How to Make Concrete Elephant Ear Birdbaths

Attract birds with a homemade birdbath.

Birdbaths do not merely function as watering holes for the neighborhood birds, squirrels, raccoons and other animals, but they also serve as decorative features in your landscaping. Birdbaths are usually made from plastic, copper or concrete. Many bird watchers prefer to make their own concrete birdbaths, but when you mix and pour your concrete, you're not limited to a standard birdbath bowl and pedestal. You can shape your birdbath in the form of a leaf, specifically a large elephant ear.

Things You'll Need

• Elephant ear leaf
• Scissors
• 30-lb. bag sand
• Plastic wrap
• 60-lb. bag cement
• Cardboard
• Paint (optional)
• Paintbrush (optional)
• Sealant (optional)

Instructions

1. Select the elephant ear leaf for your birdbath. Look for one with prominent veins and no holes or tears in it. Cut off the stem as close to the base as you can with a pair of scissors.

2. Make a pile with the sand, and place a piece of plastic wrap over it to cover it.

3. Set the elephant ear face down on top of the plastic-wrapped sand pile.

4. Mix the cement with water per the directions on the cement. A good mix should be thick -- not runny -- much like the consistency of mud.

5. Place the cement onto the very center of the elephant ear, and smooth it out to the outermost edges of the leaf. Cover the large veins on the elephant ear as well as you can with the cement. Be careful that you don't accidentally tear a hole through the leaf.

6. Make a rim for your elephant ear birdbath. Cut out a long, 1/4-inch-wide strip of cardboard. Place the cardboard all around the outer edges of the elephant ear, and use the cement to blend it in with the leaf.

7. Lay plastic wrap carefully over the elephant ear birdbath, and let the cement harden for 48 hours.

8. Turn the elephant ear over carefully, and take off the plastic wrap. Gently peel it away from the leaf.

9. Paint your elephant ear birdbath and seal it if you desire.

References

• "Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making Pots, Planters, Birdbaths, Sculpture & More"; Sherri Warner Hunter; 2005
• "Easy to Build Birdbaths"; Mary Twitchell; 1999