I recently purchased a heavy 3ft tall garden statue that sits on a solid 2ft tall base, both made from a heavy concrete-like material. I want to set it in my garden, but I'm curious about how to prepare the leveled ground for a solid base. Since I'm not interested in pouring concrete, what steps should I take to ensure it stays stable? Also, I'm located in the Midwest where freezing and thawing cycles can occur, so I'd like advice that holds up under these conditions. I appreciate any tips you can share!
1 Answer
If you want to avoid pouring concrete, I suggest laying down a 4-6 inch layer of compacted gravel. This will provide a strong foundation and help with drainage too. Make sure to compact the gravel well to prevent any future uneven settling. This method mimics the prep work you'd do for concrete, but without the hassle of actually pouring any!
That sounds like a solid plan! I agree, pouring concrete might be too much for a statue like this. Let’s see how it stands with the gravel!
Adding an extra 2 inches of coarse sand on top of the gravel can help too! Just compact it well, and something like pea gravel works wonders as a base.