How To DIY A Genius Fake Rock To Add Dimension To Your Backyard

A variety of colors, textures, and shapes in your landscaping adds visual interest and helps make for a gorgeous home. Outdoor designs with these factors in mind increase curb appeal, are updates that add serious value to your home, and are simply pleasing to the eye. One attractive way to add dimension to your backyard is by including large rocks or boulders. However, sizable stones can be heavy and expensive when purchased from a landscaper or home center. You can also buy faux rocks, but where's the fun in that when you can make them yourself with just a few common ingredients?

Another big benefit of creating reproduction rocks is the control you have. You get the exact shape, size, and color you want for your landscaping. Take the time to consider complementary accents to your home. DIY rocks aren't heavy or expensive, and they look more real than many of the fake rocks you can spot a mile away. This is easier and less time-consuming, and looks better, than the standard method of covering a mesh-wrapped custom frame with a mortar mix.

To make your rock, you need lightweight aggregate, such as vermiculite, a fibrous material, like peat, and Portland cement, all of which are found at any home center. You mix the ingredients by hand, so use gloves. Be sure to have plenty of space, especially when making larger rocks. Use a bucket or a wheelbarrow to mix ingredients. You'll need a mold, which you could make or buy. Finally, you need something to measure with that's a good size for the size of rock you want to make.

Adding decorative rocks is one way to create a low-maintenance oasis in your backyard. Start by mixing the ingredients (water, vermiculite, peat, and cement) to form hypertufa. Hypertufa is a man-made material used to create lightweight pots or other garden containers. Mix equal parts of each item by hand in your container. You're looking for the consistency of peanut butter. Transfer the hypertufa mix from the container to the mold, packing in at least an inch thick.

Karen E. Laine of HGTV's "Good Bones" fame uses a shower current as a release agent between the mold and the mixture, because it provides realistic texture and readily peels off the faux rock. Let it cure for 24 hours. When ready, pull your creation from the container and strip off the release agent. The finished piece will resemble a real rock, but will be lighter and much easier to put just where you want. Your rock will be heavy enough not to blow away in heavy winds, and it won't fall apart.

Best of all, these fake rocks can be customized. Your rock's size, shape, and texture are entirely up to you, but the fun doesn't stop there. Make your rock whatever color you like by adding concrete dye to your mix. When your rock is released from the mold, continue customization by painting lines, cracks, or other details. Consider using a spray adhesive to tack moss to your rock. You can even create a whole rock garden and add a ground cover for a stunning look.