How to Make Stone Outdoor Lampposts

Cut a groove down the center length of an 84-by-4-by-4-inch cedar post. Use a router to make the groove 1 inch wide and 2 inches deep.

Mix a 5-pound bag of quick-set concrete in a 5-gallon bucket. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper mixing. Add water to create a mashed-potato consistency.

Place the post on the ground with one of the uncut sides up. Use a trowel to transfer the mixed concrete to the side of the light post. Apply a 1/2-inch-thick layer.

Place small river stones into the concrete. Press the stones in so the concrete is on the back and sides of the stones. Place as few or as many stones as you like. Let the concrete set according to the package's directions.

Repeat the concrete and stone process on the two remaining uncut sides.

Widen the hole around the existing lamppost wiring to 5 feet by 5 feet wide and 2 feet deep. Place the post into the hole. Run the wiring up the center of the routered groove.

Cut an 84-by-1-by-1-inch piece of cedar. Apply wood glue to the sides of the routered groove. Insert the cedar strip into the hole, making the front edge flush with the edge of the post. Let the glue dry for 30 minutes.

Fill the hole around the post with dirt to secure it.

Mix a second batch of quick-set concrete. This time you will need only 1 pound. Mix it to the same consistency as before. Smear a 1/2-inch-thick layer of concrete with a trowel onto the post, covering the cedar strip you glued in step 7. Let the concrete set for 15 minutes. Since the lamppost is upright when this layer of concrete is added and it was horizontal when the other layers were added, letting the concrete set holds the stones more securely when they are added. Press river stones into the concrete to cover it.

Attach the light fixture to the top of the post by screwing the screws through the holes in the base of the fixture and into the top of the post.