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Making a Hypertufa Trough
These tuff yet lightweight containers that you
can make.
They are artificial stones made of several different aggregates
and mixed with Portland cement.
They will add a rustic look to your garden.
Hypertufa Troughs are easy to make.
Bring your Hypertufa troughs indoors in winter.
They have a tendency to crack in freezing temperatures. |
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Making artificial stone troughs was
developed in the 1980s. The gardeners of that day used "hypertufa," a
mixture of Portland cement, sphagnum peat moss and perlite, reinforced with
chicken wire. Let's start with basic
recipes and instructions. There are many variations that can be found
on the Internet. I am including some that I found most frequently.
Varying the ratio of
ingredients will result in different textures and color. You can experiment
by substituting sand or stone for the vermiculite or perlite.
Portland cement is NOT concrete. Don't
substitute pre-mixed concrete or mortar for the Portland cement.
The most common shape for an English style trough
is a rectangular or square shape, but they can be any shape you want. |
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| The Hypertufa
trough will "age" over a period of time. As the peat moss decays, the trough look
weathered. If your trough is sitting in a sunny area, it may grow moss or lichens.
Do this project outside. Wear rubber gloves and a dust
mask.
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Recipe 1
- 1 part Portland Cement (8 quarts)
- 1 part either vermiculite or perlite (8 quarts)
- 1 part peat moss, sifted to remove twigs (8 quarts)
- 1 cup Fibermesh, (available at building supply
companies that carry cement products)
- Water
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Recipe 2
• 1 10-pound bag of Portland cement
(available at masonry supply stores)
• 1 2-gallon bag of peat moss or coir
(coconut fiber)
• 1 10-pound bag of coarse sand
• Water
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Recipe 3
- 2 Parts Portland Cement
- 3 Parts Sifted Peat Moss
- 3 Parts Perlite
- Water
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Recipe 4 (super lite)
- 3 parts by volume of Portland Cement
- 4 parts by volume of Peat
- 5 parts by volume of Perlite
- Water
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Making a Mold:
- Use two cardboard cartons, one smaller than the
other to fit inside it.
- There should be at least a 2" around all the edges
- The larger Hypertufa trough, the larger the gap
needed.
- Place the large cardboard carton on a piece of
plastic sheet on flat ground. Concrete blocks or other similar heavy items around the
box will prevent it from bowing out when the hypertufa mixture is added.
Options for Molds:
- Cardboard boxes
- Styrofoam ice-chests
- Plastic containers/planters
- Plastic dish pans
- Plastic kitty litter pans
In addition to making long lasting garden plant
containers, you can use the mix to create fake rocks and boulders, stepping stones,
garden spheres and all sorts of decorative garden accents. Experiment and see what you
can make. |
Basic
Instructions:
In a large tub, mix the dry ingredients.
Add the water very gradually and mix well. The mixture should be the consistency of
cottage cheese. Hint: only a few drops of water should run out when you squeeze a
handful.
(Line the inside of your bowls or shoe boxes with plastic bags or plastic wrap.
Optional) Spread the mixture over the outside of your mold. Continue adding
mixture until there is about 2 inches. Make corners and edges a bit thicker.
You could use two cardboard boxes. Put a small box inside a larger one, Fill
the approximate 2" cavity with mixture. Build up the walls of the Hypertufa
trough gradually, making sure to compact the mixture as you go.
Insert three - six pieces of drinking straw in the center
of the trough bottom to create drainage holes. You will remove the straws when the
trough is dry.
Cover the trough with plastic (garbage bag or a drop cloth) and wait. After 36
hours or so, test it. Scratch the bottom with your fingernail - if you can see the
scratch it's not ready.
When it is ready, remove the mold. You may need to use a wire brush to smooth the edges
and the corners.
Now the real waiting begins. Cover the trough
with plastic and forget about it for three weeks.
Before planting in your trough, wash it with a mixture of one part vinegar to nine parts
water. This will remove the lime from the cement. Place in the sun to dry.
Just to be sure all the lime is gone, repeat several times.
At last you are ready to plant. You can use either "soil-less" mixture or potting
soil or bagged garden soil.
Here is a PDF of another set of instructions.
Click here. |
| Here are some
links to more Hypertufa Troughs:
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