DIYer Uses Concrete And Stones To Create A Tranquil, One-Of-A-Kind Birdbath

Think you need an expensive birdbath or fancy feeder to bring feathered friends into your garden? We've got some good news: You don't. Instead, you can get birds to flock to your yard by creating your own bath out of some basic materials, including concrete, sand, river rocks, and rope. The inspiration for this project comes from Instagrammer @innergoodsworcester, who created this adorable (and one-of-a-kind) DIY hanging bird bath.

Aside from its unique design, there are other reasons we like this DIY as well. For one, since it's made from durable materials, it's sturdy enough to withstand the elements outside. In fact, the creator — who is based in Massachusetts — noted that it's "built to handle the winter weather year after year." In addition, it's fairly customizable, so you can decorate it with plants, figurines, or other items that match the rest of your garden decor. 

If you'd like to make one of these birdbaths for your backyard, you'll need a few supplies — all of which you should be able to pick up at a home improvement store or a garden center. For the base of the birdbath, grab play sand (like this 50-pound bag of QUIKRETE Play Sand roughly $6 at Lowe's), concrete mix, perlite, chopped fiberglass, and river rocks. For decoration, you'll need moss and the plants of your choice, as well as soil and gravel. And since this is a hanging birdbath (rather than a freestanding one), you should also grab some rope and a hook.

Ready to bring this unique birdbath design to life? You'll start by creating the mold. To do that, roll out a tarp or an old blanket and add play sand on top of it. Use your hands to shape it into a shallow bowl. Then, arrange the rocks in your preferred design. The creator mainly put them into the bowl section of the birdbath, but you could also place some along the outer ridge if you like the way that looks. When you've laid out all of the stones, push them into the sand.

Next up: Solidifying the base. In a large bucket, create a mixture of concrete, perlite, and fiberglass. Use an old cup or scoop to pour it over the sand until the structure is thick and sturdy — without any holes or gaps at the bottom. Once you finish, let it cure for about 48 hours.

Finally, the last step is to attach the rope to the birdbath so you can hang the finished piece up from a hook. The bath is suspended by three sections of rope (each of which consists of two separate strands) — kind of like a tire swing. To support the weight of the concrete, the rope is tied into thick knots underneath the birdbath.

When your birdbath is hanging securely, fill it with water and wait for your feathered friends to show up. Make sure you don't fill it to the brim, though. Aim for a maximum depth of 1 to 2 inches. You should also keep the edges dry and replace the water each day.

As we mentioned, the original birdbath is decorated with moss and plants. It's a nice touch to add a little greenery to the basin, so it looks like a more natural place for visitors to land and enjoy the water. If you'd like to do that, you can lay down some soil, put gravel on top of it, then add the moss. When its color starts to fade, you can water it with the soaking nozzle on your hose.

That said, there are countless other ways to spruce up your birdbath so it fits with your personal style. For example, if you're into magical fairy gardens, you could buy some inexpensive accessories — like mushrooms, gnomes, or cottage doors — for decoration. At Dollar Tree, you can find these packs of Fairy Garden Mini Garden Decor for $1.50 each. Alternatively, if you'd prefer a more organic look, you can add branches, twigs, or other bird-friendly items you've foraged from your yard.