Make a Hypertufa Trough

Show off your favorite container plants in a homemade hypertufa trough.

Modeled after ancient stone troughs used to hold water and feed for livestock, these troughs are made from hypertufa, an artificial stone product. Easy to make, these cool containers work in any style garden. Beth Jimenez and Amelia Lane, owners of Lasting Impressions in Raleigh, show you how to make inexpensive hypertufa troughs. Once you learn the secret to making these containers, you may not want to stop. A grouping of containers of various sizes makes a striking garden collection.

Design Ideas

Apply basic garden design principles when creating hypertufa trough gardens. Use odd numbers of containers with varying heights and textures to add depth. This example uses a hosta, conifer, and sedum. The round rock adds the perfect accent.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

You may have many of these supplies on hand. The remainder can be found at a building supply store to make a trough that measures 16x16 inches.
Tape
Tape measure or ruler
Marker
Serrated knife
Sheet of 2-inch-thick foam insulation boards
Eight 3-1/4-inch nails
Rubber or latex gloves
Quikrete Portland cement
Perlite
Peat moss
Reinforced concrete fibers
Water
Gallon container
1/2-inch dowel
3/8-inch-thick plywood board (2x2 feet)
Spray bottle
Sheet of plastic or trash bag
Wire brush or screwdriver (optional)
Wheelbarrow
Hoe

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