Building a Raised Brick Planter

I had been planning to make a planter for quite some time, several years actually, but never had a chance to work on it. It was too cold in winter, and it was too hot in the summer.

Finally, with the help of Sufian, I made a raised brick planter. I had always thought I needed to use cement or mortar to build a brick planter, but it turns out I don’t quite need them.

The first step is to build a trench and lay pebbles. If you lay the bricks directly on the ground, water and erosion can result in uneven walls. The pebbles will keep the bricks in place, as water will seep through them, effectively holding the bricks in place.

Several sources on the internet suggested using construction adhesive, and indeed, gardening adhesive is sold at hardware stores. However, after finishing the construction, I realized that mortar has some benefits over construction glue. It is much thicker and can also function as a leveling tool, as it can level out any differences between bricks.

After digging a trench and distributing pebbles, I laid the first set of bricks. I must say, the first level is the most important. I made a mistake of not aligning the left side of the wall, resulting in a rather uneven wall on the left side. Next time I engage in a similar project, I will make sure the first level is very straight.

Sufian was a great help. I am quite impressed that he is able to pass me the heavy bricks now! He was very careful not to drop them on his toes. I let him set the last brick, which is the capstone brick. Given how he was telling his mother about how he set the brick, he must be very proud of it.