by Connie Oswald Stofko
Is it safe to use cinder blocks in a raised bed, or might chemicals from the concrete blocks leach out of the blocks to contaminate your soil and food plants you grow there?
Can you use pressure treated lumber?
Can you grow food plants in the hellstrip, the area between the street and sidewalk?
John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County, responded to my questions on soil safety.
Cinder blocks in raised vegetable bed
I have seen warnings on the Internet that cinder blocks or concrete blocks used in a garden might leach harmful chemicals into the soil and ultimately into your food plants.
After doing some research, Farfaglia’s short answer was: “I doubt whether there is any issue to worry about.”
He found universities recommending the use of concrete blocks in container gardens or raised beds.
The concern cited in many warnings is specifically fly ash, the residue you get from burning coal, that might have been used in older cinder blocks, but he doubts whether that is commonly used anymore.
However, one thing you should take into consideration when using old bricks, old concrete blocks or other recycled material is where those materials came from, he said. The materials may have been resting in soil that was contaminated with chemicals. If you’re going to use bricks for pathways, pressure washing the materials should be sufficient. If you’re using materials for a vegetable garden, you would want to be more cautious.
If you’re unsure of the source of used materials, he recommends using new material.
UPDATE (8/13/2018): A reader left a comment, saying:
“Connie, you and Farfaglia are wrong – fly ash is still used in manufacturing ‘cinder’ blocks, sometimes. If you go to this product page at home depot for a 16 in. x 8 in. x 6 in. Concrete Block https://www.homedepot.com/p/16-in-x-8-in-x-6-in-Concrete-Block-30163601/100350201 and look at the question answer section, you will see that a customer asked: ‘Is there any fly ash in these concrete blocks? If so, how much?’
“The manufacturer responded with: ‘It may sometimes be included in the mixture. Fly ash is a recycled green product and is requested from some builders because they have green criteria they would like to meet – LEED certification, reduce CO2 emissions, etc.’
“I take that to mean that sometimes they have to put fly ash in a batch because it is requested by a builder, and to keep costs down, assuming the builder does not want to buy the whole batch, they have to sell the remainder to home depot and other retailers so the block you buy at a retailer like home depot might have fly ash in it.
“So yes, modern day ‘cinder’ block might have fly ash in it.”
John Farfaglia looked into this more and said that there probably needs to be more research on this. There aren’t any studies to show whether the heavy metals that may be contained in cinder blocks or concrete blocks can leach into the soil. If you are concerned, you could get your soil tested for heavy metals.
Naturally rot-resistant wood like cedar or redwood is the best choice for raised bed construction for gardeners that have concerns regarding any possibility of exposure of chemicals in the building materials.
Farfaglia also sent along information from the University of Maryland Extension: Cement block, cinder block and concrete block all are made with cement and fine aggregates such as sand or small stones. Fly ash is also often included. Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal and so contains heavy metals and other hazardous waste. Labels do not give specific information on exactly what aggregate is used in the manufacture of the block. There is also little research data on this topic. Ultimately, this becomes a personal choice based on your comfort level. If you plan to use block as a raised bed material — and many people do – and you are concerned about potential risks, you could seal the blocks with polymer paint. Or you can choose to use another material.
(Polymer paint is latex paint or acrylic paint.)
Pressure treated lumber in raised vegetable bed
Farfaglia said people often ask about using treated lumber for raised beds. At one time, arsenic was used in treated lumber, but isn’t any longer, he said. The risk of using new treated lumber is low, but he still recommends using natural wood such as cedar to be safe.
Line a raised bed to protect against potential leaching
As added protection, when growing food in a raised bed, you can line the bed with plastic to act as a barrier from any chemicals that might leach into the soil from the building materials. Use a thick gauge plastic, like 6 mil, Farfaglia said.
Hellstrip not best option for food plants
Awhile back, we told you about one local gardener who plants herbs in her hellstrip, the area between the road and sidewalk, but a reader commented that he would be wary of eating food planted there.
I asked Farfaglia about it, and he cautions against it.
“In a lot of cases the risk is not high, but as a general practice, save that strip for ornamental plants,” he said.
That area can contain residues from salt and other chemicals used on the road, and there may be a higher concentration of lead still there from auto exhaust.
You should also be wary of beds near the foundation of an older home that may be contaminated with lead from paint that flaked off and accumulated in the soil, he noted.
If your soil is contaminated, rinsing your herbs or vegetables might not be enough to get rid of the contamination. How big the risk is depends on many factors, including how high the concentration of the contaminant is, how often you eat the food and how you cook it.
You can get soil tested
If you’re concerned about your soil being contaminated, you can get your soil tested at the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory. It costs between $50 and $150, with some tests cost extra.
Hi, Constance. Contact the extension service or Master Gardeners in your area. They should be able to give you advice for your climate. I hope that helps.
I live in the Pacific Northwest so you can understand my weather here. I had a wonderful garden bed lined with wood and for many years had a great success in growing my vegetables. But, once the wood rotted I decided to use cinder blocks to line the bed. I have had no luck with any vegetables growing for the past two years. I use garden tarp (or cloth) to line it on the bottom of the beds and have it reach up half way up the cinder blocks then I added compost and planting soil from home depot in it. I am stumped why I can’t get anything to grow in it. ?
I have been reading this and some comments. I was wondering if there is some other alternative for cedar blocks? Not sure if it’s mentioned already but hopefully someone answer.
Thanks a lot!
Cedar and redwood is hard to get here and very expensive , I was going to use precast blocks , but know I’m scared off of that . So my only option it seems is to just use construction grade spruce and give it a healthy coat of boiled linseed oil and hope it lasts .
Joe, thanks for the kind words. I’m not a gardening expert, so I interview people who know more about these things than I do.
Your question seems to be whether concrete will make nearby soil more alkaline. The article says this happens especially with acid rain. We could discuss how acidic the rain is in Western New York, whether the amount of rain we get flushes the soil and keeps the pH level more neutral, etc.
But what you’re probably concerned about is whether plants in your yard will be damaged if they are planted near concrete. In that case, test your soil that’s near the concrete for pH. Then choose plants that work with that pH level, whether it is alkaline, acidic or neutral.
Contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension in your area to find out how you can get a pH test. During the pandemic, you may have to mail in a soil sample rather than have a test done at their office, during a garden walk or other event. See contact info here.
And if you really want to know the likelihood of lime being released from concrete when it rains, ask the Master Gardeners. They may be able to dig up that information for you.
I hope that helps!
Connie, you said lime doesn’t leach from cinder blocks. I have always heard that soil near foundations or concrete driveways is more alkaline because of rain runoff. Perhaps this is not technically leaching. This website seems to support this theory. Thoughts? I respect your opinion.
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/cement-kill-plants-93597.html
Melissa, John Farfaglia recommends that when you use old bricks, you consider where those materials came from. The materials may have been resting in soil that was contaminated with chemicals. If you’re going to use bricks for pathways, pressure washing the materials should be sufficient. If you’re using materials for a vegetable garden, you would want to be more cautious. If you’re unsure of the source of used materials, he recommends using new material.
Does anyone know if there is an issue building a bed with recycled red brick, set with your run-of-the-mill mortar mix? I came into a wealth of unused brick and cinder blocks that were purchased likely some 25 to 35 years ago. I won’t use the cinder after carefully reading this thread, but still have hope for the red brick? Thanks to all the knowledgeable gardeners out there!
For more on sand versus compost in clay, see this article and the comments under the article: Clay soil: compost is better than sand.
Lloyd, I just re-read your comment. You may be using cinder blocks in a way that others aren’t.
Are you planting shrubs in the small holes of a cinder block? The roots of the shrub could indeed crack the block.
Are you using leftover cinder blocks or are you going to plant in blocks that are part of your patio? If you want to plant in blocks that are part of your structure, definitely listen to the advice of building experts. Don’t do anything they think is unsafe.
This is in response to a post almost a year old, just now noticed:
Ben says:
July 23, 2019 at 10:26 am
I had incredible problems due to clay soil. There is nothing easier to cure than clay. Just add sand, lots of sand. End of all clay soil problems, almost immediately.
G says:
July 31, 2019 at 7:46 pm
To Ben: Clay + Sand = Cement <– be careful with this approach.
To G: No, no way
"Cement is made with calcined lime and clay. It is mixed with water to form mortar or mixed with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete."
My garden is now 33 years old. I still add sand occasionally, I initially added four TONS to an area of approx. 16 X 45 feet. I've enlarged the garden, and the first thing I do is add sand, lots of sand. Of course, organic material is vital. I've got the finest loam you'll ever see.
I've shared this with many friends. Everyone who has tried it has has the same results. One friend way overdid it. An older (than me) gentleman, he added six tons to a smaller area than mine and had a guy come in and rotor-till his new garden. He planted nothing but peas the first year. I have never seen such yields!
If you have clay problems SAND is the immediate and lasting answer! Then, incorporate organic material.
Leia, thanks for sharing. The concern isn’t that the vegetables won’t grow well or won’t be big enough. The concern is that there may be toxins in the cinder blocks that get into the vegetables.
I grew carrots in Michigan o e season in clay soil. Didn’t do anything to it and grew terrific big carrots.
Thanks, Kat.
I drill holes in the bottom of any cement and/or brick gardens I built. No problems with water build up or cracking. Just get a long concrete bit..it’s easy..I’m old lol so you all can do it. I grow flowers in those raised beds and food in the cedar beds or ground. I started off buying expensive cedar and changed to cedar fence pickets not treated. It’s thinner but ok for my many beds as they are small. Hope this helps.
Thanks Connie – local brickie said it could be an issue! Have a raised patio as I built my house on a slope, so plan to plant evergreen bushes in the hollow blocks to produce a boundary. Thank you for replying
Lloyd, no one has mentioned a problem with the blocks cracking.
Is there an issue with cracking of the concrete from expansion due to moisture freezing within the blocks?
Gerald, that’s true. But sometimes people want a raised bed that is deep, but not wide. In that case, it’s good to have some kind of walls to hold the soil in place. If you don’t need walls, you don’t have to worry about what material you should use for walls!
Remember a raised bed doesn’t have to have wood, block or anything. You can make a raised bed with just good dirt. Just a thought.
Wendi, the best thing for you to do would be to contact the extension service in your area. They can give you advice for what would work in your region. I hope that helps!
Though I used to live in upstate NY I now live in Central Texas and my summers are very hot. I have a raised bed made of cinder blocks (3 blocks high so I can sit on it easily). Do you think that all that cement heats the soil more than a cedar raised bed would? Would it be better to cover the holes, fill the holes with dirt or leave open to keep it cooler? Thank you in advance for any help or advice.
To Ben: Clay + Sand = Cement <– be careful with this approach.
To Chuckers: Clay tends to have a high mineral content which is great for plants. The problem with clay is that plant roots have a hard time penetrating it, thus the poor growing condition of pure clay. However, if you break the clay up and add organic matter, then you get the best of both worlds. The roots can get through the soil to grow and feed the plant and they can wrap around the clay to extract some of those excellent minerals. The clay content just cannot be too high. I had a garden in 100% clay. Keep breaking the clay up and keep mixing in leaves, compost, etc.
I had incredible problems due to clay soil. There is nothing easier to cure than clay. Just add sand, lots of sand. End of all clay soil problems, almost immediately.
Hello all,
I am building a raised vegetable (organic) garden in cedar and I am wondering if anyone has any advice in terms of protecting the cedar itself.
I am considering Lindseed /Flaxseed Oil (Raw takes forever, Boiled has chemicals in it)… and I am wondering if there is any other product which could protect the wood and still keep the garden as “organic” as possible.
Thank you for any input !
Francois
Ruby, I don’t know what that might be. You should probably contact the garden show.
Watched a garden show where cinder blocks were used as a raised bed and coated with a “render” that had color added to it. Just wondering what that render was. Looked like cement or clay. Very attractive and I wonder if it is possible to create veg beds with it.
Local conditions, and gardening goals, dictate what works best, and what doesn’t. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where the soil is mostly clay, winters are long and harsh, the summers are hot, and the growing season is shorter. For me, raised beds, and containers are great because they warm up, and dry out, earlier in the spring.
Chuckers, just because a video or blog gets a lot of views doesn’t mean it has helpful information. I use information from experts such as growers, Master Gardeners, researchers and other academics. I also use my own experience and the experience of other ordinary gardeners. Sometimes I get something wrong, and my knowledgeable readers will catch it and I can correct it. With some issues, we really aren’t sure what the answer is because it hasn’t been studied enough, and I let my readers know about the uncertainty. I think that’s much more valuable than getting people excited over nonsense.
@Connie Almost all the heavy hitters on Youtube andd countless blogs have been pushing raised beds for many years as THE best way to garden for great plants with the highest yields.
Ruth, that’s an interesting way to put the clay in your soil to use. For me, I try to add a lot of plant material to the clayish soil so that the soil drains well.
Chuckers, I haven’t heard people saying that raised beds are better than regular garden beds. I think for most gardeners, the default is to create a regular garden bed.
Raised beds certainly have their place, too. If your soil is contaminated, or you think your soil might be contaminated, one recommendation is to use a raised bed. Raised beds are can be easier to work in if you have trouble bending or kneeling. Depending on how it’s constructed, a raised bed can provide a seating area.
Yes, using grass clippings as mulch can keep weeds down. You might want to spread a layer of newspaper first, then apply the mulch. Last year I used chopped leaves and will do that again this year.
You might also want to look at lasagna gardening to deal with your clay. You’re already doing a version of it.
@Ruth L. West
Yes, there are obvious mechanical advantages to raised beds. I will not deny that. Which is why I wanted to make the new garden plot a raised bed, but funding prohibited it. Which is also why the rest of my gardening spaces are all either raised beds or pots.
But as far as the widely held view that raised beds grow better plants, so far I have not personally seen that as scientifically proven in my own efforts and may appear that the opposite is true for me. BUT, it is too early to tell and will take years.
Also, as far as weeds go 9in the in-ground garden), what I did last year was I dumped my grass clippings in my garden and spread it around to cover the bare soil to suppress the weeds. I make sure I cut my grass often so that my grass does not contain no weed seeds (but I’m sure there are some). My also do not treat my lawn with chemicals of any kind so that isn’t an issue.
It doesn’t look good, but it served my purpose (growing food) well, so far. Very little weeds to pull as a result and I assume that the decaying grass will fertilize my soil over the years. But this is just a guess.
BTW: I’m in Zone 6a/6b so the large peper plants are not indicative of my grow zone because peppers aren’t the best crop in my Grow Zone, unless planted in a controlled environment like a greenhouse.
I don’t like clay around my beds because what happens is that the rain washes the clay onto the good soil and creates an almost impenetrable layer on top of the good soil. As such, makes it hard for water to penetrate the good soil when I water my plants, as it has to penetrate the clay film on top first.
Chuckers, I forgot to add that the advantages of raised beds include: weed control, ease of access, delineated and confined garden space, and for me the most important one – raising it high enough for me to be able to reach it. Keeping the right amount of water in it can be tricky.
Chuckers, here’s something you may not have considered: Clay is valuable.
My soil is also basically clay. I use it around the edges of beds to seal cracks or hold in water. In my front (flower) garden, I use it around the ‘good’ soil to hold the water, and to hold the soil in place. I can landscape my front plot with hills, because I make them out of clay and then put the potting soil in the middle for the plant.
You accidentally stumbled onto a really good tactic – how to keep your plants from drying out.
You will need to compost or fertilize the ‘good’ soil, so it doesn’t wear out. And make sure you plant in the same places, keeping that clay around each plant.
Last year I wanted to increase my vegetable garden space, so I dug up a 9′ x17′ space in my yard. Not having the money to build a raised bed in that area, I just planted in-ground – my first in-ground garden. It was a lot of work, the soil was terribly clay-ish. I happened to receive, free, 2 large rolls of chicken wire fencing a few years ago so that was great to keep most of the critters out. The only thing I had to buy was a few more 8′ and 10′ T-posts but that was minimal cost. I think the whole garden ended up costing me around $30 total + a lot of elbow grease.
Not having the money to replace all the soil, I just used better soil in the planting hole of each plant. I planted tomatoes, zucchini, string beans, peppers and basil.
Now, I was always told by various people on blogs and Youtube that raised gardens produce the best results, and that is what I always used, raised beds and pots. Well my in-ground garden proved that theory possibly wrong last year. Everything grew very well. My 7 pepper plants grew from 3 feet to 4 feet tall and basil was also very tall at 2.5 feet! Everything else was very prolific, as well.
In raised beds, I never got a pepper plant more than 18 inches tall and that was my best – the average being probably around 12 inches. Basil never over a foot tall.
Now I do realize that this was just one year and maybe over the long run my in-ground garden may not do as well. But so far, I’m not seeing all the hullaballoo around raised beds.
So my point is to say this. Even though gardening is all about science, we home gardeners are inundated with what amounts to hocus-pocus information and products and a LOT of junk “science”. You have to be very careful who you listen to for advice and information about gardening and stay away from products & people with outlandish claims and “scientific” info that that has no logic and, more importantly, no real proof (pictures and video are not always good proof!). Also, as far as youtube is concerned, well that’s a business. Most all of the heavy hitters on Youtube have something to sell you and they have to constantly create content to stay popular. This means they are bound to fill their channel with junk content given the nature of the beast that is youtube and content marketing.
My second point is to day that maybe, instead of worrying about if this or that material is safe for using to build a raised bed, maybe you should consider and in-ground garden bed instead, if at all possible.
Anyhow, I can’t wait to see what happens with my in-ground garden this year. Last Fall, I covered it with shredded leaves and other organic yard waste and I do not plan on removing any of the bad clay-ish soil, only putting good soil in the planting holes of my plants, just like I did last year. If it does anywhere near as well as last year, I will be digging up another smaller in-ground garden next year.
Part of the concern is that heavy metal might get into your food plants, but part of the concern is also that the heavy metals could get into the soil. You wouldn’t want to work in soil that is contaminated. Contaminated soil can affect us in several ways. We might touch the soil and bring our hands to our mouth, ingesting the soil. We might breathe in the dust.You can read more in the article “Is your garden soil contaminated? What you should know.”
What about using the concrete beds for flowers rather than vegetables? Is that still problematic?
Thank you Connie. Your advice is always welcome
Chuckers, thanks for your information. John Farfaglia looked into this more and said, “There probably needs to be more research on this topic. Naturally rot-resistant wood like cedar or redwood is the best choice for raised bed construction for gardeners that have concerns regarding any possibility of exposure of chemicals in the building materials.”
Farfaglia also sent along this information from the University of Maryland Extension: Cement block, cinder block and concrete block, all are made with cement and fine aggregates such as sand or small stones. Fly ash is also often included. Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal and so contains heavy metals and other hazardous waste. Labels do not give specific information on exactly what aggregate is used in the manufacture of the block. There is also little research data on this topic. Ultimately, this becomes a personal choice based on your comfort level. If you plan to use block as a raised bed material — and many people do – and you are concerned about potential risks, you could seal the blocks with polymer paint. Or you can choose to use another material.
(Polymer paint is acrylic paint or latex paint.)
Joan, you could use polymer paints (acrylic or latex) on your cinder blocks. See more here.
Is it dangerous to paint cinder blocks to make them more attractive for my vegetable garden?
Connie, you and Farfaglia are wrong – fly ash is still used in manufacturing “cinder” blocks, sometimes. If you go to this product page at home depot for a 16 in. x 8 in. x 6 in. Concrete Block https://www.homedepot.com/p/16-in-x-8-in-x-6-in-Concrete-Block-30163601/100350201 and look at the question answer section, you will see that a customer asked: “Is there any fly ash in these concrete blocks? If so, how much?”
The manufacturer responded with: “It may sometimes be included in the mixture. Fly ash is a recycled green product and is requested from some builders because they have green criteria they would like to meet – LEED certification, reduce CO2 emissions, etc.”
I take that to mean that sometimes they have to put fly ash in a batch because it is requested by a builder, and to keep costs down, assuming the builder does not want to buy the whole batch, they have to sell the remainder to home depot and other retailers so the block you buy at a retailer like home depot might have fly ash in it.
So yes, modern day “cinder” block might have fly ash in it.
Kat, since there isn’t a problem using new cinder blocks made of concrete, there shouldn’t be a problem using concrete for raised beds. The concrete shouldn’t have anything bad in it. The concern with cinder blocks was that they used to contain fly ash, but they don’t use that anymore. Even the pH of the concrete shouldn’t be a problem. Concrete, when it’s new, is alkaline. Its pH can be around 13. However, as it ages, its pH can go down to 8, which is almost neutral. If you’re concerned, have the pH of your soil tested. It’s a quick and simple test. If the pH is off, you can take steps to get your soil where you want it to be.
My raised beds made from wood rot too fast so I had some men come and make concrete raised beds. Now I’m wondering if that’s even safe to grow food in as one man said at the garden shop that it would be okay and it takes a long time to leech anything bad. So what do you know about this? I use all organic materials otherwise
Where can I purchase some Bee’s wax to line my Cinder Block Garden with?? And Is there a specific type of Bee’s wax that is used for gardens?
Thanks for your input.
Just because there’s no research to determine if cinderblocks allow harmful chemicals to leach into the soil, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Lining your blocks or boards with plastic will simply change the potential leachate. Most plastic has BPA, and we don’t really know what other plastics will do over the long term. It makes sense to use untreated, natural wood, or try organically grown straw bales! You may have to replace the wood in 5- 10 years, but at least it will be safe for you and your family. When the straw rots, it adds nutrients to the soil. Incorporate it and get some more! You can also plant in the bales if you like!
My 2¢.
Concrete is alkaline, which has a high pH. If the pH in soil is too high, lime could be added to the soil to bring down the pH. (Concrete doesn’t leech lime.) I haven’t heard of problems with cinder blocks raising the pH of the soil to a level that it harms plants, but I’m not an expert. If you had a problem with your plants, it could be you fertilized too much or didn’t have enough sun or had any of a number of other issues. I would go back to the Master Gardeners in your area and see if they can help you puzzle through this problem. I hope that helps.
I did a cinder block garden-2 blocks high fairly large garden. Third year in my garden vegetables didn’t grow and didn’t produce. They were beautifully green but that’s it. Had soil tested and PH o
Is too high. Suggested tear down garden and rebuild with wood because the blocks put too much lime in soil. I’m at a loss as to what I really need to do. Any suggestions? Thanks
What about the BPA etc. leaching out of the plastic liner? I would use just plain wood, then you wouldn’t have to worry about chemicals.
Ruth – I would hold off on using tar paper when growing food plants. It contains asphalt, which is a by-product of petroleum refining and, therefore, potentially toxic. It also contains fiberglass. If you are attempting to waterproof your boxes, try painting the interiors with melted beeswax. Once dried, it will last quite a long while.
What about tar? We always lined our planter boxes with tarpaper, but now my daughter is questioning whether tar or tarpaper can contaminate food plants.
Paula, that’s a good point about drainage. If you push the plastic up against the sides but leave the bottom open, you could create a barrier against any leaching and still have good drainage.
John always has good, knowledgable and useful answers.
I wanted to use cedar for my raised beds – but when I called the lumber yard for prices, the man said to me “Even if we had what you want in cedar, you couldn’t afford it!” I used treated lumber and 15 years everything is great.
If you line with plastic they will dry out very fast – I did not line mine and they draw water from underneath themselves. That is the reason I put in beds in the first place, as my garden was always very wet and hard to get plowed in the spring. It made my growing season very short, now the ground is easy to work early.