What Are Hypertufa English Troughs?

Definition

• Hypertufa.net defines hypertufa as "an artificial stone material that is made of several different aggregates and mixed with portland cement." Dictionary.com defines a trough as "a long, narrow, open receptacle, usually boxlike in shape, used chiefly to hold water or food for animals" and "any of several similarly shaped receptacles used for various commercial or household purposes." Hypertufa troughs are made using a mold, and an English-style trough is one that is shaped like a rectangle or square, and is used to hold flowers and plants to create a miniature garden.

Materials for Making Hypertufa Troughs

• The basic materials needed to make a hypertufa trough are the hypertufa mix of your choice and preferably a plastic mold of your choice. Also needed are plastic wrap, a large trash bag or petroleum jelly, and motor, vegetable or mineral oil or cooking spray to line your mold to help with the release of the hypertufa. Other materials needed are a dowel and a shallow container for mixing the hypertufa and water.

How Hypertufa Troughs are Made

• The mold that's used is first lined with anything that helps to release the finished product. The hypertufa is mixed to the same consistency as cottage cheese. It is first pressed to the bottom and sides of the mold to create a solid base and wall that's about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. Dowels covered in plastic, so they can be easily removed when the mix dries, are used to create holes on the bottom of the trough for drainage. The trough is then covered with a plastic bag and left in to cure in a cool, dry place for 21 days. The trough is then removed from the mold, thoroughly rinsed with water and is ready for use.

Adding Plants to Hypertufa Troughs

• Use bagged garden soil when planting your trough to simulate the conditions as if the plants in the trough were in the ground. Bagged garden soil is also used because it provides good drainage. Almost all kinds of plants can be planted in your trough. The best are those that are in your hardiness zone, meaning those that are capable of growing in your area, or choose plants that grow in a zone or two colder. Creeping plants and ground-cover plants can be used, as well as rocks and sea shells, as accents.