Get creative with concrete bags in the garden

If you ’ve ever forgotten an idle bag of premixed concrete outdoors for several sidereal day or even weeks , you may already know how quickly it can overcharge up moisture and harden . What if you could put that inclination to apply in a few clever and prosperous - to - make garden projects ? twist out , you’re able to . All you need to do is position a suitcase of premixed , ready - to - economic consumption concrete in place and wet it down . It will harden in a subject of day . Scroll down to see three wanton projects we made from concrete bags .

Tips from the concrete pros

Whatever your project , here are some tips from the folks at QUIKRETE ® for success usingpremixed , quick - to - use concrete bags .

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Create a raised bed with concrete bags

A resurrect bed wall is as well-situated as stacking cup of tea on top of each other and wetting them down . To make a elicit bed like the one above , start by choosing which product you ’d care to use — bags of pre - mixed , quick - to - expend cement/ sand portmanteau , such asQUIKRETE ® Sand Mix # 1103 , come in different sizes and weight . Once you know the bag size , appraise the outline of the bottom and count the number of bags you ’ll necessitate . Each block will be the same size as the cup of tea the textile comes in .

Lay out the first run-in , irrigate it good , then rest out the second run-in , staggering each grip over the wrinkle of the previous course and chuck them flat ( in case the cloth inside the old bag has shift to one side or another ) to fit together more snugly .

For a raised bed less than 2 feet tall , you could simply pile the pocketbook , with no need for reinforcement , though that will make the bulwark more dependable . Walls improbable than 2 fundament need reinforcing stimulus , and since this one was 3 foot tall , it has ½-inch rebar driven through all the layers and into the ground about 8 inches deep . This is easier to do while the textile is teetotal , but also can be done quick after wet but before the concrete set .

Jennifer Howell

Before filling the bottom with filth , rent the concrete curative for four days by covering it with plastic or wet it periodically . Once the concrete is cure , you may remove the theme or let it fade of course as the time of year goes on . It will finally deteriorate .

DIY Butterfly puddler

A single bag of premixed concrete is all you take to make the butterfly stroke feeding and watering station in the photo above . Set it in place in the garden and record the border of the bag with packing tape to aid the bag hold its shape . Cut launch the base human face from corner to corner with a box tender , and discase back the report , leaving an heart-to-heart rectangle so you’re able to press indentations into the exposed dry concrete mixture with a duad of bowls . With the arena in position to keep the embodiment , employ the mister hose nozzle setting to impregnate the mix until it looks like water will seep out if you sum up more . Twist and loosen the bowls to ensure they wo n’t lodge . After the concrete has bring around for four Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , peel the bag off .

To occupy your butterfly stroke puddler , put a mix of half George Sand , half compost in one indentation and mute it for butterflies to get moisture and mineral . Place food sources like overripe bananas or orange in the other indentation .

To find more specific how - to step for this butterfly puddler made out of a concrete suitcase , take the full article here !

Jennifer Howell

Create a bench from a concrete bag

On a sheet of plastic , wet a exclusive bag of premixed concrete and countenance it cure , discase off the newspaper bag remnant , then plainly pose it atop two solid concrete blocks to make a rustic bench as in the photo above . It will brave out into a raw - look blot to model and contemplate your next concrete bag labor .

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GG168-concrete-bag-project-raised-bed: Paper between the blocks will keep them from sticking together while curing, but the shapes will still mold to one another.

GG168-concrete-bag-project-raised-bed: Paper between the blocks will keep them from sticking together while curing, but the shapes will still mold to one another.

GG168-concrete-bag-project-pollinator-puddler: Keep the wet sand-compost mix in one side and a bowl of overripe fruit in the other. A removable bowl makes it easy to change and clean.

GG168-concrete-bag-project-bench: This concrete mix bag absorbed moisture and rain outdoors over time, leaving its texture a bit rough.