Building a water fountain is a great way to spruce up your yard. It is difficult to quantify the joy and serenity of a relaxing afternoon spent in a hammock (lemonade in hand, perhaps?) in your beautiful, lush backyard. A great addition is the gentle, soothing sound of running water as your soundtrack. Install a fountain and you will create an elegant centrepiece for your yard and as well as a tranquil space where you can unwind. The best part is how easy this project can be. In a single afternoon you can build your own outdoor oasis. You will need the following supplies:
A submersible pump (approximately 150 gps)
½ inch tubing
Plastic basin
A large decorative ceramic pot
Small rocks and pebbles
Planter bowl (that can fit inside the decorative pot)
Drill with small bit
Shovel
Coupling
Clip
Aquarium sealant
Building the Fountain
Before you start, be sure your ceramic pot is glazed inside. If it isn’t, applying a couple of coats of Dry Lock sealant should do the job. Then seal it with water seal. Choose an even, level plot of land to set up your fountain. Dig a hole as wide as, and slightly deeper than the plastic water basin. This will be the base of your fountain. Also dig a thin, shallow line from the hole to a nearby outdoor power outlet to house the cord.
Place the plastic basin in the hole. Attach the tubing to the pump and place the pump near one of the edges of the basin, adding bricks to secure, stabilize and weigh down the basin. Feed the tube through the bottom of the decorative pot and place the pot in the basin. If there is no hole in the bottom of the planter, drill one into the planter’s center with a bit that is just larger than the tubing. Run the tubing through the planter and place it on top of the decorative pot. Caulk the hole with sealer to ensure it’s properly plugged. Nsow connect the water pump nozzle, fastening it with a connector and clip. Seal it by tracing aquarium sealant around the edge of the nozzle.
While the sealant sets, decorate the planter with rocks, pebbles or marbles. You can even add a few plants for a splash of life and color (three or four should be plenty.) Hide the cord in the long, shallow trench you dug earlier, using mulch to cover it up well (you want to be sure that no one trips).
Of course, you can have a fountain coming from a garden pond, but ensure you pond has a pond liner if you go down this route. If you need one, then click here to grab one of high quality.
Use a garden hose to fill the plastic basin with water until it just reaches the rim. Fill the planter until water just reaches the rim there as well. Plug the pump into an outlet (ideally a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet (GFCI) which protects people from electrical shock) and watch as your fountain bubbles to life. Also, be sure to avoid the power cord you have buried while performing any lawn maintenance, as it may pose a safety hazard.
Before the temperature dips below freezing in winter, unplug the fountain, drain it and remove the pump to avoid damage. Store the pump indoors and submerged in water and cover the fountain itself to keep all parts intact and maintain its condition for future summers.
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