the building siding causing mold or rot. Not to mention any bits of plants or soil that wash over that side...
I would also want to leave weep holes at the bottom of the structure by either notching the bottom blocks or setting the whole thing on a grout bed that has some skips in it. Good drainage is imperative and no one wants the smell of mildew in their garden! If I was stacking the planter 5 or 6 high, I'd want some sort of good drainage medium in the base just to help with that.