I recommend doing prep work.Figure out your garden size. Cinder blocks are about 15 inches long, 6 inches wide. Because of the six inch depth carefully consider the layout of those blocks -- for people with short arms you may want a smaller width for the layout to avoid back and shoulder discomfort. Draw out your plan (grid paper can be printed from the internet). Invaluable.Put the garden together BEFORE growing season so you won't be rushed.Cinder blocks are heavy. If you don't have a pick-up I would recommend only getting 12 blocks at a time and put them in the trunk. They are awkward to get out of a car and they leave white dust on seat cushions.I used cardboard, newspaper, black roll made for gardening. They all worked fine. I prefer the back roll stuff for the actual garden. I recommend mulch around the raised beds (my husband hates to mow) but first put three layers of newspaper or cardboard on the ground to smother the grass. It helps detour long roots from slipping under the blocks into your garden and also gives a more pleasant appearance plus I like to work on my knees and mulch is comfortable to kneel on.Consider the plants you will be putting into the cinder block openings. You can personalize the soil and watering process for those individual containers. Plan ahead for future years so you won;t have to modify the soil.Experiment with the design. I'm adding more raised beds but at this point I plan to make them square for the appearance and the use.Just don't try to put it all together in one weekend. Plan one week, block out the grass (tentative layout) and add cinder blocks the next week, then start mixing the soil the following week(s) -- all done before planting season. Your neck, back, shoulders, and nerves will appreciate it. And enjoy watching the growth process of your new garden.
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