How to Design & Build a Water Feature

Design and build a simple water feature for your patio or garden with a wrought iron planter that hangs on the wall or stands alone. Add a colorful ceramic flowerpot with white stones and seashells or an earthier terra-cotta pot with river rock. Select the design and scale of your water feature based on its surroundings. Water features that hang on the wall make a striking impact, while plant stands can blend into their surroundings more easily.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wrought iron wall planter
• Wall hanger
• Ceramic planter
• Plumber's putty
• Fountain pump
• White stones
• Crystals

1. Hang the wrought iron planter on the outside wall of your home, fence or garden shed. Make sure you hang it on a stud as it will be heavy when it's put together and filled with water. You can find a variety of wall planters at your local home store or by shopping online. If you don't care for wrought iron, any wall planter will do.

2. Paint the pump's electrical cord with spray paint so that it matches the wall and "disappears." Place the fountain pump into the ceramic planter. Run the electrical cord out of the drainage opening, and then seal it closed with plumber's putty. Let the putty dry completely. Place the ceramic planter inside the planter on the wall.

3. Surround the pump with white stones until you can no longer see the top of the pump and the spray tip is barely visible. Keep access to the pump's adjustment nozzle open. The spray tip should be in the center of the ceramic planter. Fill the planter with water. Turn on the fountain spray and make any necessary adjustments for height and force. Add a few crystals to the top of the white stones to catch the sunlight.

4. Build a water feature the same way with a wrought iron plant stand. The height of your stand is not relevant. These water features may be designed to sit on a table top or to stand in an entryway.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can easily lift the planter filled with water and stones, then build it before hanging it on the wall.
• Both ceramic and terra-cotta pots should not be allowed to freeze, so if you place them outside, be prepared to bring them inside during the winter.

Resources

• Wrought Iron Planters