In this garden, Charlie Albone didn’t just fix up a planting problem, but redid all the trouble spots as well. Corten steel is usually used in the garden for edging and creating boundaries between garden beds and lawns. However, it can also be melded and bent into beautiful raised garden beds!
A nest of corten steel rings of various sizes makes a great focal point and pulls the eye away from the surrounding walls. Its rusty orange colour works well to complement the bright green of Aussie gardens. Fill them with plants and you have instant colour and movement!
This inventive makeover is just one of many that uses corten steel in the garden.
How to make corten steel garden beds
Gather your supplies
- Corten steel landscape rings in various sizes and heights
- Brickie’s sand
- Cement
- Premium potting mix
- Selected plants
You’ll also need
- Marking out paint
- Hovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Trowel
- Spirit level
Step 1
Sit rings in position on grass in your preferred layout. Use marking out paint to mark the inside of the rings on the grass.
Step 2
Use a shovel to remove grass inside the marked rings to expose the soil below.
Step 3
In a wheelbarrow, mix brickie’s sand and cement in the ratio of 4:1. Add water and blend to create a relatively
stiff mix. Use a trowel to spread mortar around outside of the area where the rings will sit.
Step 4
Step 5
Fill rings with quality potting mix, add plants, backfill with more mix and water in well.
What is corten steel?
Corten steel is a weathering steel, meaning it does not require any paint or seal to protect it from damage. Instead, it forms a layer of rust that keeps it safe from wind and other weather conditions.
How long will corten steel last outside?
Corten steel can last for decades in the outdoors. This is because it is a weathering steel, and can protect itself from harsh weather conditions. The layer of rust it forms easily protects against corrosion, and slows the ageing process.
