Project courtesy of Garden Gate Magazine
The rough, craggy surface of a stone trough provides beautiful texture on your deck or patio. The problem is that these gorgeous planters can be hard to find, expensive and very heavy. Instead of blowing your budget and your back, make a hypertufa trough like the one above. It gives you the same gorgeous look, weighs less and is a fraction of the cost. You can get all the materials in the list from the local hardware store. Follow along with the steps to make this 14-inch-square-by-6-inch-tall traditional trough. Then turn the page to see how to finish it off and find a few twists on hypertufa containers.
See also DIY: A Classic Flag Case
MATERIALS
- Equal amounts of perlite, Portland cement and peat moss
- Water
- 1-in.-thick foam insulation board
- 12 2¾-in. nails
- 1-in.-diameter dowel or PVC
- Duct tape
- Wooden board
- Sheet of plastic large enough to cover project
TOOLS
- Craft knife
- Metal ruler
- Disposable plastic gloves for mixing
- Garden gloves for texture work
- Mask (for mixing dry ingredients)
- Cement mixing tray
- Mortar trowel
- Wire brush
Hypertufa How-To
Thanks to our sister publication, Garden Gate, for sharing this article. Want more great gardening projects and tips? Get a trial issue of the magazine, (and a free book!) at gardengatemagazine.com/free-preview
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