Enhance the aesthetic appearance of your garden with faux rocks

Creating a harmonious garden is an art that requires both imagination and good materials. The use of fake rocks, as an ornament to landscape a garden, has become a very common practice today. But what is a fake rock and how is it made? How can a faux rock improve the aesthetics of a garden? Point.

False rocks: description

Hypertufa is a rock created by the assembly of cement, sand, gravel and turb. It is the most common artificial rock in exterior decoration. It is mainly a fairly light and porous material that does not shed in the face of frost and other climatic hazards. Depending on the preparation, hypertufa can withstand a temperature of -30°C. This rock does not tolerate humidity well, so it is advisable to place it on a base in order to keep its appearance. However, some fake rocks are water-resistant: https://gartendek.fr/cascades/.

Over time, this object will gradually take on the appearance of natural stone and blend in with the garden furniture. Note that it is not the only existing model, because there are also other materials that can be used to form a fake rock, such as clay for example. The purpose of the mixture is only to imitate the natural rock to deceive the human eye, everyone can make their own stone according to the means at their disposal. To make the fake rocks yourself to decorate your garden, the process takes place in several stages.

The creation of form

A preliminary study is essential to make your garden project a success. It is important to choose the right shapes to use. To do this, it is advisable to observe natural stones to inspire you with their shape. Then take newspaper, cardboard or polystyrene to use as your base material. They must be crumpled (shaped, in the case of polystyrene) in order to obtain an irregular shape that will appear natural. Using fine mesh, cover the crumpled paper to freeze the shape obtained. You can also refine the appearance by shaping the mesh to make your creation look more natural.

Some articles require complex forms, like this one for instance: https://gartendek.fr/fontaine-robinet/. The good thing is that base material allows to make objects of literally any shape.

The making of the mortar

You have to make a mortar to give the appearance of a real stone. The traditional method consists of mixing 3 volumes of sand for 1 volume of cement. It is possible to use the hypertufa formula by replacing 1 volume of sand (for the whole mixture) with blond peat. Mix the ingredients dry to ensure uniformity of the mixture. Then gradually add water to obtain a thick and easily moldable paste.

The creation of the rock

It is now time to apply the mortar to the mesh using a trowel. Be sure to get a layer 2-3 inches thick and coat the base well so your stone will stabilize when finished. Only then can you work on the texture to mimic the look of natural rock. To achieve this, several options are recommended, such as the use of trowels or sponges to make the hollows and ridges. You can also apply a natural stone against your product to imbue it with its shape or even shape it by hand while protecting yourself with a plastic bag. A period of 30 days is necessary for drying. Nevertheless, you must moisten the surface daily with an atomizer to avoid cracks. During this time, you can cover your work with a plastic sheet.

Finishing

At the end of drying, it is useful to smooth the surface with a wire brush, emphasizing on sharp and pointed edges. It must then be cleaned with a water jet to remove dust and mortar overflows. It’s time to color the creation using paints suitable for concrete. You can also use special concrete protections to ensure the longevity of your creation, be sure to repeat the operation every year to preserve their appearance.

Benefits

Using fake rocks as an ornament is an inexpensive and easy practice. In addition, it is sometimes difficult to find the natural stones adapted to your request, not to mention the price. The fake rock is as resistant as a real one and deceives the eye of the indiscreet. Finally, for aesthetics, the faux rock can soak up all the colors of the rainbow. You can then create contrasts according to your needs and especially according to the color of the plants and other accessories in your garden.

In short, it is easy to decorate your garden with fake rocks, but it is always advisable to consult a landscaper to advise you and assist you in your garden development projects.

Source: https://gartendek.fr