How to Make Artificial Rocks for a Koi Pond

No koi pond is complete without the addition of rocks. Rocks add a finishing touch of beauty and style to the pond. Real rocks can be used; however, their heavy weight can make them difficult to work with. You also may not have the benefit of making your pond look exactly as you want because you will have to work with the shape of the rocks. Artificial rocks are beneficial in that they are lighter, and you can shape them exactly as you want.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Expanding spray foam insulation
  • Grout
  • Burlap material
  • Scissors
  • Waterproof lacquer
  • Spray paint
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a piece of chicken wire. The size will vary depending on how big you want your rock to be. Bend the chicken wire into the shape you want for your rock. If the wire is hard to bend, you can use a hammer to hit the wire in places you want indentations.

    • 2

      Spray the foam insulation all over the chicken wire making sure it is completely covered. You can either leave it hollow or fill it in completely depending on how heavy you want your rocks to be.

    • 3

      Prepare the grout. Choose a color that is close to the color you want your rocks to be.

    • 4

      Cut the burlap into strips. Similar to how you would with paper mache, dip the strips into the grout mixture covering them completely. Place the strip between two fingers and run the strip through your fingers to remove excess grout.

    • 5

      Place the strips all over the chicken wire and foam making sure no foam is showing. It helps to overlap the strips slightly. Once you have covered the foam completely, use some of the excess grout to fill in the gaps so the rock has a smooth appearance. Allow to dry for a full day.

    • 6

      Use spray paint with a matte finish once the rock is dry to obtain the color you want for your rocks. Avoid anything with a glossy finish, as this will look unrealistic. Allow to dry completely.

    • 7

      Finish your rocks with a waterproof lacquer to seal the paint and to prevent wear once you put it in the koi pond. This also helps ensure that the koi will not ruin the rocks. Repeat the above steps to make as many rocks as you want for your koi pond.