Concrete in the Garden

[Nyboy]

A relative had to go into a nursing home, and gave me all their planters and garden ornaments, all made from concrete. At sometime all have been painted white. Most of the painted has clipped off. Not sure if I should repaint or just removed the old paint. Do you paint or leave natural to weather, in your garden?

 

[AmyRey]

I think I'd be inclined to take off the rest of the paint (a pressure washer maybe?)

But...

Why don't you ask her what she wants you to do with them? I'm sure she hates not being able to care for them anymore and would love to still be a "participant", in some sense.

 

[ninnymary]

NYboy..it depends on what they are, what you would prefer, and how they would best fit in your garden.

I personally love color. I have a concrete square planter that is painted in a buttery yellow with a fushia verbena in it. But that's just me. It also blends well in my garden since everything else is painted in bright colors!

Mary

 

[vfem]

I do like the idea of just concrete... but its such a personal choice for your tastes and what will look best in your garden. Long as your relative knows they are being loved I'm sure they would approve either way!

 

[hoodat]

I love the look of old aged concrete with moss and lichens growing on them.

 

[lesa]

I like the shabby chic- concrete with a little paint left on it....

 

[journey11]

I think it would be fun to play with color, like Ninnymary said. Is there any kind of paint that is better to prevent it chipping off into your soil? That would be the only thing I wouldn't like about it. On the other hand, mossy old planters look very nice too...but it takes awhile to get them that way!

 

[thistlebloom]

I'm wondering what you did with these @Nyboy ? I know we had a discussion somewhere about staining concrete garden items, but can't locate it.
I have a concrete birdbath that looks like a tree trunk with a vine wrapped around it, and it's just so plain. My first choice would be moss and lichens, but I think it stays too dry to support those. Whatever I use I'm going for a weathered rustic look.

 

[baymule]

Yeah, Nyboy what did you do with them? Paint? Strip old paint off? Nothing? Enquiring minds want to know .....

 

[Nyboy]

LOL some I left chippy, some I left unpainted, some I painted with white cement paint. It was for stucco houses. I tried growing moss on them , and found out only ones in shade will. I love the unpainted moss covered look the best. The quickest way to grow moss on cement is to place piece in a fishpond . I think its the fish waste that makes it grow so fast. Funny this thread should come up today, I spent all morning planted window boxes and cement planters.