What can you make blocks of the garden. Retaining wall design options

You can make many decorative elements for your garden with your own hands. Moreover, they will all be made in the same style, which (within reasonable limits) ennobles overall design yard and landscape.

We are talking about such an affordable and flexible material as concrete. It does not need to be plastered, at best, painted if you want to add bright notes to the landscape. In most cases, however, designers retain the brutal gray texture of this material.

By the way, about painting ... The concrete surface can be painted outside, having previously primed, you can discolor the solution, giving it a noble milky shade, or you can buy more expensive white cement and purposefully cast snow-white products.

Colored dyes are added to the white cement solution to give a rich shade to the entire mass. This is especially true in the manufacture of tiles and steps, upper layer which will gradually wear out.

It is difficult to talk about what can be made of concrete; it is easier to list what cannot be made of it. And it is impossible to replace glass with concrete and completely fill the entire surface of the territory - the earth must "breathe".

Personally, I really love working with this material. From it I make small elements of my still young garden: slabs, steps, I also plan to create a series of large flowerpots and a couple of retaining walls.

So that the finished product does not look cheap, it is important to pay maximum attention to the upper plane of the product (it should be smooth) and the corners (it is better to slightly round them). I perform the alignment operation the next day after pouring while the composition is still raw, but has already taken shape. I can describe the subtleties of the work schematically: I remove the excess with a wooden bar, then I sand it with my hands in wet cotton gloves. All the nuances are purely intuitive.

If you pour the cement mortar into the mold, then I must lubricate its walls with a fatty substance. It can be vegetable oil or waste machine oil.

As a form, I use a box made of flexible fiberboard or any plastic containers. This is quite enough for the manufacture of small-sized products. For rectilinear elements of a larger volume, more durable boards and chipboard are chosen. You can use a magnesite slab; when making a large number of identical elements, it will quickly pay off.

This concludes our acquaintance with the technology and move on to design.

Concrete surfaces look most appropriate in landscapes with a pronounced modern focus. They harmoniously contrast (if I can say so at all :) natural relief (sometimes even with the effect of neglect) and emphasized artificial industrial details.

Concrete combines luxuriously with rough wood: thick brushed beams or logs are the perfect addition to a concrete countertop or bench.

Cast from concrete? Today it is a favorite feature not only of the Art Nouveau garden, but also of the regular landscape. They make the basis for garden fountains from the spheres, scatter them like billiard balls in different corners of the landscape, they designate the beginning of the path, the center flower arrangement and they are simply placed in bulk within a certain framework.

Concrete elements look best surrounded by discreet flowers and grasses planted in massifs.

CONCRETE WALLS

Vertical concrete structures are cast exclusively into formwork. This is a responsible procedure. Firstly, it is important to correctly install the formwork itself. Secondly, when pouring the solution into the formwork, air locks appear, in order to avoid them, it is necessary to use a deep vibrator, or cast in layers, gradually raising the formwork.

CONCRETE + WATER

Concrete is "friendly" with water, since it was originally incorporated in the composition of the solution. However, if you do not follow the drying technology (slowly, under a canopy at a moderate temperature), then the product will turn out to be "fragile" and may begin to deteriorate in about five years.

The hydrophobic treatment is carried out in order to make the concrete water-repellent and prolong its life.

Concrete products that have not undergone this procedure in a year can acquire a noble mossiness, which looks very impressive on garden decor.

Professional experts in landscape design are able to make a suburban area an exclusive territory, using various materials... Today there is a technology for the manufacture of special decorative concrete, helping to build beautiful paths in the garden, convenient parking spaces, a platform for summer kitchen, near the gazebo, reservoir and other summer cottages.

Differences between decorative concrete and its classic version.
Concrete of the classical type is among the building materials, and the final finishing is carried out with a decorative concrete mixture. suburban area... Decorative concrete has the advantage of being the richest a set of textures and a wide color palette, combined with the highest possible convenience of further use.

Thanks to these properties, the material becomes an excellent tool for implementing design options for the surfaces of the garden and utility part of the summer cottage, located in a horizontal position. Also, facades of buildings and structures are faced with a similar concrete mixture, small architectural forms are built.

Unlike ordinary concrete, the composition of the decorative mixture is supplemented with special ingredients, and the installation method requires the image to be applied to the surface filled with mortar using special stamps. The main performance characteristics of the decorative concrete mortar allow the material to most effectively repeat the texture of ceramic tiles, stone, wood and other finishes.

Among the ingredients of decorative concrete mix, coloring pigments with multi-colored hardeners and plasticizers are necessarily found. The last component increases the resistance to too high mechanical loads, changes temperature regime, intensity of ultraviolet solar radiation.

Advantages and disadvantages of decorative concrete.
The decorative concrete surface is effectively cleaned of dirt, does not absorb grease and oil stains. Manufacturers paint this versatile material in various shades. They retain their original appearance for a very long time, being in an area of ​​a decorated garden plot, illuminated by straight lines. sunbeams.

The exploitation of decorative concrete is accompanied by an annual surface treatment with water repellents, which preserve the optimal moisture resistance parameter and the integrity of the coating. Decorating a summer cottage area with decorative concrete will become a more economical process in relation to the use of expensive varieties natural stone or noble wood.

But this method of decorating the site cannot be called completely budgetary. For example, purchased paving slabs are suitable for self styling... The process of pouring decorative concrete, endowing the material with the texture and shade necessary for the designer is carried out by professional craftsmen.

Before creating paths in the garden with your own hands, various sites and small architectural forms, the previously studied technological rules for carrying out work must be followed. Otherwise, the material will deteriorate, and resources will be wasted.

The use of decorative concrete in landscape design.
With a decorative concrete mixture, the owners of suburban areas pour the surfaces of garden paths, the driveway to a car garage or parking space. The material participates in the arrangement of the summer kitchen area, the area for sports activities and the rest of the summer cottage area, where a quickly trampled lawn cannot be created.

In addition to the horizontally placed surfaces of the site, the facades of residential suburban buildings are finished with decorative concrete. The material is capable of creating an illusory brick, wood or stone wall. It is also indispensable for the implementation of design ideas for decorating a summer residence with figures, balustrades, columns, flowerpots, benches.

The latest aesthetically pleasing landscape design elements serve a practical purpose. The owners of large plots form a variety of decorative concrete compositions. They freely imitate minimalist objects with the strictest geometry, marble statues, stucco moldings or exclusive bas-reliefs.

Decorative terraces and garden bridges are also cast from a multi-colored concrete mixture. Balusters and concrete railings of the fence will get a particularly spectacular look. The emergence of a versatile material facilitated the creation of hedges surrounding the territory of a suburban area.

Concrete fences of the required height are assembled from separate sections, which reduces the cost of money and other resources during the installation process, which does not require the use of special large-sized equipment. Then the ideal safety of plants and lawn spaces located outside and inside the fence will be ensured.

The fulfillment of a specific task allows you to make a choice between simple multi-colored concrete and a concrete mixture that repeats the texture of natural stone, forcibly aged by diamond processing of components. A pronounced texture and relief is formed by the action of special additives from crushed limestone, marble chips, basalt or anthracite particles.

Obtaining the desired effect is achieved by removing the top concrete layer with mortar to make the aggregate grains visible. If you are looking for universal materials for the implementation of the most creative landscape design projects, it is recommended to study the characteristics of decorative concrete. Professionally laid material will help creative people make their design dreams come true.

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We are used to seeing concrete as a building material. It is widely used in the construction of buildings and bridges, flooring and foundations.

However, decorative products can also be produced from it, in particular, outdoor concrete flowerpots for flowers. Such flower girls will be an excellent decoration for any suburban area, city streets and squares.

Types and uses of street flower girls

For the manufacture of flowerpots for flowers are usually used: ceramics, plastic, metal, wood, stone, fiberglass and concrete. The use of concrete for the manufacture of a flower garden is one of the most advantageous options.

Concrete is an artificial durable material that is made from several components: binder, aggregate and water. To improve the characteristics, various modifiers are introduced into the mixture, pigments are added to color the product. Stylish, attractive, decorative flower girls are produced from this material.

The most commonly used are vases of discreet colors: gray, white, brown. However, to create a bright island, forms of bright colors are also used.

Standard forms of concrete flower girls:

Benefits of concrete flower boxes

What are the advantages of outdoor concrete flowerpots:

• Strength, durability of structures.
• Immunity to influences external factors... When under open air concrete flower beds are able to maintain an excellent appearance for many years (especially those treated with water-repellent impregnation).
• A variety of forms that allow you to create beauty and comfort in any territory.
• Environmental friendliness. The material from which the flowerpots are made does not harm the environment, people and the plants themselves.
• Attractive appearance. Plants in flowerpots feel comfortable, as the concrete does not heat up much in the sun.
• Due to their massiveness, the flower beds are very stable, they do not need additional fastening.
• Affordable price.
• Anti-vandal qualities.
• The ability to make a unique product with your own hands.

Decorating the territory with flowers, shrubs and trees is an essential element of landscape design. For landscaping, perennials and plants planted for one season are used.

For these purposes, there are many techniques and techniques. Basically, planting is carried out in the ground, however, various pots, vases and flower beds have recently been very popular.

One of the advantages of growing plants in flowerpots is the ability to use the soil required by certain species and not available in the decorated area. Another plus is that there is no need to dig holes in the ground and weed out weeds.

These small architectural forms can be strict, even ascetic, sometimes rough, not distracting attention from the plants themselves, or made with the use of exquisite finishes. You can choose a flower garden design for every taste and for different exteriors.

Concrete outdoor flowerpots can be installed everywhere:

• In personal country farms;
• Near hotels, cafes and shops;
• In parks and squares;
• In squares and train stations;
• Near public institutions and administrative buildings;
• At the entrance to office rooms;
• Small concrete flower boxes will perfectly decorate terraces, verandas, patios and balconies.

Important! It should be borne in mind that concrete flowerpots are quite massive and, in order to avoid inconveniences in the future, they must be installed immediately at the place of their permanent location.

Often, when placing plants in concrete structures, pre-planting them in pots is used. The convenience of this technology lies in its mobility. In spring and summer, flowers and shrubs will delight the eye, being in beautiful concrete vases. In the cold season, heat-loving crops can be easily removed from a concrete flower garden and placed in a warm room.

Concrete vases can be used both indoors and outdoors. Such products may differ in shape, size and weight. When choosing a model, color scheme, when installing it, one should take into account the peculiarities of the territory, the size of the surrounding space, the style of its design.

For installation on the street, more overall flower beds are used, most often having strict forms. In addition to decorative ones, concrete flowerpots also perform practical functions. With their help, you can not only decorate the territory, but also carry out its zoning. In settlements, the installation of flower beds often helps to block traffic in areas not intended for this.

Installing concrete flowerpots near commercial establishments will not only decorate the territory and create a picturesque oasis, but also attract additional customers.

Outdoor concrete flowerpots can be stationary and portable.

In shape, flower girls can be round in cross section, rectangular or complex shapes, made in the form of a vase or animal figures. Elongated models look good along the paths.

What plants can be placed in a concrete flowerpot

For planting in a concrete flower garden, flowering plants and ornamental shrubs.

You can plant one type of plant in a flowerpot, or combine different ones. For these purposes, multi-section and multi-tiered products are well suited.

To create interesting compositions, it is important to choose the right plants.

The following flowers will look especially advantageous in concrete flowerpots:

When choosing, you should pay attention to the following factors:

• The root system should not be too bulky.
• The plant should not be capricious to temperature extremes and changes in humidity.
• When combining plants, taller ones are planted in the center of the flowerpot, and dwarf ones along the edges.
• Flowering plants should have a maximum flowering time.

A large number of various models of concrete flower girls are on sale, for every taste and wallet. It is also not difficult to order products from specialized companies. However, you can embody your individual taste preferences by making the structure yourself.

Making concrete flowerpots

A great advantage of a flower garden made of concrete is the ability to produce and decorate it with your own hands and from scrap materials. Vases can also be made from ordinary concrete, however, adding crumbs from river sand and quartz will add decorativeness to the products. Finishing can also be done using wooden parts, stone, shells.

Due to the plasticity of the concrete mixture, interesting shapes can be created.

For the production of a concrete flower girl you will need:

1. Cement, sand, water, vegetable (or machine) oil for mold lubrication, plastic pipes for drainage. If you need a colored flowerpot, you should stock up on dye.
2. Forms. Usually two forms are required, one of which is inserted into the other. The thickness of the walls of the future flowerpot should be planned to be about 3 cm.

Ready-made forms can be purchased.

Forms for concrete outdoor flowerpots can be made from scrap materials:

• Plastic barrels and buckets. These containers are the most primitive and popular.
• Cardboard boxes covered with tape and foil.
• The pelvis. Any ball (such as a rubber ball or bowling ball) can be used to make the groove.
• Cube-shaped shapes made of plywood.

Do-it-yourself options for making concrete flower girls using different forms:

Instructions for making flowerpots:

1. Two forms are taken. One will play the role of a limiter outer surface, the other ̶ internal. The molds are lubricated with oil.
2. A cement mortar is being prepared (2 parts of cement, 3 parts of sand, water).
3. A solution is poured into the bottom of a large container in a layer of 2-4 cm.
4. A plastic pipe (one or more) is inserted so that it rises slightly above the surface of the solution. The outside of the tube should also be lubricated.
5. A smaller container is installed so that it covers the drain pipe. To make it heavier, a load (for example, stones) is put into it.
6. The gaps between the molds are filled with mortar. The top edge is carefully leveled.

Important! To eliminate voids in concrete, poke the solution with a knitting needle.

1. After a day, the inner form can be removed. The concrete should be sprayed with water.
2. Dismantling of the outer form can be done in a week. Until then, the concrete needs to be sprayed periodically.
3. It is recommended to treat the finished flowerpot with a water-repellent impregnation.

As a result of simple manipulations, strong and durable flower girls are obtained (see photo). If you want to finish the finished flowerpot, you can use mosaics or pebbles that are laid on tile glue.

We suggest watching a video on this topic in this article. To decorate the facades of buildings, parks and suburban areas, you can use not only green spaces, but also small architectural forms. Outdoor concrete vases will help to decorate the territory. And made by hand, they practically do not require financial investments.

beton-house.com

DIY creative decoration for the site

Concrete bench with stucco

When equipping their site, everyone makes every effort, trying to bring the most creative ideas to life. The simplest, but no less effective example of such creativity can be a concrete bench.

After all, concrete is a unique material from which you can make any shape, of different colors and with all kinds of finishes. In our article, we have selected the most interesting and simple ideas creating such a concrete structure.

Choosing a design - project

Before proceeding directly to manufacturing, consider interesting ideas simple creative people and designers with a worldwide reputation. Moreover, all the shops presented are so easy to make that everyone can cope with this process.

To make such chairs as in the photo, you need a little sand concrete and an old thick rag. You need to lower the fabric into the finished solution, shape it and wait a day until it dries.

Step-by-step process of making a concrete bench

As you can see, any shape can be created from concrete. For those who have never made such shops, a simple instruction for making a simple model is offered.

Required tools and materials

Our bench consists of two parts - the legs in the form of a zigzag and the surface itself. To correctly assemble the form, you first need to carefully draw a drawing indicating the required dimensions.

According to the sketch, calculate how much OSB is needed for the formwork. To do this, add the lengths of all elements and multiply by the height of the future legs. As a result, you get the required area of ​​the material.

In addition, it will also be necessary:

• wooden blocks to strengthen the form;
• self-tapping screws for wood;
• grinder and disc for;
• decorative letters or other forms for decoration;
• optional pigment;
• vibrating table;
• waste machine oil and cling film;
• mixer or perforator with a construction mixer attachment (for those who will prepare the mortar themselves).

Required raw materials:

• in accordance with your form, it is necessary to calculate the volume of the solution;
• ready-mixed concrete M300. The price for it is not much higher than that made by oneself, but high level quality is immediately noticeable.

Attention! If you decide to make the solution yourself, then mixing is best done with a construction mixer or in a mixer. So the mixture will turn out to be homogeneous, which means - and more and better quality.

Raw materials for concrete M300:

• Portland cement М400Д20;
• dry, clean river sand, fine-grained;
• water;
• optional plasticizer and pigment.

The number of components in parts 1: 2.2 V / C = 0.35.

The pigment is dosed from the mass of cement - no more than 4%. If you plan to use a plasticizer, then its volume is also calculated from the amount of cement according to the attached instructions. Usually, an average of 0.56 part.

A masonry mesh is used to strengthen individual parts. It is cut in a form that is filled with mortar.

Formwork manufacturing

According to your drawing, start modeling the formwork.

To prevent the future structure from sticking to the formwork, you need to wrap it with cling film and treat it with used machine oil. The formwork is ready for pouring.

Solution preparation

This section is for those who dared to make the solution on their own. You must first mix the dry components and slowly add water until the required consistency is formed.

After the solution reaches full homogeneity, you can start molding.

Filling shapes

Place the formwork on a vibrating table and place concrete in it. It is necessary to "sink" the mesh or reinforcement in it. Turn on the vibrating table and shape the product, gently smooth the mortar to a flat surface.

Attention! To get letters or other decorative elements on the surface of the bench, before pouring the products, put the prepared decor on the bottom of the mold and mold.

The poured products need to be well defended, wrapped in foil at a positive temperature, but no more than three days.

Finishing

When the concrete has hardened, remove the formwork.

Optionally, you can additionally polish the structure to a mirror surface and paint. Another decoration idea is to decorate with old tiles, laying out a fancy mosaic from it.

Another option for finishing a concrete bench made with dark blue pigment

The video attached below in this article will tell you about another method of making your own concrete bench with a wooden seat.

Concrete block bench - decoration for any area

For those who do not want to mess with concrete, there is an easier option - using hollow blocks as the base of the bench. In this case, wooden blocks will be an excellent seat.

As you can see in the photo above, a concrete block bench can have a lot of variants of incarnations - it all depends on your desire and creative views. Do not forget to put the blocks on the mortar, and the bars on the glue, so that the bench is not only beautiful, but also comfortable.

beton-house.com

Concrete in landscape design: ideas and a master class

The combination of pliability and strength in the character of our hero has earned him a reputation as a versatile assistant in landscape design. From concrete, you can create a variety of design elements of all kinds of shapes and sizes. What shade of gray suits your garden?

Concrete is hard, durable, reliable and, with all its heavy weight, is plastic. As befits a gray cardinal, he is used to staying in the shadows, giving up the main place in the garden to the more popular heroes - stone, clinker and wood.

For a long time, concrete was used exclusively as a connecting link in the construction of walls and for the foundation, since garden trendsetters considered its "appearance" dull and not worthy of attention. And they were fundamentally wrong! Concrete is extremely malleable, it is easy to create any shapes for the garden and home, for example, letters. Tip: it is advisable to stick the wire into the still wet concrete, because later, in the process of drilling holes, the products can be broken.

Left: letters made of concrete. Right: concrete garden furniture.

Concrete furniture? Why not! After all, all that is needed to make it is cement-sand mortar and a form for filling. For strength, benches, sofas and tables should be reinforced with a metal mesh. Well, for convenience, it is enough to put soft pillows on the seat. Now the finest hour of Mister-in-gray-suit has finally struck: he was appreciated, allowing him to demonstrate the hitherto hidden aesthetic potential. Concrete art objects are an absolute trend! Moreover landscape designers actively combine concrete structures with natural materials: the same stone and wood. For example, when paving paths, granite paving stones are combined with concrete slabs or when constructing partitions, elements of wood and concrete are combined - "motley" details effectively contrast with each other.

Our hero is good in and of itself, because he can be painted in any color, given any shape and texture, and even create aesthetic imitations of natural materials from him, almost identical to the originals. Concrete - perfect option for the construction of retaining walls when terracing a garden on a slope or when strengthening the walls of a recessed garden. The latest squeak of fashion - stepping slabs barely protruding above the water surface instead of the traditional bridge thrown across the reservoir. However, it is better to entrust the implementation of such ambitious projects to professionals, since for their construction one cannot do without special knowledge and skills.

Left: Even a child can make such cute concrete hearts. Well, if you add a dye to the solution, the crafts will also become bright. Most importantly, do not forget to lubricate the craft form from the inside. vegetable oil... Right: Surrounded bright colors the rest is especially pleasant. The ensemble of a screen, raised flower beds and a bench was made of concrete and painted white. A similar structure can be erected from bricks, and then plaster the masonry.

Another thing is the design of garden accessories or containers for plants (you will find a master class on making a box below). Every gardener who does not even have great experience working with a "gray assistant" can give free rein to imagination and easily create a personal little masterpiece out of cement, sand and water.

The same applies to paving a terrace or walkway with concrete slabs. own production... Not confident in your abilities or just running out of time? This problem can be solved: you can buy ready-made concrete elements in the store. Decorating your favorite garden concrete structures, experiment with shape, shade, texture. One way or another, the secrets of the gray cardinal will certainly be revealed to you!

The oldest building material

It is believed that concrete was invented by our contemporaries. In fact, the ancient Romans used it with might and main in construction. Without it, the architects of those times simply could not have created such architectural masterpieces as, for example, the Pantheon in Rome with a vault in the form of a dome, erected in the 1st century AD.

Opus caementicium - as the Romans called concrete, which then consisted of gravel, sand and lime, as well as volcanic tuff, which provides products with special strength due to its high adhesion. The composition of modern concrete ( small photo above) still includes sand and gravel of different fractions, as well as cement. The latter is made from lime and clay, sand from granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash and gypsum.

Master class: mobile flower box

The original concrete box-pots can be made with your own hands from a cement-sand mortar. Mobile flower box 1. First, make a mold for your future craft - 2 waterproof boxes different sizes... The outer frame should be larger (it is advisable to screw the walls to each other, and seal the seams with silicone), the inner one should be smaller so that a gap of 4–5 cm remains between the walls (this will be the thickness of the walls of the future concrete container) when it is inserted into external box. Then lubricate the inside of the outer box and the outside of the inner box with sunflower oil to keep the concrete from sticking to the mold.

2. The next step: prepare a cement-sand mortar (the mass should resemble yogurt in consistency). Then put some of the mortar into a large outer container and level with a spatula (layer thickness approx. 4–5 cm). To maintain the required distance between the drawers, press 4 cork stoppers into the solution.

3. Place the inner drawer on top and weight it with cobblestones. Now gradually fill in the gaps between the walls of the boxes with the remaining solution.

4. After about 3 days, carefully remove the inner drawer and leave your creation to dry further.

5. The concrete will completely harden in only 2 weeks. Remove the outer frame by unscrewing the sides of the outer box.

6. Now, if desired, the wheels can be carefully screwed to the bottom of the container. If the product is to be airtight, the corks embedded in the bottom do not need to be removed. If drainage holes are required, they can simply be drilled in the plugs.

You may also have other articles on this topic:

Photo: archive of the magazine "Mein schoner Garten".

7dach.ru

Decorative concrete in landscape design.

Professional connoisseurs of landscape design are able to make a suburban area an exclusive area using various materials. Today, there is a technology for the manufacture of special decorative concrete, which helps to build beautiful paths in the garden, convenient parking spaces, an area for a summer kitchen, near a gazebo, a pond and other summer cottages.

Differences between decorative concrete and its classic version. Concrete of the classical type is among the building materials, and the decorative concrete mixture is used for the final finishing of the suburban area. Decorative concrete is endowed with the advantage of the richest set of textures and a wide color palette, combined with the highest possible convenience of further use.

Thanks to these properties, the material becomes an excellent tool for implementing design options for the surfaces of the garden and utility part of the summer cottage, located in a horizontal position. Also, facades of buildings and structures are faced with a similar concrete mixture, small architectural forms are built.

Unlike ordinary concrete, the composition of the decorative mixture is supplemented with special ingredients, and the installation method requires the image to be applied to the surface filled with mortar using special stamps. The main performance characteristics of the decorative concrete solution allow the material to replicate the texture of ceramic tiles, stone, wood and other finishes as efficiently as possible.

Among the ingredients of decorative concrete mix, coloring pigments with multi-colored hardeners and plasticizers are necessarily found. The last component increases the resistance to too high mechanical loads, changes in temperature, the intensity of ultraviolet solar radiation.

Advantages and disadvantages of decorative concrete The decorative concrete surface is effectively cleaned of dirt, does not absorb grease and oil stains. Manufacturers paint this versatile material in various shades. They retain their original appearance for a very long time, being in the area of ​​the decorated garden area, illuminated by direct sunlight.

The exploitation of decorative concrete is accompanied by an annual surface treatment with water repellents, which preserve the optimal moisture resistance parameter and the integrity of the coating. Decorating a summer cottage area with decorative concrete will become a more economical process in relation to the use of expensive varieties of natural stone or noble wood.

But this method of decorating the site cannot be called completely budgetary. For example, purchased paving slabs are suitable for self-installation. The process of pouring decorative concrete, endowing the material with the texture and shade necessary for the designer is carried out by professional craftsmen.

Before creating paths in the garden with your own hands, various sites and small architectural forms, the previously studied technological rules for carrying out work must be followed. Otherwise, the material will deteriorate, and resources will be wasted.

The use of decorative concrete in landscaping. The owners of suburban areas pour the surfaces of garden paths, the driveway to a car garage or parking space with decorative concrete. The material participates in the arrangement of the summer kitchen area, the area for sports activities and the rest of the summer cottage area, where a quickly trampled lawn cannot be created.

In addition to the horizontally placed surfaces of the site, the facades of residential suburban buildings are finished with decorative concrete. The material is capable of creating an illusory brick, wood or stone wall. It is also indispensable for the implementation of design ideas for decorating a summer residence with figures, balustrades, columns, flowerpots, benches.

The latest aesthetically pleasing landscape design elements serve a practical purpose. The owners of large plots form a variety of decorative concrete compositions. They freely imitate minimalist objects with the strictest geometry, marble statues, stucco moldings or exclusive bas-reliefs.

Decorative terraces and garden bridges are also cast in a multi-colored concrete mix. Balusters and concrete railings of the fence will get a particularly spectacular look. The emergence of a versatile material facilitated the creation of hedges surrounding the territory of a suburban area.

Concrete fences of the required height are assembled from separate sections, which reduces the cost of money and other resources during the installation process, which does not require the use of special large-sized equipment. Then the ideal safety of plants and lawn spaces located outside and inside the fence will be ensured.

The fulfillment of a specific task allows you to make a choice between simple multi-colored concrete and a concrete mixture that repeats the texture of natural stone, forcibly aged by diamond processing of components. A pronounced texture and relief is formed by the action of special additives from crushed limestone, marble chips, basalt or anthracite particles.

Obtaining the desired effect is achieved by removing the top concrete layer with mortar to make the aggregate grains visible. If you are looking for universal materials for the implementation of the most creative landscape design projects, it is recommended to study the characteristics of decorative concrete. Professionally laid material will help creative people make their design dreams come true.

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In contact with

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landbuilding.ru

characteristic, photo, coating in landscape design

Decorative concrete, as well as solutions based on it, can be produced not only in the factory, but also directly at the facility. Such construction and finishing decorative coating often used in landscaping is also known as printed or stamped concrete.

Decorative concrete: characteristics, advantages and disadvantages

Decorative concretes are monolithic materials compacted with special stamps. During the production process, it undergoes special chemical treatments, which allows it to be laid in a special way. This technology is very popular in most developed countries including Japan, America, Germany and England.

The main, most important advantages:

• decorative concretes are many times superior to paving or road facing tiles in terms of resistance to loads;
• the presence of the richest and widest color and shade range;
• increased resistance to compounds such as petroleum products, organic solvents, acids and alkalis;
• the ability to easily transfer compressive and bending loads;
• the ability to operate in severe frosts and heat;
• resistance to negative ultraviolet effects.

As a rule, decorative concretes are used in suburban construction. The material is widely used as a decoration for the facades of cottages and other suburban real estate, and is also popular in the design of garden paths and paths, in the arrangement of fountains, waterfalls and the area around the pool or artificial reservoir... Decorative concrete can be represented by panels, borders, gutters and elements of small architectural forms.

Operation should be accompanied by annual treatments of the coating surface with special water repellents capable of maintaining optimal moisture resistance parameters and full integrity. Definitely, finishing the backyard area with decorative cement mixtures becomes every year the most economical option in comparison with the use of expensive natural stone or noble wood species.

How to make a garden path from concrete with your own hands (video)

Types of decorative concrete

There are several types of such material:

• stamped solutions;
• stencil mixtures;
• sprayed mixtures.

The first option involves applying a colored fixer, hydrophobic additives and an anti-stick mixture to a damp surface. The surface is carefully smoothed, and then a "template" in the form of textured rubber matrices is used. After hardening, the matrix is ​​removed, the surfaces are washed from the remnants of the composition and used components. At the last stage, a protective impregnation is applied.

The stencil method is characterized by the application of paper templates that imitate finishing materials. In order to imitate stone or brick, the technology of "spraying" is used using acid dyes, applied to the mixture in several thin layers, which allows obtaining an attractive color shade with various effects. The use of spray guns, masking tapes or stencils is allowed.

What is the difference between decorative concrete and classic

From the point of view of manufacturing technology, decorative concretes belong to the category of composite materials, the composition of which is presented:

• fine aggregate;
• large filler;
• water;
• cement;
• dyes;
• additives.

It is the composition that makes decorative concrete different from the classic material. Pigments for cements can be presented:

• titanium dioxide to obtain a white color;
• manganese oxide to obtain a lilac color;
• chromium oxide to obtain a green color;
• ocher for yellow color;
• iron oxide to obtain a red color;
• iron oxide and kaolin for a pink color;
• manganese peroxide to obtain black.

Such colored material holds almost any shape, so the scope of its application is almost limitless:

• colored decorative concretes are used in the manufacture of high-quality and beautiful paving slabs;
• artistic concretes are widely used in the decoration of buildings, as well as in the manufacture of various sculptures and figures;
• concretes imitating stone are used in the arrangement of the basement part, in the design of facades and blind areas.

It is the purpose that determines the composition, appearance and other main characteristics of the finishing material.

Variants of using landscape decor in garden decor

Decorative concretes in the broad sense of this term are materials intended for laying and having undergone a three-stage chemical treatment with subsequent finishing.

Landscaping material is most often represented by printed concrete, dozens of different colors and shades of which make it possible to combine external aesthetics with excellent performance. It is used in the garden and park landscape, when decorating sidewalks and sales areas, as the main materials for decorating the interiors of restaurants and cafes:

• creation of garden sculptures, benches, small architectural forms;
• creation of small landscape compositions;
• creating gazebos;
• creation of gates and fences;
• creation of barbecues and fireplaces;
• creation of recreation areas and playgrounds.

Fences and fences made of such concrete are much more profitable and are erected faster, and in terms of their main characteristics they are not at all inferior to products made of stone or traditional bricks. Concrete decorative columns look spectacular on large areas with a lawn.

Flowerpots and flowerpots made of colored concrete mixtures are used not only for their intended purpose, but also as a very attractive, decorative landscape element. Such forms can be successfully complemented by an alley, a park or a recreation area. A garden bench and a fountain are in great demand among owners of suburban real estate. In addition to durability, this design will be a great modern decoration element.

How to apply paint to concrete (video)

How to lay the coating yourself

The phased creation of the coating is not too difficult, but it requires strict adherence to a certain technology.

Materials and tools must be submitted:

• roller;
• flat brush;
• protective impregnation;
• a brush with stiff bristles;
• texture matrix;
• disconnector;
• colored fixer;
• roller;
• concrete mix;
• corner and aluminum trowels;
• vibration rail;
• crushed stone;
• plastic wrap
• reinforcing fiber.

Preparatory activities:

• check the quality of cement, the grade of which should not be less than M300;
• add a plasticizer at positive temperatures;
• marking with wooden pegs with a stretched twine;
• remove the top layer of soil to a depth of 15-20 cm;
• install formwork along the entire length of the structure;
• fill up a crushed stone-sand pillow with a height of 10-15 cm;
• tamp the crushed stone-sand pillow;
• lay a plastic wrap with an overlap of 10 cm at the joints;
• reinforcement with metal mesh or reinforcing cloth.

Self-styling technology at positive temperatures in dry weather:

• production of concrete mortar based on one part of PC M400, three parts of granite crushed stone of fraction 5/20, three parts of sifted sand, 0.5% aqueous solution of plasticizer C3 with the addition of polypropylene fiber at the rate of 600 g per cubic meter of mixture;
• uniform pouring of the resulting solution into the formwork and compaction by means of a vibrating lath;
• rolling a roller on a concrete surface and then smoothing the surface with an aluminum trowel;
• processing the perimeter with a corner float;
• application of colored fixers by hand scattering and smoothing with an aluminum and then steel trowel, followed by coating with a thin layer of the disconnector;
• applying texture with matrices over the entire area.

After the surface dries well, the residues of the compounds are removed from the surface with a brush. At the final stage, treatment is carried out with acrylic impregnation applied to the roller.

Decorative concrete: features of masonry (video)

As a rule, decorative cement mixtures are very compacted finishing and Construction Materials, which have a characteristic surface with a special, highly decorative print. Such fake diamond has become very popular not only abroad, but also in our country, due to the availability of self-production, quality and durability.

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dachadecor.ru

DIY outdoor flowerpots: wooden, concrete, photo, video

Decorating a courtyard, garden or summer cottage is a fascinating and long-term business, and also requires decent material costs. To save money, many things for decorating a garden / plot can be done by hand. This time it will be on how to make outdoor flowerpots. Let's take a closer look at the manufacturing process from two materials - wood and concrete. These are the most flexible and inexpensive materials from which you can make very good things.

Wooden flowerpots

Wood may not be the best choice for making outdoor flowerpots, but it is very affordable, plastic, easy to process. Because, probably, and popular. Wooden outdoor flowerpots can be made from scraps of boards, moisture-resistant plywood, beams, tree trunks, stumps, old barrels and tubs.

From boards and plywood

If you want the flowerpot to retain its color for a long time and not turn gray, but you don’t want to paint it with some covering paint (such as oil paint), you will need to buy wood oil. It gives the wood a hue, but leaves visible the pores (like a stain). Along the way, this oil, as it were, "preserves" it, protects it from fungi, insects, and mold.

The easiest way is to make flowerpots from rectangular or square boards. It is necessary to cut several pieces of the same length, put together a box from them, nail the bottom.

To prevent the bottom of such a flowerpot from blooming, it must be raised on its legs. In the very simple version to the bottom, in the corners, you can nail four small pieces of board. If you wish, you can try to make more decorative legs (as in the photo above).

When nailing boards, do not try to knock down the planks very tightly. When watering, they will swell and, if nailed close, they can lift. However, it is not worth leaving very large gaps - the ground can wake up through the bottom.

Another way to make an outdoor flower pot made of wood is to cut off four identical pieces of a small section of 25-25 mm timber, for example). Use the bars as the edges of the structure, nail the boards to them, attach the bottom from below. This option is good because such flowerpots immediately have legs.

By the same principle, you can make a flowerpot from moisture-resistant plywood. Cut the sides out of it, attach them to the bars. Instead of nails, self-tapping screws are usually used for wood, and you will also need a drill. Before screwing the self-tapping screw, drill a hole. Apply the sidewall to the stand from a bar, drill, stepping back 1 cm from the edge. Drill diameter - 1-2 mm less than the diameter of the self-tapping screw. So, firstly, the bar will not burst, and secondly, it is easier to fit the fasteners into the plywood. Instead wooden corners you can take metal, preferably stainless steel.

The next option for a flowerpot is made of wooden beams (photo below). It is still easier here - they fold the beam so that the connection is in one plane, then in another. After laying each bar, it is nailed to the ones below. Be sure to drive in nails in the corners, on the long side you can also nail it once or twice.

It's simple. Difficulties can arise only with the first row. It can be fastened to a bottom, such as a piece of waterproof plywood that has been drilled into it to drain water, knocked out of planks.

Any of these flowerpots can be combined with a bench. It will turn out to be a wonderful corner for relaxation. Such a group can be placed in the garden, near the entrance, somewhere on the site, near a gazebo or a homemade small fountain.

From stumps and logs

In the garden or at the summer cottage, you have to periodically cut down old trees. From their stumps and trunks, you can also make outdoor flowerpots. First, let's talk about how to use the barrels. It is better not to peel the bark, so the view of the flowerpots will be more decorative. Depending on the idea, the trunks are cut into blocks of some height. You can cut with an ordinary hand saw, but faster with a chainsaw. These blocks can be placed while standing, can be laid on their side.

The main task is to remove some of the wood so that a container is formed that can be filled with earth. There are several methods for coring. Usually they take a drill and a large diameter drill. A conical drill or a spatula (as in the photo) works better.

Make some holes to the depth you need. It depends on the type of plants that you plan to plant in this pot, but usually 15-20 cm. You can make a lot of holes - the thinner the walls are, the easier it is to remove them.

The walls are destroyed by a chisel or wide chisel. The handle of these tools is knocked with a hammer, and the sharp blade breaks off pieces. So, gradually, the core is released. Then the edges of the resulting container are slightly leveled using the same technique.

If the stump is large in diameter, an ax or pickaxe can be used. Only work must be done carefully so as not to destroy the walls. Near the walls, you can use a drill, finally arrange the inside of the flowerpot with the same chisel.

Another option is to make some notches with an ax, crumble wood, and make a fire inside. But whether it will be possible to extinguish it in time is a question. The charred entrails are then removed with a chisel or chisel.

By the way, very interesting compositions can turn out from a very old and rotten deck. It is cleaned of very crumbling wood. In this case, the inside is very easy to pick out - the inside of the trunk decays first. What is left can be coated with wood oil, stopping the destruction for a period.

Such hollowed-out decks or stumps make excellent flowerpots. Some design ideas are collected in the photo gallery.

From barrels-tubs and other cooperage products

The easiest way is to make outdoor flowerpots from old barrels, tubs and other containers that are no longer used and cannot be used due to old age, but it is a pity to throw them away. They can be handled a little sandpaper- manually or by attaching the appropriate attachment to the drill / grinder. Then they can be painted, varnished for outdoor use or oil for wood. And you can plant plants.

Barrels are sawn, and in any plane. But if you cut along, you will have to hammer the planks together. The barrels cut across are two identical (or almost) flowerpots.

Even old wood it is possible not to process. This makes the composition look more natural. But such a flowerpot will not fit into all styles. In this case, use special paint for outdoor use, which can be used with wood.

Outdoor plastic flowerpot with wood paneling

If outwardly you like wood, but want to have an airtight container, to avoid drips on the site after watering, you can paste over the plastic container with wooden slats. The planks are treated with antiseptics, painted, dried. Then you can start converting the plastic container (bucket, tank, barrel) into a flowerpot for outdoor flowers.

First, holes are drilled in the bottom. Out diameter - 10-14 mm. Leave the two opposite areas at the edges intact. Here we attach the "legs" - two strips, cut so that they do not protrude beyond the outline of the barrel. You can attach it to the bolts, drill a hole under the head so that the fastener is "recessed".

We take a universal glue that is suitable for gluing plastic and wood, and glue the strips onto it. The narrower the planks, the more monolithic the surface will be. Such outdoor flowerpots do not shrink or swell.

Homemade concrete flower pots

The good thing about concrete is that it can be poured into any shape. Plastic, glass, metal, wooden, clay vessels and even cardboard boxes will do.

It is most convenient to work with plastic - it is easy to take out of it. It is even easier with glass, but such forms are usually disposable. It didn't work out - they are broken.

What concrete to use

For the manufacture of outdoor flowerpots, you can use ordinary concrete, consisting of cement and sand in a ratio of 1: 3/4 (Portland cement grade not lower than M 400 and river clean sieved sand). The surface of such a flowerpot will be monochromatic, gray. In some cases, it looks stylish, and the gray color does not distract attention from the main one - from the colors. But not always.

products from decorative concrete look more interesting. It is also called artistic, art, architectural, acrylic, polymer - concrete. All this designation of the same product. In addition to cement and sand, architectural concrete contains polymer additives, small fragments of natural minerals, and some contain dyes. The surface of a flowerpot made of decorative concrete turns out to be smoother, more interesting, interspersed with natural stones. The specific type depends on the selected composition. Some types of decorative concrete are shown in the photo below.

The surface of a flowerpot made of decorative concrete turns out to be smoother, more interesting, interspersed with natural stones. The specific type depends on the selected composition. Some types of decorative concrete are shown in the photo above.

What to make molds for pouring a concrete flowerpot

Any shape can be used, from almost any material. It is important that it does not get wet and keep its shape for 4-5 hours. Then the concrete grasps and already holds itself. Therefore, molds are made even from dense packaging cardboard, gluing coal well and tightening them with adhesive tape. But from caron, you can make forms only for small flowerpots - for a small group of plants. But the form can be any.

Actually, two forms are needed - one to form the outer surface, the second - of a much smaller size - is inserted inside the first and forms a zone into which the soil is then poured and plants are planted. The inner shape is selected based on the dimensions of the planned flowerpot, but the wall thickness should not be less than 3 cm.

You can use plastic bowls, glasses, containers, trays, flasks from under the water - large and small. You can knock down a shape from boards, plywood, pieces of other sheet material... It does not matter. Anything, anything that comes to mind to use.

Is there an interesting bowl or bowl? Will do, too. And for the formation of the internal volume, you can find something heavy, preferably of the correct shape, but this is absolutely not important. Even a bowling ball will do. It is good because it is heavy and smooth - you can easily take it out.

Round flowerpots look best, but finding the right shape is not easy. Usually these are either plastic containers or glass balls, which are cut / shattered after the concrete has set.

Manufacturing process

It is only possible to work with cement at temperatures above +5 ° C. Ideal conditions- this is + 20 ° C and high humidity, but temperature is more important. The place where you will leave the concrete to "ripen" should be in the shade.

You found suitable forms, mixed the cement. It should not be too liquid, not too thick. It should not drain from a spatula or spatula, but not so dry that you can blind something from it.

It is necessary to work with gloves - concrete corrodes hands very quickly. You need a spatula or something similar to spread the solution, a long thin stick or a metal rod to remove air. You will also need either a large container of water or a piece of plastic wrap.

We take forms, process them with some kind of lubricant. This is necessary so that the flowerpot can be easily removed from the mold. You can use the following drugs:

• Non-stick cooking spray. Harmless and effective.
• Special sprays for concrete. They cost much more, but the effectiveness is the same.
• Motor oil.
• Universal grease VD-40.

Maybe other formulations work, but these are verified.

We process the forms with one of the compositions. The big one is inside, the small one is outside. IN large form pour a solution on the bottom with a layer of 3-4 cm, level it. This will be the bottom. If you want to have drainage holes in the bottom, insert pieces of tubing. You can use metal, cut them into pieces 3-4 cm long, also treat the outside with grease. In this case, the thickness of the bottom should be equal to the height of these tubes. And place them strictly under the bottom of the second form.

We put the second form on the solution. If it is light, we fill it with small stones, crushed stone, pebbles, sand. Fill the gaps between the two walls with mortar. If the material permits, we knock on the walls with a hammer, then take a rod or a thin stick, pierce the solution to the bottom, swing it from side to side. During these actions - knocking and piercing - air bubbles come out of the concrete, it settles down a little. This procedure can be repeated a couple of times. Then we take some smooth object (a spoon, for example), sprinkle it with grease and level the top of the wall. try to make the side as even as possible - then it's hard to do something with it.

Cover the mold filled with concrete with a piece of polyethylene and leave it in this form for at least a day. After a day, the form can be removed, but you cannot use the flowerpot yet. It can be dipped in a container of water and left there for a week. Another option is to cover with foil and sprinkle with water three or four times a day. Spray liberally until dark. Remember to cover with plastic every time. After about 10-14 days, you can start planting plants. That's all, now you can do concrete street flowerpots with your own hands.

Finishing a concrete flowerpot

If you don't like the surface of the flowerpot, you can decorate it. Do not make the flowerpot too bright. It is just a background for flowers and greenery that will be planted in it. there is traditional methods- painting, there are more exotic ones - decoration with mosaics, pieces of broken ceramic tiles or pebbles.

When painting, choose a paint that is suitable for concrete, pre-prime the surface (in order for the paint to hold better and not flake off).

For finishing with tiles or pebbles, a layer of tile adhesive (for outdoor use) with a thickness of 5-6 mm is laid on the surface, and pebbles are pressed into it. It is necessary to work carefully, to erase the traces of glue on the pebbles with a rhinestone - it will not be removed later.

The finished flowerpot is left to dry until the glue dries (the time is indicated on the package). The joints can then be trowelled using a standard tile grout. It is inconvenient to work, the gaps between the stones are too narrow. You can try using thin plastic strips or narrow tile joints.

Vases from building concrete blocks

Hollow concrete blocks with large cells are suitable for planting plants. Soil is poured into the cells, flowers are planted. You can lay out a whole wall from such blocks. The recipe is simple but very effective.

And finally, a video master class on how to make a flowerpot from a car tire.

stroychik.ru

"How to make a pot of concrete with your own hands

Vacation home or a private territory - a real island of peace and comfort among the bustle of megacities. To create a special atmosphere in these places, it will be appropriate to make concrete flowerpots with your own hands.

Product features

You can make your yard beautiful and aesthetically pleasing with the help of many decorative techniques... Concrete vases are not just decoration, they are in some way a status design element that emphasizes the taste and respectability of the owner of the house.

In order for a concrete flowerpot for street flowers to look harmonious, it is advisable to make it from materials that mimic natural ones as closely as possible.

Create flower vases from natural stone It is quite problematic and laborious, which is why, in the overwhelming majority of cases, raw materials and materials are used for these purposes, which make it possible to build a monolithic and authentic structure: cement or concrete.

Concrete flowerpots serve not only to create a special aura of landscape design, but also are its practical element. For example, using utilitarian concrete vases, you can profitably zone a space by combining all its details into one whole.

Such concrete products are used not only in private households. They are actively ordered for the arrangement and decoration of city alleys, parks, recreation areas, the territory at the entrance to public buildings and on cultural sites.

Benefits of concrete vases

Many factors speak in favor of concrete garden pots:

1. Availability of raw materials.
2. Excellent operational properties of the material (concrete is not subject to combustion, frost-resistant, not afraid of moisture, durable and strong).
3. The ability to implement a design idea of ​​any complexity (vases can have a wide variety of sizes and configurations).
4. Convenience of product care.

Types of flower pots

Modern manufacturers of concrete products offer consumers a lot of ready-made, industrially manufactured products, including street vases. In factories, vases are created according to a general template: the product has a bowl, a leg for support and a base. The approximate height of such flowerpots is from 30 to 60 cm.

But ready decorative vases not all customers are satisfied due to their standard, instability and fragility. Then the option comes to the rescue with the creation of extraordinary street concrete flowerpots for flowers with your own hands.

These products can have different depths, which are determined based on the purpose of use. If the pot is planned to be used to create a composition from non-living plants, then a shallow product is also suitable. And for natural flowers, it is preferable to exploit deep street vases.

As for the configuration, it all depends on the imagination of the customer. For self-production of concrete-based vases, old glass and plastic bottles, boxes of any size and even balls can be useful. The cement mortar remarkably takes the given shape, and after hardening it becomes strong and monolithic.

As a result, you can get unique concrete products for garden use, round, square or rectangular as well as any complex configuration.

The height and wall thickness of concrete vases can be completely different - it all depends on the consumer's request.

Matching the flowerpots to the surrounding design

The main purpose of flower beds and vases is to add bright colors to a garden plot, a private courtyard, etc. However, it is important to comply with the conformity of concrete decorative elements general style and design.

Being the optimal container for the complex soil composition required for the cultivation of some plant species that are especially sensitive to improper care, correctly placed concrete vases can delight the eyes of residents and guests of the house for a long time.

It is imperative to pay attention to the correspondence of the vase to the size of the area on which it will be located: it is unlikely that a bulky product will be appropriate for a small patch, and vice versa.

In order not to deprive the corner for outdoor recreation of a cozy aura, obtrusive structures should be avoided, but it is also not recommended to be small, because a small vase located at the end of a long alley will simply go unnoticed. Ideally, it is necessary to maintain the optimal proportions of the product, which will balance and emphasize the surrounding space.

Vases can be made in any style: from respectable classics to modern. Concrete allows products to be painted in different colors to suit the design of the site, while they can be tinted periodically without compromising quality. The main thing is not to overdo it with the color scheme: the street flowerpot should in no case be brighter than the flower arrangement located inside.

Brown, beige, white, gray and terracotta are considered ideal tones to maintain a discreet noble style.

Understand how it is produced self-production a concrete-based flowerpot will help a special master class.

Photo gallery

Manufacturing algorithm

To work on small flowerpots, the following tools and materials should be prepared:

• container for mixing the solution;
• sand, cement, stones and water;
• knife, scissors and tape;
• bottles made of plastic or glass;
• cardboard boxes;
• test tube;
• a spatula designed for working with concrete;
• drill.

For concrete mortar, it is necessary to take raw materials in the following proportions: 2 parts of cement / 3 parts of stone (gravel) / 3 parts of sand. It is necessary to take into account that the pot will turn out to be the stronger, the higher the grade of the cement used.

The cement is evenly mixed with sand, gravel is added, a hole is made in the center of the slide and poured required amount water. Pour it in small portions, keeping an eye on the consistency, which should eventually be of medium thickness.

Vase based on a plastic bottle

If small plastic bottles are used as the basis for the form, then they need to cut off the bottom, drill a hole in the lid and insert a test tube or any other element of a similar shape there, after which the lid should be screwed on.

Being careful, the bottle is turned over with the cut part up, and the concrete mixture is poured inside. The part occupied by the test tube will remain free, the rest of the space will be occupied by the concrete mixture. Now you just have to wait until it solidifies completely, carefully cut off the plastic from the concrete base, remove the test tube and use the outdoor flowerpot for its intended purpose.

Glass bottle vase

In this case, the algorithm of work is similar to the previous one, only it is worth considering that the bottom of the bottle remains in place. The same test tube is placed inside, around which concrete is poured. Immediately thereafter, the bottle is closed with a lid and left alone for 24 hours. After the solution has solidified, carefully, without damaging the concrete form, break the glass and remove the fragments and the test tube.

Wide flowerpots

To make wide vases of concrete with your own hands, you should take 2 containers of the same height, but different in volume. These can be pots, boxes, etc. The inside of the larger container and the outside of the smaller one are lubricated with a non-stick agent or ordinary vegetable oil: this will help to easily remove the base from the concrete. If a wooden box is used as a base, then it must be greased with wax paste. Sometimes it may be necessary to reinforce the internal part, which will strengthen the walls of the frame.

About half of the cement is poured into a mold with a large volume, then a smaller container is placed in the center, leaving a couple of centimeters of a gap at the bottom (later, without allowing complete solidification, technological holes are drilled in it for drainage). After removing the inner element, the entire structure must be left to dry for several days in the sun.

Painting flowerpots

The pigment of the selected color can be added to the solution at the stage of mixing it or the product can be painted after complete drying.

Specialist recommendation: if it is necessary to process the concrete walls of a flowerpot, it is best to use a diamond tool. With its help, you can drill holes, grind and cut the product to the desired shape without damage.

The combination of pliability and strength in the character of our hero has earned him a reputation as a versatile assistant in landscape design. You can create a variety of design elements of all kinds of shapes and sizes. What shade of gray suits your garden?

Concrete is hard, durable, reliable and, with all its heavy weight, is plastic. As befits a gray cardinal, he is used to staying in the shadows, giving up the main place in the garden to more popular heroes - clinker, etc.

For a long time, concrete was used exclusively as a connecting link in the construction and for, since the garden trendsetters considered its "appearance" dull and not worthy of attention. And they were fundamentally wrong! Concrete is extremely malleable; it is easy to create any kind of concrete from it at home, for example, letters. Advice: It is advisable to stick the wire into the still wet concrete, because later, in the process of drilling holes, the products can be broken.

Left: letters made of concrete. Right: Concrete garden furniture.

Concrete furniture? Why not! After all, all that is needed for its manufacture is a mold for pouring it. For strength, benches, sofas and tables should be reinforced with a metal mesh. Well, for convenience, it is enough to put soft pillows on the seat.

Now the finest hour of Mister-in-gray-suit has finally struck: he was appreciated, allowing him to demonstrate the hitherto hidden aesthetic potential. Concrete art objects are an absolute trend! Moreover, landscape designers are actively combining concrete structures with natural materials: the same stone and wood. For example, when paving, granite paving stones are combined with concrete slabs, or when building partitions, elements made of wood and concrete are combined - "motley" details effectively contrast with each other.

Our hero is good in and of itself, because he can be painted in any color, given any shape and texture, and even create aesthetic imitations of natural materials from him, almost identical to the originals. Concrete is ideal for terracing a garden on a slope or for strengthening the walls of a sunken garden. The latest squeak of fashion - stepping slabs barely protruding above the water surface instead of the traditional bridge thrown across the reservoir. However, it is better to entrust the implementation of such ambitious projects to professionals, since for their construction one cannot do without special knowledge and skills.

Left: Even a child can make such cute concrete hearts. Well, if you add a dye to the solution, the crafts will also become bright. Most importantly, do not forget to grease the craft mold from the inside with vegetable oil. On right: Surrounded by bright colors, relaxation is especially pleasant. The ensemble is made of, and was made of concrete and painted white. A similar structure can be erected from, and then plaster the masonry.

Another thing is the design or containers for plants (you will find below). Every gardener, even one who does not have much experience with the "gray assistant", can give free rein to imagination and easily create a personal little masterpiece out of cement, sand and water.

The same applies to paving or paths with concrete slabs of our own production. Not confident in your abilities or just running out of time? This problem can be solved: you can buy ready-made concrete elements in the store. When decorating your favorite garden with concrete structures, experiment with shape, shade, texture. One way or another, the secrets of the gray cardinal will certainly be revealed to you!

The oldest building material

It is believed that concrete was invented by our contemporaries. In fact, the ancient Romans used it with might and main in construction. Without it, the architects of those times simply could not have created such architectural masterpieces as, for example, the Pantheon in Rome with a vault in the form of a dome, erected in the 1st century AD.

Opus caementicium - as the Romans called concrete, which then consisted of gravel, sand and lime, as well as volcanic tuff, which provides products with special strength due to its high adhesion. The composition of modern concrete (small photo above) still includes sand and gravel of different fractions, as well as cement. The latter is made from lime and clay, sand from granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash and gypsum.

Master class: mobile flower box

The original concrete box-pots can be made with your own hands from a cement-sand mortar.

1. First, make a mold for your future craft - 2 waterproof boxes of different sizes. The outer frame should be larger (it is advisable to screw the walls to each other, and seal the seams with silicone), the inner one should be smaller so that a gap of 4–5 cm remains between the walls (this will be the thickness of the walls of the future concrete container) when it is inserted into external box. Then lubricate the inside of the outer box and the outside of the inner box with sunflower oil to keep the concrete from sticking to the mold.

2. The next step: prepare a cement-sand mortar (the mass should resemble yogurt in consistency). Then put some of the mortar into a large outer container and level with a spatula (layer thickness approx. 4–5 cm). To maintain the required distance between the drawers, press 4 cork stoppers into the solution.

3. Place the inner drawer on top and weight it with cobblestones. Now gradually fill in the gaps between the walls of the boxes with the remaining solution.

4. After about 3 days, carefully remove the inner drawer and leave your creation to dry further.

5. The concrete will completely harden in only 2 weeks. Remove the outer frame by unscrewing the sides of the outer box.

6. Now, if desired, the wheels can be carefully screwed to the bottom of the container. If the product is to be airtight, the corks embedded in the bottom do not need to be removed. If drainage holes are required, they can simply be drilled in the plugs.

You may also have other articles on this topic:

Even rough and gray concrete blocks can look stylish and beautiful if you know how to use them. The best thing similar material use when arranging a garden. Nevertheless, the block can also be used inside the house. In our review, we have collected the most striking examples of decor using concrete blocks.

1. Outbreak

A simple and fairly budgetary idea of ​​creating a cozy fireplace in the open air, from cinder blocks stacked in two rows on a platform of bricks.

2. Shop

From cinder blocks and wooden beams you can build a wonderful bench for comfortable outdoor recreation.

3. Table

Concrete blocks will become a reliable support for a table or bar.

4. Shop-flower bed

The holes in the cinder blocks are perfect for growing small plants.

5. Ladder

If a country cottage area is located on a hill, then for safety and comfort it is simply necessary to build a staircase. For this purpose, cinder blocks are just the right thing to do.

6. Fence

A charming decorative fence made of many concrete blocks stacked together.

7. Bed

From concrete blocks, you can make beautiful and comfortable beds for growing vegetables or herbs.

8. Decorative construction

To create this stunning installation, you need to carefully fold 6-10 cinder blocks and place candles in the hollow holes.

9. Woodpile

From a few cinder blocks and wooden beams, you can make a small woodpile for storing small firewood.

10. Grill

From cinder blocks folded in several rows, you can construct an excellent grill or brazier.

11. Bed

From cinder blocks you get a reliable bed frame. By the way, the hollow holes provided by the cinder block design are ideal for storing shoes.

12. Shelving

Use wooden shelves and cinder blocks for organizing a convenient storage system in the cellar.

13. Birdhouse

Simple and original birdhouses made of cinder blocks.

14. Curbstone