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A garden fountain is a great way to not only create a relaxing soundtrack for your back garden, but it can also give you that professional, straight-from-a-magazine look. It isn't hard or expensive to make a garden fountain either! Below you'll find three different versions, all cheap and can be made in a day. Just get started with Step 1 below or see the table of contents above to see the options.
Steps
Ball Fountain
Build your base. Get a 5 gallon (18.9 L) cylindrical bucket and cut a hole for a 3/4 PVC pipe at the bottom. Turn the bucket upside down and fit a piece of 24" PVC pipe through the hole, leaving about 6" of space at the bottom. Use silicon or caulk to seal any gaps. Place this structure on a large piece of spare plywood, and then center a 12" wide piece of concrete forming tube around the bucket. This is your form for the base and will be filled with quick-set concrete. Fill it until the bucket has at least 2" of material covering it and then give it a shake to remove bubbles. Let it set according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Build the ball. Get a glass light fixture globe, spray the inside with cooking spray and then fill it to the top lip with concrete. Tape off the end of a PVC tube and shove the taped end down through the center of the ball so that it sits snugly against the glass. Tape it in place until the concrete sets.
Break the forms. Break both pieces out of their forms and use a flexible saw to cut off the extra PVC pipe.
Create the basin. Dig a shallow hole big enough to get a plastic garden basin in. Fill it part way with river stones set a 100–155 gallon (586.7 L)-per-hour pump into the rocks and then cover the pump with a layer of rocks.
Insert the tubing. Run 1/2" vinyl tubing from the pump and, with the base tipped on it's side, up through the PVC pipe. Tip the base into place and then insert the tubing through the ball.
Trim the tubing and secure the ball. Cut off the excess tubing that protrudes from the ball and then remove the ball in order to trim the tube so that it will fit just below the lip of the ball. Return the ball to it's location and this time secure it in place with some adhesive silicon.
Add water and turn on the pump. Pour water into your basin and then start the pump. Ta-da! Your garden fountain is done!Advertisement
Flower Planter Fountain
Prepare your base. Get a large flower planter and drill a hole with a drill and ceramic bit that is large enough to get the power cord through. Use silicon or Sugru to patch the hole once the cord is through. Make sure it is very secure and watertight. Coat the whole inside with a water sealant to protect your pot.
Cut and attach the tube. You'll need a 1/2" rubber tube cut to 1' or more taller than your
Insert the next pot. You'll need to find another flower planter but this time a bit smaller. It should have an opening about the size of the base of the first, and reach to about 2/3 of the way up the first pot. Use a file to create notches in the lip of the pot and then drill a hole at the center of the bottom large enough to get 1/2" rubber tube through. Put this pot inside the first, upside down, pulling the tubing through the hole as you go.
Continue placing pots. Place another large pot, using the upside down one as a base. You will also need to drill a tubing hole in this pot. Continue placing pots in this manner until it looks like you have 3 nested pots. Don't forget about the hole for the tubing and the notches on the rim of the 2 upside down pots.
Add the water and then turn on your pump. Ta-da! Your garden fountain is done!Advertisement
Watering Can Fountain
Get your materials. You'll need a pain with a downspout, a water can, and a large metal tub. You'll also need a pump, 1/2" tubing, a wooden wedge, something to drill or puncture the metal with, and silicon or Sugru.
Create the base. Puncture a 1/2" hole in the side of the metal tub and insert the tubing through it. Attach the tubing to the pump and then seal off the hole with Sugru and/or silicon so that it is watertight.- This punctured hole should be very close to the bottom of the tub.
Create the connection. Puncture a similar 1/2" hole in the side of pail thread the end of the tubing through it so that the tube ends in the pail and seal the hole similarly to how you sealed the tub.
Arrange your containers. Arrange the containers on steps, ledges, or boxes so that the downspout on the pail flows into the watering can and the watering can pours into the tub. The watering can will need the wedge underneath to make it pour.
Add the water and then turn on your pump. Ta-da! Your garden fountain is done! You can add as many pails and watering cans as you want to the chain.Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Tips
- In the summer months the heat and sun can cause the water to evaporate quickly. Check the water level on your fountain regularly.Thanks
- There are kits you can buy if you decide you want to make this a solar garden.Thanks
- Cover your pump with an old nylon stocking to keep it free from dirt.Thanks
Warnings
- Do not allow your pump to run dry as this could damage it.Thanks
- Do not use chlorine. Fountain pumps are not designed to work with concentrated levels of chlorine.Thanks
About this article
To make a garden fountain, start by drilling a hole through a large flower planter and feeding a power cord through it with a pump attached. Then, attach a rubber tube to the pump and feed it through a hole in the bottom of a second, smaller planter. Position the second planter so it's upside down and covering the pump inside the larger planter. Repeat the process with smaller planters, setting them on top of the upside down planter that's covering the pump. When you're finished, add some water and turn the pump on to start your fountain. To learn how to make a ball or watering can fountain, keep reading!
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