When we moved into our house, we gained a beautiful garden which had lots of potential but when our little ones came along we realised that it wasn’t very child-friendly due to there being trip hazards between the grass and patio. We also really wanted a space where we could grow our own fruit and vegetables. So I started doing some research to see if I could find a solution to our unique challenge.
WoodBlocX Review
After visiting a few websites, I came across the WoodBlocX site and this quickly caught my attention. WoodBlocX is a unique, patented modular system designed to revolutionise garden landscaping. Crafted from sustainably sourced Scots pine, these interlocking timber blocks offer people like me a versatile and durable solution for constructing their own bespoke garden pieces. You can use the system to design and build your own wooden raised beds, ponds, retaining walls, and seating arrangements.
Manufactured in the Scottish Highlands, WoodBlocX combines quality craftsmanship with environmental responsibility, making it an excellent choice for anyone who wants to create their dream garden, at an affordable price. You can design and assemble it yourself – which makes it all the more worthwhile.
The Design Process – WoodBlocX Review
WoodBlocX offers a free design service where you answer a few questions and one of their designers will create a bespoke solution using WoodBlocX. I didn’t use the design service as my planters were quite straightforward, being long rectangular shapes, but if I were creating more complex structures, I absolutely would take advantage of this service.
Our planters were to fill very long spaces which would divide up the grass area of our garden which is raised, against the patio area that is lower down. As part of this garden project, we also put in some additional steps and another pathway, so the kids could gain easy access to the playhouse which is next to one of the planters.
The reason for going for a bespoke system like WoodBlocX is that I wanted the planters to be high (65 cm) because they would sit on the patio and for that reason, I didn’t want them to be a trip hazard for anyone on the raised grass. As I already mentioned, our planters needed to fill a really long space. The longest is over 4 metres in length. I also didn’t want them to be too wide as one of the planters would take up some of the space in our outdoor dining area and I still wanted to be able to have a large table and chairs there. We also needed this planter to fit in between our pergola which we were also planning to refurbish.
The ordering process was so easy, I just measured how big I wanted my planters (and measured again to be sure!) and then went online and placed my order. The ordering process online was straightforward and I could request a delivery date that suited us.
Key Features
Modular Design and Versatility – WoodBlocX Review
The core of the WoodBlocX system lies in its modular design. Each block is precisely cut and pre-drilled, allowing for easy assembly without the need for power tools or specialised skills. I assure you the assembly part of the system is quite straightforward. You need to be able to lift the pieces and you’ll need to be comfortable using a lump hammer, but apart from that it’s quite simple. Alongside the wood, I only ordered two things – a lump hammer and a dowel cutter. These were the only tools I needed throughout the assembly phase.
If you watch any of the WoodBlocX videos, you see the structures are assembled by an interlocking mechanism, secured with strong recycled plastic dowels. So, whether your project involves straight walls, curved planters, tiered gardens, or integrated seating, WoodBlocX adapts to your creativity and your garden vision.
Sustainable and High-Quality Materials – WoodBlocX Review
Sustainability is at the forefront of WoodBlocX’s ethos. Let me share a few more details about this. The timber used is primarily sourced from local forests in Scotland, this helps with creating a smaller carbon footprint. Each piece of my planter is made from slow-grown Scots pine, selected to exclude the heartwood, which is more prone to decay.
You can read more about this on the WoodBlocX website, but the blocks undergo a rigorous pressure treatment process with a water-based preservative, penetrating nearly 100% of the wood. This treatment guarantees longevity, with structures expected to last at least 15 years. What’s even better is that they won’t need additional maintenance. With a young family, I definitely needed something that I wouldn’t have to maintain and would last a long time.
Ease of Assembly – WoodBlocX Review
One of the standout features of WoodBlocX is its user-friendly assembly process. The modular blocks can be lifted relatively easily and the interlocking design is easy to build. Detailed, layer-by-layer instructions are emailed to you when you place your order. To make your structure, you don’t need to cut or drill anything.
The first order we placed was for two of the largest planters which came in mid-April. It took me a day to build and position these in the garden. Once assembled, they are incredibly heavy and strong, so you have to build them in place – there is no way of moving planters of this size once they are assembled. In theory, you could disassemble them and move them somewhere else, but as these have been designed to fit a specific space, I doubt we would do this.
The following year, we ordered the third planter. When it arrived I was 7 months pregnant and I started to build it, quickly realising that I was going to have to admit defeat – getting my husband to build this final planter. But if you like a bit of flatpack, you’ll love building these. As I mentioned, the structures come with a step-by-step guide which shows you exactly which pieces go where. It’s so easy to follow and I got into a lovely groove, on a beautiful sunny day, building these.
Durability and Strength – WoodBlocX Review
WoodBlocX structures are engineered to withstand significant forces. You’ll find that each dowel joint can endure up to 0.9 tonnes of shear force, ensuring the integrity of your garden structures. My children climb all over them as they are picking the fruit and veg and I have no doubt about the structural integrity of these. People choose them as this resilience makes WoodBlocX ideal for constructing retaining walls and large raised beds.
Aesthetic Appeal – WoodBlocX Review
One of the biggest factors, aside from the ability to have the exact size we needed, is the look of the planters. The natural appearance of WoodBlocX adds a rustic charm to our garden. Wood is a lovely choice, it’s much more natural looking and over time, the timber weathers to an attractive silver-grey patina. If you wanted to, you could paint the wood with a water-based exterior paint to match the rest of your garden, but I think they look stunning as they are.
Showcase – WoodBlocX Review
It’s important when you are researching such a big purchase that you see what others have done with their structures, so I thought I would share some of the lovely ways we are using our WoodBlocX planters.
The picture below shows us growing sweet peas using an obelisk which fits perfectly in our planter.
This is our largest planter which as you can see we had a great haul of carrots from. We also grew sweetcorn (on the right of the photo) and lemon apple cucumbers (on the left). At the bottom of the planter, you’ll see the creeping foliage of a crown prince squash which did very well in our planters.
We grow sweetcorn most years in our planters. There’s nothing better than picking off our own fresh sweetcorn and eating it for the next meal.
Our WoodBlocXPlanters – 4 Years On
So the big question is how are they fairing 4 years on? We had our first planter blocks delivered in April 2021 and built them the next day. Four years on, they still look fantastic and they are doing a great job of helping us grow our own organic fruit and vegetables from our back garden. We’ve got a rather large silver birch in our garden which gives us shade, but also causes us a bit of greening in our garden. The planters do get a bit of this greening, mainly at the bottom, on the side where they get no sunlight, but a hose down and scrub each spring and these come up lovely. They still look fantastic, they are standing strong and they are an amazing addition to our garden.
They are quite a stark comparison to the pergola which desperately needs a repaint – bearing in mind this was sanded and painted back at the same time in 2021. Our garden fence was also painted just 2 years ago and looks like it could do with another coat. The uncoated planters look rather new in comparison. I’m so impressed with the quality and I firmly believe they will last us a long time.
Before and After Pictures
Before I conclude my WoodBlocX review, I’d like to share some of the before and after photos from our garden transformation.
Before
After
Before
After
We love spending time in our garden and it was so important to have a safe space which we can all enjoy. We all love the fruits and vegetables that grow in our garden. The whole family gets involved in planning, sowing, watering, weeding and harvesting. If you are reading this WoodBlocX review to invest in one of the modular systems, I would highly recommend it. Our planters have helped us create our dream garden and are so pleased with our purchase. Alongside the other changes we made to our garden, it has given us, in my opinion, a huge extra space in which we can play, eat and relax.
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