In the last decade, landscapers have come up with many ideas about how to use concrete in your garden. The use of concrete and rocks to build decorative or retaining walls has become a common practice. With molds or by placing cement blocks in the ground, one can both make their garden more attractive and improve its efficient functioning. This material is also used nowadays to make statues and to construct furniture, patios and other objects.
On first thought, gardeners may react with skepticism when they are introduced to the concept of utilizing concrete as a decorative material. But, in the last ten years or so, many landscapers and home gardeners have begun to successfully adapt this substance for aesthetic as well as practical gardening uses.
Perhaps the first consideration when one decides to use concrete in the construction of their garden is if it will be a more or less permanent site or if they plan to move it each growing season. It may make little sense to base the structure of ones garden upon such a durable material, because once it is set into the ground, it will last for many years and is difficult to relocate.
The use of rock walls has come into fashion in gardening circles, for retaining walls or simply for the decorative effect of low walls to guide strollers through the plot. Retaining walls are useful for areas that are not level, to hold the good soil into the garden area, and walls help to keep pets and unwanted pests out of the area.
Single blocks can be set into the ground in decorative patterns or used as landscape edging for borders. Those who have dug out invading roots year after year from plastic sheeting or loose gravel used as borders will understand the convenience gained from this. Forming or purchasing cement steps for use in hilly areas is also effective.
Forms made from plastic or wood can be bought or made oneself to mold single bricks or in irregular patterns. These forms can be filled with concrete and troweled off level at the top to create walking paths through a vegetable patch. This method simulates a hand set stone walkway, with differently shaped blocks forming the walk, or one may employ this to make a patio.
Concrete blocks, also called cinder blocks, can be used for walls, edging, or as decorative elements set into the ground. The spaces in these blocks can be filled with concrete, or with soil and used as planters for individual plants. Molds can also be purchased or built to create decorative shapes such as spheres or columns to be used as architectural elements. There are many sources online such as instructional videos which explain this process.
Gardening centers and concrete companies manufacture many items using concrete for gardens such as furniture, wells, birdbaths and statuary. Also available are columns, finials and other architectural shapes if one is looking into how to use concrete in your garden. With a little research, a landscaper will find that many options exist to build a tremendous growing space.
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