How to Build a Garden Fountain

A fountain adds an element to your garden that is magical and can transform your outdoor space. Fountain pools can be formal, long and narrow, geometric or round in shape, as long as it keeps to the scale and style of the rest of the garden. In the center of the pool will be the fountian, although the long and narrow fountains may have 2 smaller fountains, one at either end.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Ground spray paint
• Gravel to set brick or stone in
• Shovel
• Medium-thick pond liner, enough to cover 1 foot beyond the edge of a 2 foot deep fountain
• Tape measure
• Pond fountain pumps
• Sand, enough to cover the bottom of the fountain site 1 inch deep
• Brick or stone for edge
• Stakes
• Rake
• String

1. Find the focal point of your yard to select a site for your fountain. Decide on the shape based on the shape of the surroundings.
2. For a round fountain, locate the center of the fountian site and put a stake in the ground to mark it. Tie a string to the stake approximately half the length of the distance across the center of the fountain site. Using the string as your guide, spray the ground to mark the area of your circular fountain.
3. For a rectangular fountain, decide how long and wide it will be. Find the center and stake that point. Use your tape measure and stake the length and width. Once you have marked the corners with stakes, run a string to all 4 of the corners. Following the string line, spray paint the perimeter of the fountain with marker spray.
4. Go to your local nursery and purchase the pond pump. Solar pumps are nice because there is no need for an electrical source and pond liner. You can find the edge materials, sand and gravel at your local rock yard.
5. Dig the area for the fountain. It should be at least 2 feet deep and smooth on the sides and bottom.
6. Add sand to the bottom of fountain site and smooth with a rake. This sand layer should be at least 1 inch thick.
7. Lay the liner on top of the sand and over the edge, at least 1 foot beyond the edge of the fountain.
8. Place the pump in the fountain. Run the cord along the bottom on top of the liner, outside fountain perimeter. The cord can be buried beyond the liner's edge (but do not cut the liner to hide the cord).
9. Place gravel around the edge on top of the liner and smooth with a rake.
10. Set brick or stone on top of the gravel at the waters edge.
11. Fill the fountain with water, plug in the pump (or pumps) and enjoy.

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