The Garden Guru: Design a garden for the ages with concrete benches, pedestals, birdbaths and more

If you’re planning a garden for the ages, you’ll include the best shade trees and structural shrubs, and you’ll also be counting on several critical so-called hardscaping elements.

Decorative concrete and stone are on that list. Each can last for years. However, they’re not always widely available. Some are sold new, while many are reclaimed garden antiques. Let’s look at some options.

Concrete benches. You can buy these new, but choose carefully. You want elegant, simple detail, and many of the mass-produced contemporary benches are lacking it. Ramp up your expectations and look for something a bit more exciting. Perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to find an old-fashioned retail nursery where the benches have been sitting in the sales lot for many months, so you can see the patina of age starting to develop. Better yet, maybe you’ll find an old bench at a local antique shop. The weathered, old concrete takes on a marvelous look.

Concrete pedestals. Like the benches, these vary greatly in style and detail. However, simple pedestals can be very attractive. You can use them as bases for birdbaths or sundials, or you can place special potted plants or hanging baskets on top for emphasis. Given that exposure, the concrete will quickly take on the darkened, maybe even mossy patina of age. Search antique sources for ornate, old pedestals. There are some wonderful examples out there just waiting to be found and loved once again.

Concrete pots, birdbaths and garden urns. If you’ve ever had one of these in your landscape, you know how permanent they are. And heavy. These are items you will probably move once and then leave in place. You’ll see concrete pots and birdbaths (or smaller urns) in sales yards displaying all types of new concrete products. There also are some really nice decorative concrete pots in the marketplace. They’re most often sold in better nurseries. The same goes for urns. Antique dealers may even have spectacular large urns that will require heavy equipment to get them into your landscape. They are wonderful additions, and nothing much ever happens to them.

Carved stone birdbaths, fountains and pedestals. These are high-end garden artifacts that will be found in finer contemporary sources and antique outlets, as well as through decorators and landscape architects. Some will be American-made, but many will be from Europe, Asia and Latin America. If it’s an old product, check closely for signs of cracks or repairs. If it’s new, ask about its ability to withstand freezing weather. Porous surfaces can be damaged by the expansion of water as it freezes. Sealants can help, but it’s better to use products that won’t have any issues.

Stone columns. These can be simple, square columns cut from Texas limestone, or they can be much more elaborate carved stone, often imported from other countries. Again, better antique dealers sometimes have them on hand. These are bold architectural elements that can be used to frame garden entries, also as accents at focal points of the design. Have them anchored securely in place. If you’re not confident that you can do it yourself, a landscape contractor would be able to help.

Landscaping boulders. Large, decorative stone is the most basic of our options. You simply choose the boulder (or, boulders — odd numbers are most visually appealing) that best fits your surroundings. The stone yard will be able to deliver it. It can probably also put it in place for an added fee, or, a landscape contractor can do the job for you. If you’re buying stone, look at it critically, and shop at several yards before buying. Be absolutely certain you like it.