How to Make a Concrete Landscape Curb

Sprucing up your landscape doesn't have to be expensive. You can make your own concrete landscape curbing with a little plywood and some general purpose concrete in a weekend with this tutorial.
I'll explain how to create curved forms, and how to pour your own curbing to give your front or back yard landscaping a new look on a tight budget.
Head over to this page for the written step by step tutorial:
www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-to-make-a-concrete-landscape-curb/

[@RachelLovelace]

I have one neighbor who had this professionally done and they have the nicest landscaping! So, I plan to do it myself. You’re the bomb. Im literally going to do it the same way you’re doing it. Thank you!!!

[@00selzen]

I did this years ago using foam packing sheets. They were easy to cut into strips like the plywood here. The strips bent very gracefully, as they were so pliable. I didn't take the time to stake the strips in, I just propped rocks behind them. Turned out good. Now I have a ledge for my mower wheels to go on, eliminating any need for "edging". I always initial and date my work in the cement. Sometimes I write mottos in the wet cement, for example, "Garden of Weedin".

[@dosam_6146]

That sounds like a great idea, Nancy! Not sure what foam packing sheets are though. How thick are they and where do you get them, I’m guessing someplace like Staples?

[@1stcontact590]

They have stamps that you can imprint into the cement to give it a rock or wood look on the surface. Nice job. I think I'm going to save some money and do this.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Oh yeah, I know what you’re talking about. I didn’t even think to use something like that here, but that would have been really cool!

[@JessSuave]

I just finished a landscape curb today and it turned out AWESOME! Thank you so much, I would not have had the confidence to do it if not for your video. I added a mosaic to the top of mine using Mexican beach pebbles and assorted pea gravel to create a vine with flowers along it. Now the hard part, waiting 4 days to pull off the forms!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

That’s awesome to hear!! The curing is the hardest part...patience isn’t my best trait haha.

[@margaretodamo6784]

thank you for the video, I am working on this project right now using just regular 2x4s. I didnt mix the concrete just poured it in and misted after. Also added a length of rebar. Trying to decide if i should use plywood to create curves since yours looks so nice.

[@WrenRowan]

Amazing! Thank you. I had just looked at the price to get edging stones from Home Depot and went NOPE. Gonna do this instead

[@unions100]

I absolutely love what you have done. Everything from the curve to the choice of pebbles and stepping stones all well matched perfectly. A big big well done👍👍👍

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!! 😊

[@danbasta3677]

Let me tell ya something here, you did a really BEAUTIFUL job here! Looks EXCELLENT!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you 👍 we are still loving it in front of our home!

[@johnmack4351]

Great Job Shara. Gave me some inspiration for mine. Nice work. Excellent illustration that you do not need a bunch of mixers and a million dollars worth of concrete tools. Two thumbs up!!

[@sapyproducts]

I’m glad I ran into this video & channel. Thank you for sharing how this project can be done nicely and in a simple manner!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@johnhamilton9229]

Good for you rocking out some concrete. Your final product looks much better than others I’ve seen on KZbin. Great effort using a bucket.

[@lynknLogs]

Hey Shara, looks like a fun project . I always find that taking a break from the usual projects recharges me. This reminds me when we did our own landscape retaining walls at our first house. It was back breaking work but so rewarding.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Michael Schnoblen yes! Sometimes it’s fun to switch things up. This was definitely a lot of heavy lifting. But it’s fun to get out of the ordinary here and there 👍

[@LawnCareJuggernaut]

Hey there Shara I am in the lawn and landscape business and i really enjoyed this video i think you did a very good job!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!!

[@theswych]

Awesome video! I love the CUSTOM look of the curves! I am definitely doing this in my front yard now instead of boring (and more expensive pavers). I can even customize it further by adding some texture to my concrete curb. Thanks... this video was right on time!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Awesome to hear! Glad it was helpful! It’s a lot more work than pavers but definitely less expensive. Good luck! 👍

[@varungaming1881]

I love planting love from India ❤️😍

[@Hugh1966]

G’day from Australia 🇦🇺 you have done a great job of this . 🙂

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you!!

[@Iphenity]

It looks really good, and I’m so jealous of your porch. I have wanted one my whole adult life, and the we stupidly go and buy a house were we can’t build one. So I have to drool over others 😅🤗

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I understand! We didn’t always have a porch. When we built this place it was top of my list to make sure we had. I hope one day you can have a porch!

Thanks for your sharing, the way you made concrete work is very practical

[@ajayr8781]

I am glad I opened up your link to the video. It was an amazing job done. You are so awesome. Thank you so much for your lovely vdo. Now I know what I'll be doing with my front and back yard.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

That’s great to hear. Thank you!

[@erikhopkins9488]

You know, I volunteer my curbside space as a potential landscaping project! 😄

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I might have to take you up on that 😂😂

[@valkyriesardo278]

I like this idea very much. My back yard has a snaking "S" curve of lawn that winds among berms of mulched flower bed. Maintaining a clean edge between grass and mulch became too labor intensive. A concrete curb will give me both a clean edge and a lawn mower rail.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Yes! We love ours. Makes weedeating easy having the edge there.

[@tessaw8556]

Wish I had seen this video before I purchased some edgers to do an area in my mom's backyard!!! However it might come in handy for the next project instead of me using pavers and having to cut the dang pavers....actually, I just might borrow your idea with using the rock and landscape curbing to do the area, plus I can use a colorant with the cement to tie everything together !

[@tree_carcass_mangler]

Well done! The design looks great, and you help take the mystery out of concrete work. A project like this might be just right for my new house. Thanks and thumbs up!

[@brianmi40]

It looked just a bit dry of a mix. A tiny bit more water will make it easier for aggregate to settle when tamping, and also more easily let the "better" sand/cement mix portion of the concrete to "float" to the top, so that when you trowel it, no aggregate is exposed and you can get a buttery smooth surface. But you got good results!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I did start out a little dry and started to mix it with more water as I went and did notice a big difference in the smooth-ability. Definitely needs more than what the bag calls for!

[@jilliancarpenter399]

This looks so good! And it's simple. Thanks for sharing

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so watching!

[@williepreston6342]

Friggin excellent! Thank you! I'm going to use your method!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Awesome!

[@joelongrid7625]

Looks great. Plan to do the same at my place this summer. Thanks for the video>

[@southbridgeforestHOA]

If you put oil on the plywood the cement wont' stick to it as much. You might even be able to remove the plywood once the concrete sets up and smooth the edges with a trowell to give the sides the same smooth finish as the top.

[@kardoyle]

Oh wow ! I can do if myself too ! I just have to do a 6 foot straight line to make my HOA happy !

[@timhalleran3514]

You're a hard worker!! Impressive!!😃

[@MsDayzie]

Yess!! I love this!! What an idea!! Very inspiring. I wanna work on my back patio soon, and I think I may incorporate this somehow. Thank you!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

MsDayzie thanks so much! I love adding this edging to anything I can. It looks clean and is really inexpensive 👍 hope this video is helpful!

[@adamaddy4661]

Wow great job! Your a tough chick and hard worker. I’ve been doing concrete over 20 years never did anything like this but want to do my beds I think they would look really cool stamped as well.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! Stamping would look really good on this!

[@Mars21681]

I'm in love 😍 (hubs is lucky man 😉) - you even made sure to add stress release 👌

[@craigmonteforte1478]

Good looking Landscape design

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@taniadcanadianebayer785]

Thank you. This is what i needed

[@Jessica-tz5cl]

Nice job! Quick and inexpensive

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you 👍

[@mikecotton460]

WOW you really did a great job, thanks.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@lindsay.newman]

thanks for posting your project, it was inspirational!

[@pizzaman2824]

Nice job. I like your style

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@ronnorris1504]

Wonderful looking . Thanks for sharing the video.

[@BK-fy2xi]

You saved yourself a bunch of money here. There is a landscaping company that specializes in this where I live (magic border) and they charge $10/foot to do this. 100 feet was gonna cost me $1000. I could do it this way for about $150 and a weekend or two of time.

[@rickroberge3034]

Looks so nice. Thank you for sharing your landscaping project with us. It’s just the encouragement that I needed. I plan to rent an electric mixer.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

That’s probably better than mixing by hand! 😂

[@knowbloc]

you are strong great job 💪🏽✊🏽

[@davidscales1464]

Great video for the DIY!

[@malcolmmckellar577]

Good effort and a good job....well done

[@NorthHoustonCityLimits]

Thanks for the tips looks great! Great job!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you 👍

[@FabianSalazar-km3ud]

Excellent job

[@andreinaonate4786]

I like this idea very much😘😘

[@Solarneutrinostar]

Very nicely done. Great work.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Fred G thank you so much!

[@truthbknwn]

Thanks for posting, looks great!

[@echomax6112]

Good job👍🙋🏻‍♂️ looks beautiful 😊❤️

[@paulettepinkowski5530]

Great Job!!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@cjmaxwell9253]

That’s kool I’m going to try it out 🙌🏽👍🏾

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Awesome!! Have fun! We love the way ours looks...even two years later!

[@Devachanna]

You're amazing!

[@markdalton3834]

Looks great!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you 👍

[@tonyaultman1257]

great job!!!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you 👍

[@hagopianharout2238]

Well done! Thumbs up 👍

[@johnarcelo1544]

Amazing video! ❤️

[@ExtrovertedCenobite]

Good for you! Great job!

[@linedog19delta]

Good job.

[@jk5042]

Good job

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you 👍

[@darrensoules808]

Good job 👍

[@alexanderchuyko4889]

Is there a special plastic forms for such kind of jobs in retail? I think we can find one, even with different wall shapes as a natural rock or timber finish look...

[@shanneykar]

You did a great art. I wish I can find them river rock cheaper to re-create your work. But here in Charlotte, NC they go for $120 a ton :(

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! Yes landscape rock is a little pricey. I get mine where I live for about $60-75 a cubic yard.

[@JessSuave]

Check with the local concrete sand and gravel place. I can get the big Colorado river rock from them where I live for $45 a cubic yard, vs $90 a cubic yard at the landscape and garden center. They don't usually have a HUGE selection but they might have something you like for cheap.

[@user-ty2uz4gb7v]

You didn't have to apply oil to the forms to prevent sticking of the concrete?

[@diannejohanson9785]

Hi there, me again. Thanks for getting back to me, I really appreciate it. I appreciate your video. Are you able to re-use that same plywood for another round or does it become too rough? Just a small question. Will the 1/4 plywood bend enough?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

My 1/4” ply bent as much as I needed it for this project, but once it’s used, it’s trash. You can reuse it, but I wouldn’t. It’ll be brittle and messy

[@teaglet1]

Nice, did you use a base like sand? I know to have it done professionally it’s $80 a foot, minimum of 100 ft. I may try this

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I didn’t use a base like sand or gravel. You can, but I just poured it after it was dug out and formed. It’s held up great for a few years so far now 👍

[@nloncto02]

Love it looks awesome!!

[@wccc111]

just a quick question, how far apart are you putting the stakes? e.g., a 1ft etc before you staple them or are you just going by where ever the support is needed? reason I ask, I was going to attempt to do a small area I have (about 10ft) using old vinyl slates (former patio window curtains) of course the stakes are going to be wood. think it will work?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I didn't have any specific spacing---just anywhere I noticed it looked like it needed some extra support, I added a stake. They definitely weren't evenly spaced.

[@squeekhobby4571]

Awesome

[@chrismoore9997]

Very nice. I worry about drainage though. Were does the rain water go?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Chris Moore we haven’t had any issues at all with this or our last house with drainage. 👍 this isn’t exactly water right so it drains out or soaks in

[@cramirez0606]

Nice, good job!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you!

[@coachliu32]

great video. thx.

[@pn9586]

Very good 👍🌹🌹

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you!

[@bloger90]

Good work

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks!

[@jgowrri]

Very nice and thanks for sharing your ideas .what foam board you used ? Have you added any sand and crack proof in the concrete mix

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! I didn’t use foam board. It was plywood. And I didn’t add anything into the mix. Just mix and water. 👍

[@russellborrego1689]

Very nice 👍👍

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Russell Borrego thanks so much!

[@quietstorm8230]

I like this!

[@utseay]

Strong play

[@shannons323i]

Excellent!!

[@alancyr2974]

Looks good. However, you may find that your control joints (cuts to prevent cracking) are not cut deep enough.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Maybe so, but it’s been a year and a half and so far no issues 👍

[@Ted_Michaels]

Great video and great job. Thank you for the video. Question: is it overkill to insert a piece of rebar into the installation? My name is Ted, and I live in Orange County, CA As mentioned in the video, I too like the clean look of concrete for landscaping. However many of the "mow strips" or curbs that I've seen, out here in CA, crumble over time - which is the reason for the rebar question. Thank you again.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! Ours has been fine without rebar so far but if you want to add some in, it definitely wouldn’t hurt!

[@Ted_Michaels]

@@WoodshopDiaries Many thanks and keep doing what you are doing - do not change. All the best to you and your family.

[@jtb1245]

Clever lady 🌟

[@mellowjammer]

Nice worK! Do you live in a climate where it freezes in winter? If so, how does the concrete hold up to freezing/heaving issues? Any cracking or unevenness so far? Sometimes it takes a few years for this to occur.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

It gets below freezing here in the winter. Not subzero weather, but most nights and some days below freezing. It’s held up perfectly. No issues so far (2.5 years old). It has one hairline crack that occurred right after I installed it because I stepped on it before it was fully cured. But nothing else has cracked on it since then.

[@Wakeywhodat]

Nice job! I made the mistake of reading some of the comments .. jeez..

[@cs_fl5048]

one trick...a bit tedious to some, is to use small dowel rod pieces to use as spacers at the top of the form and brad them in at the top of the plywood where you would put stress relief cuts. Serves double duty, makes for more even sizing, but is tedious -- great for those with a touch of OCD.

[@vicentevercher1973]

Muy bonito!!!

[@klwflorida5438]

Simple? Not so sure about that but it looks great! Nice job.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

A Simple process can still require some heavy lifting 😉 it’s just not complicated 👍 thank you!

[@diannejohanson9785]

Thanks for the video. Do you think 1/8 inch plywood would work ok? Or maybe even stiff cardboard? Do you think that would work? I want to try on a small area first.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

That might work, but my concern would be the weight of the concrete pushing out on the sides. If you put enough stakes, I think 1/8” would work okay.

[@GoldenAntiquesTNC]

Great job! Do you know the approximate length of the curb?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks! It’s about 30-35 ft

[@thilaksubasinghe9360]

Good one

[@TechnMoto]

Well done. Looks great. Thanks for sharing #technmoto

[@richardwilliamsmusic]

How much was the cost of everything? Thank you

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I don't remember...it was two years ago and I know both lumber and concrete prices have gone up since then. I have a materials list here that you can check current prices for what you'd need: www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-to-make-a-concrete-landscape-curb/

[@richardwilliamsmusic]

@@WoodshopDiaries Thank you, can you guesstimate with a rough number?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I’m sorry I honestly don’t remember how much

[@juanferanandobedoyarodrigu764]

You're gorgeous, intelligent, and very creative. I get distracted with you, excuse me. But anyways great idea with this little project

[@timdyer7692]

Great idea! It turned out very nice. I have one question regarding the forms; did you oil them before you poured the cement? Again, great project!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Tim Dyer Thank you! I didn’t oil them before pouring.

[@ChristenBob]

Hi. Thank you for your channel! I read on your blog and you use general purpose concrete. The application goes down gray but it looks like it dried white or a limestone color. Did you Color or paint your border? I’m looking for a finish similar to limestone. thank you.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Hi! I didn’t paint or add any color to this. Since it’s wet, it’s a lot darker when you pour it, but as it dries, it turns a light grey…just like your typical concrete driveway or concrete pad or patio. This was just plain concrete…nothing added

[@ChristenBob]

@@WoodshopDiaries thank you!

[@pn9586]

Super home

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you 👍

[@marianolombardo246]

By by from Roma 😷

[@AIRNATION1]

Great job can you come over

[@bi-sonicchannel91]

Where can you buy the plywood and how much is it ?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

It’s just 1/4” plywood. You can buy anywhere that sells lumber or building supplies.