How to Make Landscaping Border Molds

There are many ways to create landscaping borders.

Pouring your own concrete landscaping borders makes sense if you want an unusual color or unique design or texture. Making your own landscaping borders may even make sense financially, particularly if you have a very small yard or want to border a small area only. A variety of commercial molds are available to create garden borders, stepping stones and pavers that feature artistic embossed designs. Adventuresome do-it-yourselfers might experiment with silicone or resin mixtures to design sophisticated concrete molds. But almost anyone can make a simple border mold from pieces of scrap wood and screws.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Two 1/2-inch plywood pieces, 24-by-3 inches
• Two 1/2-inch plywood pieces, 13-by-3 inches
• One 1/2-inch plywood piece, 24-by-12 inches
• Power drill
• Screws, 1 1/4 inch
• Spray lacquer
• Construction sand

Instructions

1. Measure the total distance you plan to border. Sketch out the total project, and calculate how many concrete border sections you’ll need to create that border, based on your preferred size. In this example, we will make a mold to cast 3-inch-thick concrete border sections that measure 24 inches long and 12 inches tall. When a trench is dug and the finished sections installed, 6 to 8 inches of the border will show above the ground.

2. Assemble the mold from the 24-inch and 13-inch plywood pieces. Lay the pieces out on your working surface as you would a shadow box picture frame. The inside dimensions of this frame, once secured, will measure 24 inches by 12 inches, the exact size of the concrete border sections.

3. Secure the square at each corner with two screws, using the power drill. Spray the inside of the mold with lacquer, to make sure the concrete mix won’t stick to the inside of the mold after the border section sets. Also spray one side of the 24-by-12 plywood piece, if you decide to use it to create a smooth finish for the border’s front.

4. Make multiple molds if you plan to pour more than 10 or 12 border sections, to make the task go more quickly. When you’re ready to pour your landscape border, place the molds on a level bed of construction sand, mix the concrete according to product instructions and pour it into the molds.

Tips & Warnings

• Glue carved wood, wire screening, very coarse sand or other thin, highly textured surface to the inside walls of your mold -- before spraying the lacquer coating -- to create textured concrete landscaping borders.

• For large projects, it would probably be more cost effective -- and a better use of your time -- to buy landscaping borders by the pallet.

References

• Paving Expert: Other Edgings
• Landmark Construction Co. Concrete Pavers Guide: Concrete Paver Molds -- Buy, Make, and Use
• Online Tips: Concrete Molds

Resources

• Creative Homeowner Publishing: Pouring and Placing Concrete