If you're ready do some landscape work in your backyard, consider the flexibility of concrete to create patio floors, decorative borders and furniture. Concrete can be made into many forms and to look like many materials. See how you can do some unique landscaping with these creative concrete suggestions.

What Makes Concrete a Good Landscaping Material

Concrete can be poured into forms to create nearly any shape. It can be carved to look like stone or brick. It can be dyed, stained or polished to a high gloss to look like fine marble. Stamp it to create the appearance of wood. The versatility of concrete lets you use it in a variety of landscaping projects.

Concrete Patios

A poured concrete floor can be shaped and dyed to look like natural stone tiles. It can be stamped and dyed to look like a hardwood floor. Ask your local concrete suppliers what finishes they have available. You could have the look of granite or marble tiles, or an oak, cedar or redwood hardwood floor.

Stone Paths Through the Yard

Create a flagstone path meandering through your backyard with concrete. It can be poured and carved to look like flagstones. Fill the gaps between stones with sand to complete the project. Place some benches, chairs and flowerbeds along the path and you have a pleasant meditation space in which to stroll, sit and read.

Yard Borders

If you have flower beds and vegetable gardens in your yard, separate them from the rest of the space with an ornamental border. Concrete can be poured into forms built to the height of the desired wall. Before the concrete completely cures, it can be colored and carved to look like a rustic brick wall. You could also make individual bricks from the concrete and place them along the border. This allows you to make the bricks any size you choose.

Flower Pots and Boxes

You don't need to settle on the large flower containers available at the garden center. You can create pots of any size and shape out of concrete. If the concrete company does forms, ask what styles and sizes they have available. Design your own containers to be placed permanently in the yard or construct containers that sit on a base with rollers so you can move them around the patio when you wish to change the look.

Fire Pit and Seating Area

Create a concrete circular fire pit in your yard for socializing on those cool evenings. The concrete wall around the fire pit can be made to look like large, smooth river rocks with a variety of colors and sizes. Surround the pit with another stone wall a few feet away. Make this wall shorter and with a flat surface on the top on which people can sit, enjoy the fire and chat with their mug of hot chocolate.

With these and other ideas in mind, contact a company like Island Ready-Mix Concrete to get started designing your perfect backyard.

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