Concrete jungle? Slice it up and make it green

While the remodeled barn I discussed earlier this morning has been logging clicks galore, one gallery that I assumed would be a hit with readers last month went largely unnoticed. It's a DIY solution that could help a lot of urban yards, so let's give it a second look, shall we?

The project is a twist on something you've no doubt seen: Concrete broken up into rough-edged chunks, the borders planted with ground cover for a green, more naturalistic look.

But landscape designer Stephanie Bartron offers a different approach: Renting a power saw (and a saw operator), then slicing up a patio or driveway into geometric patterns for a clean-edged finish.

In the project pictured here, the cut-out concrete was then stacked to create an entry fountain. Debra Prinzing details the process in her article and accompanying photo gallery, which includes a step-by-step look at the process and a peek at a few finished designs.

Sketch out the cuts yourself, then hire a pro to handle the heavy machinery. Cost for a day's equipment and labor: about $1,000.

-- Craig Nakano

Photo credits: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times