DIY Concrete Leaf Birdbath

Gather Your Supplies

• Do not cut your leaf until you have prepared all of the materials required to make the concrete leaf birdbath since it may wilt before you are ready to make the birdbath. You'll need ready-mix concrete, a small trowel, and a bucket or tray to mix it. To support the leaf, gather enough sand to fit the length and width of the leaf you will be working with. You will also need three sheets of plastic.

Selecting the Right Leaf

• Select a leaf that has large veins for detail and can support the weight of the concrete without flattening. Ideal leaves for this DIY project should come from hostas, elephant ears or rhubarb plants, but any large leaf will do. Remove the stem before making the mold. It does not support the concrete and will chip off later, potentially ruining the finish.

Making the Mold

• To make the mold, lay out a sheet of plastic to protect the work area, then pile the sand onto the plastic, keeping it shallow enough to attract a variety of bird species, but large enough to fit the size and shape of the leaf. Keep the sand from mixing with the concrete by covering it with another sheet of plastic. Place the leaf facedown onto the covered sand pile. Mix the concrete following the manufacturer’s directions and shovel the concrete onto the leaf, covering the leaf. For added durability, keep the concrete 2 inches thick. Create a pedestal-style base by heaping a small mound of concrete onto the pile.

Let it Set

• Cover the concrete leaf with plastic and let it set for 24 hours. During high temperatures, mist the concrete periodically to keep it from drying out too quickly, which will cause it to crack. Avoid excessive handling, which may disturb the concrete. Once the concrete has dried, remove the plastic and gently lift the concrete from the sand pile. You may want a friend to help you keep the weight evenly dispersed to avoid snapping off edges. Remove the leaf from the mold with a scrub brush. Allow the concrete to cure for a week before adding any decorative finishes.

Finishing Techniques

• Paint or stain the concrete with environmentally safe products to match your existing garden theme. Make smaller leaves and use concrete bonding agents to attach them to the larger leaf to act as perches and decorative embellishments. Finally, protect your project with a topcoat of concrete sealant. Place the concrete leaf birdbath in a safe place that is above the line of sight of predators and near trees or bushes to provide a safe escape for the birds in case they are frightened.