How Landscaping Blocks Are Made

Molding Concrete Blocks

• The basic process of making landscape blocks entails coating the inside of a mold with a thin coat of mold-release agent and pouring thick concrete into the mold. Each step is simple, but must be done with care. For instance, if the mold release agent puddles at the bottom it will create pits in the surface of the blocks. Concrete should be pourable, but thick so the blocks are strong. While filing empty molds with wet concrete, tamp the molds frequently to force out air pockets and ensure the mixture fills every corner. It's also essential to dry the blocks on a flat surface or they will harden lopsided.

Customizing Blocks

• There are several ways to customize the look of landscape blocks besides choosing the size and shape of the mold. Whether you make your own molds or purchase them, consider stamping the exposed side with a textured rubber mat if you want them to have a pebbled, cobblestone or other design. When mixing the concrete, add a color agent into the mix to tint the blocks with a color that complements your existing landscape. For decorative blocks intended for a garden, lay shells or dried flowers in the bottom of the mold to embed them into the concrete.

DIY Molds

• There are several ways to approach making your own block mold. If you wish to build one from scratch, use four lengths of wood. Cut the lengths down into two pairs of equal lengths. Screw the wood together to form a rectangular frame and secure the frame over a flat, clean wood plank. Note that the thickness of the wood will determine the thickness of your blocks. Another option is to repurpose rectangular baking or foil tins as individual molds.

Commercial Molds

• Paver and landscape block molds are available in a wide range of sizes, as well as interlocking shapes. Made from rubber, polyurethane and other materials, molds often come in sets so you can pour and cure multiple blocks at a time. This not only speeds up the process, but also results in more consistent blocks made from the same batch of concrete.