DIY Boulders

Landscape boulders add an element of natural dEcor to a front or back yard, fountain, small pond or any other outdoor areas of the home. The problem is real boulders are hard to find, especially in metropolitan or suburban areas, and are also extremely heavy and require heavy machinery to move. Those interested in incorporating landscaping boulders in their lawn will be pleased to know there is a way to make realistic-looking boulders out of cement.

Eyeglasses/goggles

Dust mask

Rubber gloves

Sharp knife

Tacky glue

Wire

Boulder molds

Portland cement

Sculpting tools

Study the appearance of real boulders and rocks that you think would look good in your yard or garden. Get a good idea of the sizes, shapes and height of the boulders that catch your eye. Measure and jot down the dimensions if desired.

Put on your eyeglasses or goggles, a dust mask and rubber gloves. Covering the arms and legs is also advised for safety purposes. These safety precautions help protect you from inhaling or coming into contact with potentially hazardous dust particles that come from concrete.

Make a mold out of a material such as Styrofoam, rubber or foam. Use a sharp knife to cut pieces of your choice molding material and stick them together with tacky glue. This is where the dimensions, shapes and sizes of rocks you observed earlier come in handy. Use your ideas as a guide to create a mold that looks like a boulder.

Wrap the entire mold with wire so little to none of the mold material is visible. This not only helps keep the mold together but also gives a sturdy frame that cement will stick to. Set the mold in the area you want it to be located in your yard.

Pour Portland cement (available at hardware stores) over the mold. Use your sculpting tools to shape the cement into your desired shape. If you cannot purchase a set of sculpting tools, improvise with common tools like an old screwdrivers and spatulas to shape it.

Allow your newly-crafted, faux bolder to dry for at least 24 hours before touching.