Artificial Rocks
Artificial rocks are great additions to any garden pond landscape. They’re meant to copy natural and real rocks, but without the inconvenience of heavy lifting when being moved into place, plus they’re more inexpensive than real landscaping rocks. Additionally, some designs are intended to hide unsightly water pipes on the garden pond. These types of artificial rocks typically have hollow designs that become the economical and attractive solution for hiding meters, pipes, and any other landscaping problem.
Not only are artificial rocks practical solutions to landscape troubles, but it also adds character and color to flower gardens, plant and fishponds, birdbaths, waterfalls, and fountains. In a lot of cases, artificial rocks provide the perfect concealment over pumps and cords. The bigger types of artificial landscape rocks provide waterfall effects to the pond, pool, or garden fountain.
Five-pound bag of artificial colored rocks may be scattered around a shrub’s base, plant pot, birdbath, or fountain, and can only cost a few dollars. Bigger fake stones are constructed of cement and stained, giving it a more natural appearance. These types of artificial rocks cost about $5 to $10 per piece in many online stores. On the other hand, with a little artistic and creative hand, one can make artificial rocks for their pond.
How To Make A Fake Rock
Creating fake rocks for adding in the pond garden can be an enjoyable way to enhance the look of the pond. Lightweight and realistic artificial rocks for the pond or garden landscape can easily be done with these simple steps:
Step 1
Bend a “chicken wire fencing” into a shape desired. Fold, bend, cut, and do whatever is needed to get the shape wanted, and be sure to wear gloves to avoid hurting your hand.
Step 2
Place the shaped wire frame down on a piece of plastic. Be ready with cans of “foam insulation”, perhaps about three cans, as they will be used for next step.
Step 3
Using the cans of foam insulation, spray it onto the shaped wire frame. Do not do too much pattern –like even rows. Allow the foam to “sink” and grab around the wire frame. It must be covered completely, but leave its inside hollow. Let it sit for twenty-four hours.
Step 4
Put a little water to the grout mix, to make it somewhat thinner than normal –more like cake batter. It is better to use grout mix than concrete mix, as grout mix doesn’t have gravel and this will make the artificial stone look more real, without gravel sticking out of it.
Step 5
Taking the strips of “burlap”, dip them into the grout mix one at a time. Whirl them around, making sure that it’s all covered down to the last bit. As the burlap strips are take out of the dip, use your fingers to pinch one side of it and going down to squeeze off excess grout.
Step 6
Place the strips down on the “foam-and-wire” frame. Avoid wrinkling them anywhere. Try to thrust them into as lots of crevices in the foam as possible. While laying every strip down, place the strips in such a way that it overlaps the previous one a little bit. Using the grout mix smoothen the edges. Cover the whole wire-and-foam frame using the strips until no foam shows through. If the frame begins to bend from grout weight, use something to support the inside and maintain its original height.
Allow it to dry for twenty-four hours the least, and if several burlap edges stills how, use a thicker grout mix and smoothen these pots using the hand.
Step 7
If it’s all good and dry, the rock will have its details and shape, but will be having one solid color. Paint it using flat paint and not glossy, to avoid making it appear “plastic”. Use “clear coat matte spray” to seal it.
Artificial rocks both add beauty and functionality to any garden pond landscape. They’re practical choices for countering landscape troubles like concealing pipes and meters.