Make rusty garden decorations yourself

Remove surface layer

Do you know that? You have forgotten your metal garden decoration outside over the winter - and in spring it unfolds a "new", namely old and rusty "blossom". Many a piece looks more beautiful with it than with the original surface. One way to speed up the rusting process is to remove the surface layer of the metal object.

1. Wipe with mineral spirits. Rub the object in question several times with benzine. This dissolves the surface grease and the silicone in the coating.
2. Roughen with sandpaper. Roughen the surface with sandpaper. That amplifies the effect.
3. Expose to rain. Expose your garden decorations to moisture and rain. In dry weather, you can help with the watering can and add salt to the watering water.

After this treatment, you can look forward to a beautiful rust surface after a few weeks.

Treat garden decorations with a chemical rust accelerator

It's even faster if you use a chemical rust accelerator.

1. Roughen the surface. Roughen the surface with sandpaper. It becomes even more even with sandblasting.
2. Treat with hydrochloric acid. Brush your decoration object with a light hydrochloric acid. Be sure to wear protective clothing.
3. Wash out. After half an hour of exposure, wash off the acid with water.
4. Wait. Rusting starts and continues within a few days.

This layer of patina protects the object like a lacquer.

Treat rusty areas with effect paint

If it doesn't have to be real rust, you can use a can of effect paint. You can get this type of paint, for example, from a car tuning shop or from a craft store.

1. Apply rust primer. Artificial rusting occurs in two phases. Spray the special rust primer all over or partially. This ensures a realistic surface impression that appears porous and slightly sandy.
2. Let dry. Let the rust primer dry.
3. Apply effect varnish. In the second step, you spray the actual rust effect paint on the pretreated parts. This creates the perfect illusion and gives the painted object a nice rusty color.
4. Apply clear lacquer. Optionally, you can paint the object with a matt clear varnish. This makes the rust decoration in the outdoor area weatherproof.

In this way, you can rust your garden decorations exactly in the places you imagine within a few hours.

Skilfully staging rust decorations in the garden

If you put rust decoration in the limelight, it is an eye-catcher in the garden and on the terrace. Decorative elements such as garden plugs or bed plugs are suitable for rusting. Simple balls, watering cans, plant pots and bicycles give the garden a nostalgic charm.

Rust decoration is a typical exterior decoration. Do not overdo it, but deliberately stage a few treated elements. That could be a row of wildly planted pots on the shed or a rusty bike on the garden fence. In the entrance area or on the driveway, there is a metal column, possibly with engravings or planted.