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Advice for constructing a raised brick planter please!

Posted by Fran Allen on October 31, 2018 at 2:10pm in Paving Materials and Advice

Hi everyone, was wondering if someone with the right expertise could advise me on correct practice for building a brick planter.  In one of my designs (for a v small garden) I have designed a two tier rectangular brick planter (one will be 500mm high and one will be 700mm).  Due to lack of space, I want to make it as slimline as possible.  Am leaving a 400mm planting width and was thinking about laying the bricks side on (on the stretcher face), so that the top surface is 50mmx200mm.  I am then using a walling veneer (front side only), and a coping stone that is 200x100mm.  Would someone be able to advise if this would work or not? Or would the wall be too weak?!  Also, regarding drainage - the planter will be directly onto soil and I will fill the bottom third with hardcore, then put a permeable geotextile membrane over the hardcore, before filling with topsoil.  Will this be sufficient or do I need weep holes too?  Thanks in advance for any advice!

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Tags: construction advice
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  • PRO
    Andrew Betteridge October 31, 2018 at 11:26pm

    You can build a 2" thick brick wall, it will be wobbly whilst it is being built and may well need supporting with planks or some other type of prop until the mortar goes off as well as  building in stages, rather than all in one go.

    There are thousands of homes in this country that have 2" thick blockwork partitions on the first floor including my own. Though I doubt you will be able to buy 2" blocks at your local builders merchant. 

    https://www.mkmbs.co.uk/prodb003992-440mm-x-215mm-x-50mm-thermalite...

    440mm x 215mm x 50mm Thermalite Shield Block
    Shield combines all the normal qualities of Thermalite blocks with extremely high moisture resistance. Key Features - Available in large format…
    • Fran Allen > Andrew Betteridge November 1, 2018 at 9:26am

      Many thanks Andrew, that's really helpful.  Sounds like it is feasible then which is great news!  Really appreciate your help.

  • PRO
    Andrew Betteridge November 1, 2018 at 4:14pm

    If the planters are more than around three foot long it may be a good idea to build some internal cross walls to brace it to give it some strength.

    • Fran Allen > Andrew Betteridge November 1, 2018 at 5:51pm

      Noted.  Huge thanks Andrew.

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