Inspiration for our Backyard Transformation using Concrete Rubble/Urbanite
The second summer in our home, we decided to tackle the old concrete slab patio in the backyard. We needed a larger patio and a solution for the dirt and mud behind the house where grass refused to grow. The first step was breaking up the old slab into concrete rubble—but once we did, we faced a new problem: how to get rid of it. Hauling it away was looking expensive and time-consuming.
Then, as I stared at the chunks of concrete, I had a realization—they actually looked kind of beautiful. Instead of focusing on disposal, I started wondering how we could repurpose them in our yard. My husband thought I was crazy and called it trash, but I saw potential.
Our yard is about half an acre, lined with a variety of beautiful mature trees. However, years of neglect had left the area around them overgrown with weeds instead of grass. I decided to clear out the weeds, turn up the soil, and create a curving border around all the trees to define the space and give the yard a more intentional, landscaped look.
Challenges & Considerations
The biggest challenge with this DIY landscaping project was the physical labor. It involved a lot of digging, pulling, and spending hours hunched over, especially in the areas where grass had taken hold—it was a real nightmare to remove. To make it manageable, I turned it into part of my morning routine: walk the dog at 6 AM, then get straight to work in the backyard until the heat became unbearable around 10 or 11. Oh, and the mosquitoes! They were relentless, but a good high-DEET mosquito spray took care of that problem easily enough.
Materials For Our Landscape Border Using Concrete Rubble/Urbanite
- Concrete Rubble
- Shovel
- Edging tool (that half moon thing)
- Gloves
- Yard Waste Bags
- Bug Spray
How to Repurpose Concrete Rubble into a Stunning Yard Border
Step.1 Decide how you want your border to look, I went for a curvy winding border because that was easier than straight lines and I think it looks better
Step.2 Edge out the border area
Step.3 Remove all grass and weeds inside the line you edged out and churn up the soil
Step.4 Put your concrete rubble chunks down on/in the edge. I quickly found it looked best to use varying sizes so the border has a lot of height variation
Step.5 Fill in with mulch/woodchips. We did this step a couple years later to help cut down on the weeding
Final Thoughts On Using Recycled Concrete Rubble as A Landscape Border
I absolutely loved this project! Not only did it solve the challenge of getting rid of all that old patio rubble, but it also completely transformed our backyard. The natural, textured look of the concrete border adds so much character, and after receiving countless compliments from our neighbors, even my husband stopped calling it 'trash'—though he still grumbles about having to trim around it!
Cost Not only was this project completely free, but it also saved us money by eliminating the cost of concrete removal and disposal.
Is This the Right Project for You?
If you have concrete rubble, enjoy spending time outdoors, and don’t mind some physical labor, I’d encourage you to find ways to incorporate it into your landscaping rather than hauling it away.
