You do not have to forgo the look of real stone, simply because you have chosen to landscape with concrete. And, next to using a highly-detailed mold, the most important step is coloring the concrete. There are several proven methods and a variety of quality products available to help you create a natural appearance.

Concrete Dye:

Dry pigment, made from Iron Oxide, is a common colorant used for dyeing concrete; they come in a variety of tones - brick reds, brown, ocher, umber, etc. During the mixing process, these powders can be added, a small amount at a time until the desired color is achieved.

For a mottled look, a small amount of dry pigment can be sprinkled and smudged into the mold, prior to pouring the concrete. Try using 2 or 3 complimentary colors, this will give a random appearance to the stone. For a rougher finish, sprinkle baking soda into the mold.

To get a marbled effect, mix the concrete, then separate a small portion from the larger batch and add the dye. Return the mixture to the larger batch and stir it - just enough to create swirls. You can repeat this procedure, using different colors each time.

Make sure that you keep a record of the quantities, colors and techniques used, in order to duplicate your results.

Concrete Stain:

You can take advantage of the porous nature of concrete, by using a concrete stain. These masonry stains act just like wood stains and are absorbed into the top one-sixteenth inch of the concrete. The pigment is highly colorized and available in a multitude of earth tone hues.

Concrete Color Wash:

A color wash is a technique that allows an accent color to be absorbed into the nooks and crannies of the stone. It can be achieved by mixing iron oxide pigment and water. This procedure should be applied to the castings immediately after demolding d while it is still uncured; this allows for better chemical bonding between the wash and the concrete. To apply the wash, brush the entire surface, especially into all the recesses. Once this is done, take a clean, moist cloth and wipe only the very top surface. Rinsing the cloth in between, it should take only a few passes for the results to become evident ?a depth of color that highlights the natural look of the casting.