The invention discloses a concrete retarder, as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The concrete retarder comprises the following components: a retarding main body, a main solvent, an emulsifier, a drying catalyst and a thickening agent, wherein the retarding main body is a mixture of a C5 resin and methyl abietate; the main solvent is at least one of dimethylbenzene, dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene and glycol ethylene ether. The methyl abietate is decomposed into an abietic acid in water, a calcium ion is induced by the abietic acid to exist in a free state, and the coagulation time of alkaline concrete is further prolonged to achieve a retarding effect. Only the methyl abietate at a position contacting with the concrete is reacted with water in the concrete for decomposition, and in addition, the C5 resin is mixed with the methyl abietate to serve as a carrier of the methyl abietate, so that the flowability of the methyl abietate is further reduced, meanwhile, the uniformity of the methyl abietate in the concrete retarder is improved, and the concrete retarder can be further used for a specific position of the concrete to prolong the coagulation time or form the exposed aggregate surface of the concrete.