How to Create Fountains in the Garden
For basic water fountain design and construction, creating garden fountains begins with an underground unit to catch the falling water and circulate it back to the top. The easiest way to do this is to sink a large plastic bucket or tub into the ground so that the lip of the tub is even with the soil line. Place the pump inside the bucket and make a notch in the lip of the tub for the electrical cord. You will need to attach a 1/2-inch (1.5 cm.) copper pipe to the top of the pump. This pipe will carry the water to the top of your fountain. A pipe 2 feet (0.5 m.) longer than the height of your fountain is sufficient. Cover the tub with a heavy framed steel or aluminum screen with a hole for the pipe cut in the center. The screen keeps debris out of the basin. Lay heavy wooden or metal planks across the tub to support the weight of your fountain. This underground part of garden fountain designs is the same for most simple fountains. Make sure the basin is a few inches (7.5 to 12.5 cm.) wider in diameter than your fountain so that it will catch the falling water. When your fountain is complete, you can use landscaping gravel around the base to hide the tub.
Water Fountain Design and Construction
There are many types of garden fountain designs. In fact, you’ll find lots of design inspiration at a large garden supply store. Here are a couple of simple ideas to get you started:
Waterfall fountain – Make a waterfall by stacking slate or rock paving stones. Drill a hole in the center of each stone large enough to accommodate the pipe, and thread the stones onto the pipe with the largest at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Check the way the water flows, and when you are pleased with the results, use a silicone adhesive to fix the stones in place. You may have to wedge some smaller stones between the larger ones to keep the structure stable. Container fountain – An attractive ceramic pot makes a lovely fountain. Drill a hole in the bottom of the pot for the pipe and set the pot in place. Use caulk around the pipe to seal the hole. If you like taller fountains in the garden, use a two-pot design with a shallow pot sitting inside a taller pot. Use calking around the inside of the taller pot to hold the shallow pot in place and force the water to tumble over the side instead of seeping into the tall pot.
When adding water fountains to the garden, you should locate them less than 50 feet (15 m.) from an electrical supply outlet. Water pump manufacturers recommend against using extension cords and most come with a 50-foot (15 m.) cord. Creating and adding water fountains to the garden is a great way to enjoy soothing sounds all season long.
