The-Artistic-Garden's Blog

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

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

Sometimes These 2 Ingredients are Hard to Get Your Hands On

I often get asked by many hypertufa and concrete garden art enthusiasts where to find “silica fume” and “poly fibers”, also referred to as “fiber mesh”. Depending where you live, it may or may not be very easy to lay your hands on this stuff. Continue reading

Let’s Learn About the Right vs. Wrong Way to Resurface
Existing Concrete Patio Surfaces

I received this email from Trisha asking me:

I have encountered a problem on my patio. After much research your website was the only one that made it clear there was a difference between concrete and cement.

We have a slab in our back yard (like a river rock slab), we wanted to skim it over with a smooth layer. We did so with what the hardware store told us to do it with, which was Portland cement. But it came out with lots of cracks and you can scratch your fingernail in it. Continue reading

How Temperature Caused a Hollow Sphere Project to Literally Blow Up!

I received an email from Sue, who wanted to share with me this rather interesting bit of info:

You are my hero! I’ve been after the instructions on duplicating Little & Lewis spheres for a year!

I did some on my own and they exploded on my driveway (cold ball from house, 90 degree day= mess.) I just had to tell you about this recent disaster – maybe others can learn from this. Continue reading

Please Explain Deflatable Balls for Making
Hypertufa or Concrete Hollow Garden Spheres

I received an email from Debbie asking me:

In the instructions given for the Hypertufa Hollow Garden Sphere, one of the materials needed was a deflatable ball.

Can you advise me where I would get such a ball? What size does it come in and what type material is it made of? (Guess you can see I don’t have any young kids at home nor any grandchildren. ) Continue reading

Concrete Pre-Mix Products vs. A “Make It From Scratch” Recipe

I received an email from “Stoner” asking me:

I have been using a regular pre bagged “sand mix” cement for my concrete leaves. Is there a benefit to using something that I mix together myself ? Thanks. Stoner

My reply:

Hi Stoner:

Well, not necessarily. I mean, if you are very successful with and happy with the results of using the premix … “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”  But of course, mixing your own ‘tufa or concrete recipe(s) allows you to tweak it, so that the recipe accomplishes what you want it to “do”.

Such as – maybe you want a really thin, yet very strong leaf casting. In this case, you might want to use an even finer sand than what comes in your premix, etc.

And then of course, you might want to add reinforcing fibers or a bonding agent, but of course that could be added into your premix.

I guess the point is, “it all depends” upon your desired outcome.

And perhaps mixing up your own might be a cost savings … don’t know what you’re paying for premix versus non-premix.

Good luck with all your projects!