******
- Verified Buyer
Very happy with my purchase and was glad I discovered this product when looking for ideas on having a stone wall built to outline a garden box. In total I spent about $400 on sections, gravel, and limestone screening, plus I installed this in less than a day's work in the yard. I'm very happy with how it turned out. I have a couple thoughts to share: I put a bag of gravel in each section to give it some weight - I cut a 4 inch diameter whole in the bottom to fill it (I think the bit I used is called a hole saw bit - it's the big circle with teeth that leaves a remaining disc after cutting), then the left over disc I just tape over the hole to somewhat close it off to keep the rocks in there. I think you definitely need to add some weight to each section to give it more durability and structure - I think to install this without any sand or gravel in them would be foolish. The instructions mentioned a plug in the back to pop out, but there was no plug, there was an indented spot where I think you're meant to drill. I also drilled a couple tiny drip holes in the bottom of each section. And with any stone or paver installation I did a fine limestone screening as a base to level out my ground and cuz I don't think it's smart to install these directly on dirt without and screening first. I used between 2 - 3 bags of screening for 6 sections. Product seems pretty durable and has a nice 'stone' finish to it, without knowing the product and seeing it from a distance it could pass for real stone. The metal stakes are long, but I wish they were another 6 or 10 inches longer, simply because that would provide more staying power. So far, I'm happy with how it looks and I feel like it should hold up to holding soil for a garden.Smaller than you think they'll be! They are 3' 6" at the top with a 6 inch projection to hook into the next piece. If you take one kit and make it into a square, the inside dimention is exactly 3' x 3'. So 9 square feet of garden bed vs the 16 square feet you think you'll get. A huge difference! I got 3 kits to make 2 - 4' x 8' beds. I got 3' x 6' beds for the inside measurement! I thought it would be a little smaller then 4' x 8', but its a lot smaller! So now I need an extra kit to make a 3 x 10' bed for my new garden boxes. In the week it took to ship it to me, they have raised the price by twenty dollars. Ugh! The boxes are quite nice though! They look great from my house and were so light weight! The boxes are big, so my teen daughter helped me carry them to the back of the house. Someone with longer arms could have easily managed by themselves. My 6 and 7 yr olds put them together (without the stakes as we need another kit!). They loved the "huge Legos!" They are nice and thick, which will be nice for sitting on to tend the veggies and not have to kneel. All in all, I'm quite happy with the quality, but wish that they were the implied full advertised size. Only on the end piece of a wall, with the end blocks, will you reach 48" the middle pieces of the wall will be 42", so plan accordingly! If you are making a square or rectangle bed, the measurements are significantly smaller. Hopefully this helps someone else plan out their boxes or walls. They are a full 10" high! Once I get another kit and get it set up, I think that these boxes will be perfect for Square Foot Garden boxes. The inside measurements are exactly 3' x 10' with 2 kits. A nice depth for kids and shorter people to reach in comfortably to garden. These boxes look so much nicer then the cedar boxes we had before!The product installed easily, only made difficult by my terrain and uneven ground. After leveling off the soil and making sure the wall would be the same height, I was surprised how quickly it went. Looks very authentic and most people would not be inspecting it close enough to tell it's not real stone. You can stand on it without any issues.I did not buy the end kits but managed to just take a hacksaw and cut one of the pieces in half. With the open ends facing against a flush surface (brick staircase in my case), you cannot tell it is hollow inside. If you wanted something stronger, you can always cut a small hole in the side and fill with sand. This will add even more rigidity and strength without compromising the look. I might do so at a later time. Pricey but saves time and labor.Ease of Install -- super easy. Just level your ground, line up your bricks and use a mallet to drive in the rebar stakes. If you already have level ground, it's two minutes per section to install.Sturdiness -- so-so. I've got some bowing from the soil pressure in the planter. If I had more pressure on the front side of the rocks, that would probably prevent bowing.Look - overall, pretty good. From 25 feet out, these look real, As you move in, they increasingly look artificial. Light also impacts the look. In the shade or on overcast days, these look real. In direct sunlight, not as much.I've attached a picture for comparison. The large rocks in the planter are fake, the small rocks on top of the rock wall are real.So I am almost 60 and was able to do this on my own, which is a plus. Important to level out the ground first as they need a flat surface. My only complaint is the lack of variety, I could really use some shorter straight pieces, as I am enclosing an existing garden.The seller has horrible customer service. Unlike advertised, the item’s back is not stone like. This is not a problem if you are using it as a retaining wall and fill it. But it you are just using it as a short wall and not filling the back, then the back shows and it doesn’t look pretty. The seller is trying to not disclose this and then is not accepting returns. STAY AWAY. not worth the hassle you are going through with them
