The-Artistic-Garden's Blog

There’s Lots Of Helpful Creative Tips & How-To’s
For DIY Garden Art Crafters

If you’re familiar with my hugely popular website that has lots of DIY unique garden art projects The-Artistic-Garden.com, then you KNOW you’ll be just as pleased with all the great information and how-tos found on this new site.

So come on in, and take some time to look around. If you’ve got information to share after reading a specific post, then please leave a comment or helpful suggestion. Everybody can benefit from each others trials, tribulations and great tips in making handmade garden art items. Me included.

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Admixes? Liquid Fortifiers? Acrylic Strengtheners?
What Is Their Pupose and How Much To Add
To Your Hypertufa and Concrete Recipes

I get emails quite often asking me about “liquid fortifiers” and exactly what are they, what do they “do”, and how much should be put into a ‘tufa or concrete recipe. So, today I’ll share what I do know about using various types of admixes.

First, as is commonly referred to either here on my blog, or in forums that discuss hypertufa and concrete garden art recipes and projects, the term “admix” (or “admixture”) and “fortifier” and “liquid bonding agent” are usually synonymous. Basically, an admix is an acrylic liquid and is used as strengtheners to enhance the longevity of the cured object. Continue reading

Incredible Video of an Injured Baby Hummer Nursed Back to Health

I don’t know about you, but I’m always awe struck when I see a hummingbird in my yard. Unfortunately, I don’t have many that come around – normally it’s just a momma, daddy and an offspring each year – so it’s always a feeling of joy and elation when I am lucky enough to get a glimpse of the little birds flying or feeding.

Right now I’ve only seen one flitting around, sometimes taking a quick sip of nectar from a Rose of Sharon flower or from the hummingbird syrup feeder I keep outside my kitchen window. But I do anticipate a couple more to show up in the next couple of weeks. Continue reading

How to Make Super-Large Concrete Stepping Stones for a Walkway

Judy V. emailed the other day and asked:

While I have made hypertufas and concrete leaf castings with great success I am about to try faux rock concrete slabs [stepping stones] for use in a walkway. Some of these will be close to 4 feet in width so I will have to make them in place. I am planning on them being 3 to 4 inches in thickness and will use 4″ x 4″ wire mesh used in concrete patios for added strength.

My question is about curing these concrete slabs properly. Water will leech out into the soil. I’d thought about putting plastic as a barrier between the soil and the cement but I am afraid it will trap moisture in the winter and cause heaving. Any suggestions? Continue reading

Here are Three Attractive, Simple & Frugal DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas

With the holidays looming before us, many of us are still adding final touches to our homes. Sometimes a wreath is all it takes to add a bit of holiday flair to a lonesome spot that’s begging to be decorated. With this in mind, I was looking around online for some easy, quick and not expensive do it yourself ideas the other day. I came across many options, but these were rather interesting and I decided to pass them along here on my blog. Continue reading

How to Increase Moisture in Container Garden Soil

I thought I’d talk about a great product you may not have heard of before – water crystals, aka water gel – that can make your outdoor container gardening watering requirements a bit easier. These little white granules are a type of absorbent polymer that can absorb up to 400 or 500 times their weight with water (there are different brands on the market – there may be variances in their absorption rates). Continue reading

How Much Can I Charge for My Homemade Hypertufa Garden Art Items?

I get asked this question on a pretty regular basis. and just the other day I received another private email asking me about this, so I thought I’d put the question and my reply here for everyone to learn from. Continue reading

How to Calculate Amount of Portland Cement and
Other Ingredients for Garden Art Projects

I received an email the other day from Tess asking me:

Hi! We are going to try to make a 4 ft diameter millstone garden fountain out of hypertufa. I believe your recipe for the Hypertufa Recipe With Fiber Mesh for Added Strength is the way to go. Any idea how much of the ingredients we will need to get to accomplish this? Will this hold up with constant water and hard winters? Continue reading