Garden Ornaments

Garden Ornaments questions and answers

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Q: garden ornaments?
sister-in-law wants a tweety pie and sylvester ornament for her back garden, any ideas where to get one, uk only, have checked local garden centres

A: Sue There is one on ebay I'll mail it to you Julia

Q: what do you use to mend concrete ornaments from the garden?
one of my garden ornaments thats concrete in nature has lost its leg... what is the best product to glue it back together as well as fill in missing pieces... thanks

A: Gorilla glue will work, but be careful as it "oozes" out. Just keep wiping off any excess.

Q: What kind or grade of cement do I use to make concrete garden ornaments?
When I went to Home Depot they asked me how many "rocks" I wanted in the mixture. I would think none since I want the surface of the garden ornament smooth so I can paint it.

A: I would also recommend a mortar mix as you're not looking for any significant structure strength. If you do use a concrete mix, you can get the lowest structural strength they have available (should be cheapest). Your local ready mix plant may also be willing to give you some leftover returns out of a mixer truck. Be sure to rod & tap or vibrate your mold properly to ensure consolidation so you don't have rocks showing on any surface. If you post the dimensions, I can suggest a number of lifts and strokes for rodding as well as rod dimensions, or vibrator specifications and technique.

Q: Getting rid of air bubbles wen making garden ornaments from latex moulds?
My ornaments are coming out with lots of air bubble holes in the cement / sand mix. Any tips? Ta J

A: Vibrate the wet cement when it's in the mold, then cure it in a vacuum. A vacuum tank can be made from a large pressure tank, such as an old water heater. Saw the tank in half, smooth the edges real good and make a gasket out of thick rubber. The vacuum will hold it together. You can make very strong concrete this way. All the air is sucked out.

Q: Does anyone know where i can buy moulds to make garden ornaments?
i would like a dolphin one & rotweiller

A: have you tryed E-bay?

Q: What brand or type of paint is good for concrete. I want to paint some garden ornaments?


A: They make some acid etch stains in some cool colors that are permanent and penetrate. Don't use Behr brand (HDepot)--- I find they are prone to peeling. 2-part epoxy paints will stay on. You could go to SouthernColor.com and order theirs. It's a neat website. Also, just type-in "concrete colorants" and hit search. I want to do something like this also, so I'll be watching the answers to your question as well. Good luck.

Q: What would look better in a garden: ornaments that have a theme or an overabundance of mixed ornaments that..
don't relate (ex: lamb, turkey, seashells, Mexican, etc.)? Neighbor has a beautiful garden created/added to/maintained by him; decorated by her.

A: You can do it either way. You can have an overall theme for the entire garden. . . . . or you can have nooks and crannies of style. In the latter instance each ornament should have it's own space and not be cluttered together with non-like ornaments. That way it looks and feels like you are going on a journey (as in life) as you walk through the garden. By the way you phrased the question, I believe you would prefer the former style: The over-all theme. It is a good choice for an average to small garden. The latter would be better in an average to large garden, were distance gives more of a feeling of order in the "journey". Bottom line, what ever is fine . . . . with you.

Q: I want to paint some garden ornaments, whats the best paint to use to avoid flaking etc?


A: enamel then clear varnish

Q: Best mix for making garden ornaments?
I am starting with cement and sand, what ratios can anyone recommend? Thanks J

A: I watched a show on hgtv a few weeks ago called crafters coast to coast/ thats clever. This lady made latex molds out of clay figures she created and she says the best is hydrostone. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_figures/article/0,1789,HGTV_3237_4182854,00.html Here is the link the instructions towards the bottom show how she mixed and sifted solutions.

Q: is it possible to make good money making and selling garden ornaments?


A: Home sales are at an all time low... There are so many foreclosures going on right now that banks are losing money on the junk mortgages they've been selling for the last decade... The DIY phenomenon is in full swing... With gas prices so high, people will be spending less on things they don't really need... I'd say thay yes, you can make good money if you have a product that's original, creative, and difficult to reproduce, but you're going to have a tough row to hoe selling gardening ornaments for a few years. -SD-

Q: UK Only - Would you buy stainless steel decorative ornaments for your garden?
How many people would like to be able to buy stainless steel decorative features for their gardens? i.e planters, furniture etc. Or what would you like to be able to buy for your garden/home but have difficulty locating a supplier?

A: Stainless steel might be good for a bird/squirrel deterrent. Something shiny that moves & reflects light to scare birds, deer, squirrels, & varmits away

Q: how do you make concrete molds for garden ornaments?


A: one of the oldest is to use paper mache and fine chicken wire and use a reverse mould process that involves two halves an a lip to wire together and then trim off excess cement /concrete dont forget to use a very fine grade sand and use something like bondcrete to seal the outside

Q: Garden ornaments....statues......Backdrop ideas...?
I wish to purchase a garden ornament but dont just want to stand it on its own looking boring in my garden. Im trying to find some inspiration for backdrops from the net but cant find any. AND my PC is so slow I wonder if anyone can send me some sites with photos for ideas. Its a LARGE garden. We are not talking small garden.

A: When decorating your garden, use the 'surprise' principle. It's really very easy, especially if you have paths that curve, and high perennials that can 'hide' the stuff around the curve. Get whatever 'fun stuff' you like, and if you have even just one 'standard lot' you'll have room for at least 10 'decorative items.' You can put one gnome or a group of gnomes either peeking out or 'working unaware' under the leaves. You can put a 'reflection ball' in a small pond or birdbath in a sunny place where it can sparkle and shine with the sun. You can use things you like, and set them where you want, because it's your garden. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and at our Flower and Garden Show every year, the people who win the top 'amateur garden' prizes aren't those who use stuff they find in books or on the web or a 'formula' from a book. They spend time in their gardens, they love their gardens, and they have a 'natural feel' for the decorative pieces they put into their gardens. Whether you want gnomes or stone animals and reptiles or glass balls or all three ... it's YOUR garden, and you should buy what you like and put it where you want to ... I guarantee that it will look wonderful, not just to you but to those who can see in or take a walk in your garden.

Q: Can anyone tell me where to buy garden ornament rubber moulds please? eg gnomes etc. Thanks?
Im wanting to set up a garden ornament business and require latex rubber moulds to make the ornaments.

A: http://www.sandcmoulds.com/ Try these or do a search on google - just put in rubber garden moulds. There are quite a few firms that supply them. We used to have a bloke sell items at our local car boot, and a stall under cover in our small shopping centre, but we don't see them very often now. Good luck.

Q: can you use brickies sand for concrete garden ornaments?


A: no you cant ..bricklaying sand is too soft and will shrink when it dries ..you could use plastering sand ..but realy you need sharp sand ...you dont say exactly what you are doing with the sand ...are you repairing or casting figures ? more info would have been good