To Get You Started Soil Blocking and Planting TODAY!
There are many benefits to using wooden soil blocking trays including overall strength, water retention, flat surface area for small 3/4 inch blocks, and easy to transport. Wooden soil blocking trays are MUCH stronger than standard 1020 greenhouse trays.
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These tools help get the job done efficiently- there are always substitutions. Tape measure, saw (i prefer table saw), straight edge, hammer, square (if you have one).
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Use at least 1/2 inch thick plywood. One 2’x2′ sheet will make two wooden soil block trays. We used leftover plywood that we had stored from other projects.
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We used 1 1/2″ finishing nails for this project and found that they were easy to use and held the wood together nicely. We tried three different ways to fasten the boards together including air nailing, drilling + screwing, and using finishing nails. The finishing nails were so simple, didn’t split the plywood apart and required little equipment (a win in my books).
3
Wood glue will help to hold your soil blck trays together and will work with nails to make a strong held bond between the wood pieces.
01
Start by measuring the base of the wooden soil block tray. 8 3/4 inches long by 8 inches wide.
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Next measure the two short side pieces. 8 1/2 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide
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Lastly measure the long edge. 18 3/4 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide
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Each tray can hold 32 2-inch soil blocks or 240 3/4 inch soil blocks (perfectly fits 12 mini soil block forms).
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The tray is made with three sides on purpose. Leaving a side open allows easy access to the delicate seedings with a trowel or flipper.
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Be thrifty, use the nails and wood that you have on hand or that are easily accessible.
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Sand lightly if necessary + Change up the tray size to suit your needs!
Now that you have your wooden soil blocking trays mastered, consider checking out this simple soil blocking guuid
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