I love a project that solves a real household problem without sending me to the hardware store for a cart full of supplies, and these simple landscape weights do exactly that. By filling deflated vinyl pool rings with cement, you can make sturdy, low-profile weights that help hold down tarps, secure lightweight garden covers, or anchor outdoor decorations in a neat, tidy way.
This is the kind of practical DIY I appreciate most around my home: inexpensive, easy to customize, and useful through more than one season. If you need a simple outdoor weight that sits flat and stays put, this project is beginner-friendly and surprisingly effective.
Materials
Instructions
1. Choose a flat, level workspace outdoors or in a garage, and spread the two deflated pool rings out so the fill valves are easy to reach.
2. Open each valve fully and flatten the rings with your hands so the chambers are as open as possible for filling.
3. Mix the cement according to the package directions until it is smooth and thick but still pourable, like a heavy cake batter.
4. Carefully squeeze or pour half of the mixed cement into the first pool ring through the valve opening, pausing often to push the cement around the ring with your hands from the outside.
5. Fill the second ring the same way, using the remaining cement, and massage the outside of both rings so the weight is distributed as evenly as possible.
6. Lay the filled rings flat and undisturbed, then let the cement cure fully until the weights are hard and firm all the way around.
7. Once cured, check that each ring feels solid and balanced, then place them around the yard wherever you need a compact landscape weight.
Variations & Tips
For lighter weights: Use smaller pool rings or fill each one only partway if you need something easier to move around the yard.
For better balance: Take an extra minute while the cement is still wet to press and nudge it around the ring evenly. That little bit of fussing makes the finished weight sit much flatter.
For seasonal use: These are handy for holding down row covers, outdoor tablecloths, lightweight garden netting, or small patio decorations when the weather gets breezy.
For picky organizers like me: Make two matching weights in the same size so they look intentional in the yard. I always like practical things to feel a little more put together, especially when they’ll stay out all season.
For longer wear: Set the finished weights on soil, mulch, gravel, or concrete rather than dragging them across rough surfaces, which can wear down the vinyl faster over time.