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April 15, 2018 · 2 Comments

DIY Cinder Block Shelves {Perfect for Plants!}

DIY Projects

These simple cinder block shelves are so easy to make and are very affordable to boot. If you’re looking for an outdoor plant shelf to display your plants, this is the perfect project for you! 

Every once in a while I do a project that’s so easy and so fast that I debate even sharing it over here. I mean, sometimes the tutorial is so quick that I wonder if it’s even worth it. Will y’all just roll your eyes and tell me you already knew that little trick? Will you think I’ve lost my mind?

Well, this is one of those projects.

But seriously, even when it’s really simple, when it’s this dang cute I’ve just gotta share.

Close up of plants on a shelf with text overlay - "the easiest backyard cinder block plant shelves"

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How to Build Cinder block shelves for plants

Materials Needed:

  • 4 cinder blocks
  • (1) 8-foot cedar 1X12
  • Liquid Nails
  • Caulk gun
  • Plants

These DIY plant shelves are so easy to put together and are made of affordable cinder blocks!

  1. Space your cinder blocks about 3-feet apart.

    Start with two cinderblocks and set them upright about 3-feet apart (depending on how large you want your overhang to be). I used a level to help me make sure the boards weren’t offset at all and that they were both sitting straight.

    How to build simple cinderblock shelves to hold your plants. A really quick and simple plant stand idea - perfect for herb gardens, succulents, or whatever plants you need a space for!

  2. Add construction adhesive.

    Apply construction adhesive to the top of each cinder block. Be generous here, you want it to be pretty sturdy!

  3. Add first shelf.

    Cut your cedar board down into two 4-foot boards (I used my miter saw, learn how to use a miter saw here if you aren’t familiar with it) and lay it on top of the cinderblocks. I used the other two cinderblocks as a weight on the first shelf for a couple of hours before adding anything else, just to make sure it was nice and set.

    How to build simple cinderblock shelves to hold your plants. A really quick and simple plant stand idea - perfect for herb gardens, succulents, or whatever plants you need a space for!

  4. Add next level

    Once it’s dried, use some adhesive to add two more cinderblocks, and then the second shelf (again, I used a level here to make sure that everything stayed nice and straight, and I measured the overhangs to ensure that it stayed even on each side).

    How to build simple cinderblock shelves to hold your plants. A really quick and simple plant stand idea - perfect for herb gardens, succulents, or whatever plants you need a space for!

  5. Fill it up!

    Then, all that’s left to do is fill it up with your favorite plants!

I used the plants from our tiered ladder garden for these photos, but we’ll probably be doing something different long-term. I haven’t decided for sure what I want here, but right now I’m leaning towards having a little herb garden and setting it up with some supplies for trimming and watering the plants. We’ll see what happens, though – I may go crazy and just buy a ton of pretty plants just because.

Close up of plants on cinder block shelves
Close up of plants in terra cotta pots
Cinder block shelves with plants

I love the look of the simple terra cotta pots with these shelves, but you could also do something a little more colorful. You could even paint the cinder blocks or stain the shelves. There are tons of options for how you make this look, but I was craving something simple and kind of rustic for my yard. I’d love to see a version with really bright blocks and colorful pots, though!

Close up of succulents in terra cotta pots
Succulents on outdoor plant shelf
cinder block shelves with plants next to a fence

Of course, you don’t have to use this for just plants. You could do a larger version and use it as an outdoor serving station or bar cart. You could use it as a potting stand or a place to keep your kids’ toys – really, it would work for just about anything.

But I’m a sucker for a good shelf full of plants.

DIY cinder block shelves
Outdoor cinder block shelves
Succulents on a shelf

I’m pretty infatuated with how this little guy turned out – it was so easy to put together, and it’s such a fun way to display our plants in the backyard. I’ve learned that I’m not awesome with in-ground plants because they tend to just become a part of the background in my mind and I don’t remember to keep up with them. But potted plants seem to be easier for me to maintain, and I do a little better keeping them alive.

For now. We’ll see what happens.

What do you think we should fill our new cinder block shelves with? Herbs? Do they do okay without full sun? Or just some flowers? Or maybe we could go crazy and try some container veggies? Ahh! I don’t know! I’d love to hear your thoughts. What should I do?

More DIY Planter Ideas

  • DIY Wall Planter
  • DIY vertical ladder garden
  • How to turn tomato cages into backyard plant stands
  • How to hang planters from your ceiling
  • DIY gardening and planter ideas
  • How to make DIY succulent centerpieces

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alexa-asimplelife says

    July 3, 2017 at 1:36 am

    Looks fantastic….
    So often it is a simple style or styling that makes for GREAT impact

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      July 3, 2017 at 4:22 pm

      Agreed!!

      Reply

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Overwhelmed by DIY? Let's do it together! I'm Amanda, and I live in the suburbs of Austin, Texas with my husband and two sons. I've taught myself how to make simple updates to help make my house a home, and I want to show you how to do it, too. Click here to learn more about us.

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