How to Make a Rhubarb Bird Bath
Give your feathered friends an attractive place to bathe with a rhubarb leaf birdbath. A lovely addition to any garden, these birdbaths are fun to make and customize.
While this article explains how to make a bird bath using large rhubarb leaves, the technique can be used with many types of leaves. Go big with large leaves like hostas or elephant ears, or small with oak, maple or sycamore leaves.
Things You'll Need
- Large rhubarb leaf Large plastic sheet or heavy duty garbage bag, split open Sand Concrete Plastic wrap Plastic grocery bag(s), split open Paint or concrete dye (optional) Concrete sealer Bucket Hoe Paintbrushes, if painting Mask Latex gloves
Instructions
-
-
1
Spread out the plastic sheet or garbage bag and pour the sand on top of it. Shape the sand into a low dome, making sure it's wide enough for the entire leaf to rest on with a few inches to spare. Do not make the sand dome too steep,or the finished birdbath will be too deep.
-
2
Cover the sand with plastic wrap. The wrap will act as a barrier between the sand and the leaf, making clean up easier. Place the rhubarb leaf on top of the plastic wrap.
-
-
3
Put on the mask and gloves and mix the concrete according to the package directions. It shouldn't be too thin (and run off the leaf) nor too thick (it should be able to be easily moved).
-
4
Place some wet concrete at the center of the leaf and begin moving it outward to cover the entire leaf, adding more concrete as needed. Ideally, concrete at the middle of the leaf will be about 3/4 inch to 1 inch thick, with the edges tapering to about 1/4 inch thick. Be sure to cover the rhubarb leaf's thick veins well. Gently smooth the border with your fingers to ensure a nice finish.
-
5
Cover the birdbath lightly with the plastic bag(s) and secure so the bags don't blow away (backyard rocks are handy for this application). Dry the concrete slowly to prevent cracking. Depending on the weather, it can take a few days for your birdbath to dry completely, but begin checking after 24 hours.
-
6
When the birdbath is fully dry, remove the plastic bag and turn it over carefully. To prevent breaking, get someone to help. Pull off the plastic wrap and peel away the leaf from the bird bath. Some bits of leaf might stick to the bath; brush them off with a scrub brush. Once the bird bath is cleaned, keep it dry and leave to cure for about a week.
-
7
Paint or dye the concrete if you desire after the concrete has cured. Acrylic, oil, spray paint and watercolors are options you may choose from. Have fun, and let your creativity run wild.
-
8
Seal your rhubarb leaf birdbath with a coat (or two) of concrete sealer according to the manufacturer's instructions. This will protect the concrete and keep your bird bath looking beautiful.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
As the concrete has to dry over several days, do this project during a stretch of warm, sunny weather.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit ♫ Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head ♫ by Noël Zia Lee via flickr
