Upgrade Your Yard With HGTV's Genius Fake Rock DIY

Gardening isn't usually the place where you'd say you'll fake it until you make it, but when it comes to adding boulders, it may be that faking it could be better than the real thing. Rocks are a normal part of nature, so it's realistic to find them in the landscape — plus, you can bring some dimension to your backyard with this simple yet impactful addition. HGTV's Karen E. Laine made a creative landscape boulder that looks remarkably like the real deal. The "Good Bones" host described how to DIY a genius fake rock that can upgrade your yard no matter where you place it. 

Using different types of rock in landscaping, including big boulders (fake or otherwise), can create a focal point in a landscaped island, add visual interest near some shrubs, or fill in spaces where grass won't grow. But you may be wondering how the stony replicas compare to real rocks. It's true they won't be as long-lasting, but cement gives them a fair amount of strength. You'll still want to be cautious if you have a lawnmower or weed whacker nearby, as these tools can damage the faux rock. On the plus side, the use of fake rocks can upgrade your yard because these genius additions are less expensive than purchasing real boulders. They also are easily moved. Creating fake rocks will take some effort, but it's worth it.

If you're excited to become a rock maker, start with a few practical things. First, clear a large workspace. Making these rocks can be sloppy. Begin with gloves (like a pack of the abrasion-resistant COOLJOB 10-pair Nitrile-Dipped Safety Work Gloves), and add eye protective goggles (such as the EinKau Anti-Fog Indirectly Vented Lab Safety Goggles). You'll need something for measuring your ingredients, plus a container big enough in which you can mix it all together (Laine suggested a wheelbarrow or 5-gallon bucket), and something to use as a stirrer, like an old hoe.

Now you're ready to rock! On TikTok, Laine said she mixed up "hypertufa," which is often used to create lighter-than-cement planters. She explained that hypertufa is "cement, vermiculite, peat, and water." While the TV host didn't disclose the amounts, most experts use a formula similar to 3-parts vermiculite, perlite, or sand (depending on the provider of the formula), 3-parts peat moss (with large pieces removed), 2-parts cement (cement dye optional), some fiber (Laine uses Owens Corning Anti-Crack HD Concrete Fibers), and water. Mix it all together to the consistency of peanut butter. Then to make the rock, she lines a rock-sized container with an old shower curtain, spreads an inch of the cement mixture around it, and gives it a day to dry before unmolding. To make it look even more authentic, attach fake moss with spray adhesive. Like one of Laine's best tips for simple but effective garden design which incorporates flower pots, the faux rocks also go anywhere the garden (or gardener) wants them to be.