How do I Create a Garden Water Fountain?
Water fountains can add a fanciful touch to your garden landscape. You can create your own garden water fountain using common household objects and a few necessary mechanical supplies. Make a fountain using a planter, a birdbath or an old whiskey barrel as a reservoir. As long as the container will hold water and is at least 8 inches deep, you can turn it into a water fountain. Embellish the garden fountain to suit your landscape with colorful ceramics, copper foil, river rocks and other types of metal or natural stone. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Metal wash tub
- Drill
- 1-inch diameter metal drill bit
- Thinset
- Putty knife
- Mosaic tiles
- Tile Nippers
- Flat-backed glass marbles
- Clear waterproof construction adhesive
- Submersible fountain pump
- Silicone sealant
- Shovel
- Fountainhead
Instructions
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1
Drill a 1-inch hole in the bottom of a metal wash tub. Use an old metal wash tub, as long as it is water tight, or purchase a new one from craft and discount stores.
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2
Spread a thin layer of thinset around the drilled hole inside the wash tub. Press mosaic tiles into the thinset, as close together as possible, but do not cover the hole. Cover the inside of the wash tub with thinset and mosaic tiles; work in small sections at a time. Cut the tiles with tile nippers as needed to fit. Place them as close together as possible, but remember a certain amount of space between the tiles is inevitable. Allow thinset to dry.
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3
Cover the outside of the washtub with thinset and mosaic tiles. Do not cover the bottom of the wash tub. Allow thinset to dry.
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4
Glue flat-backed glass marbles on top of the tiles with clear, waterproof construction adhesive to cover any spaces and to add decoration. Allow the adhesive to dry.
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5
Place a submersible fountain pump at the center inside the mosaic wash tub. Feed the electrical cord through the drilled hole. Seal around the cord with silicone sealant.
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6
Place the mosaic tub in the garden. Dig a shallow, 2- to 3-inch trench from the side of the tub nearest the drilled hole to the electrical outlet. Lay the pump's electrical cord extending from the wash tub in the trench. Cover the cord with the displaced dirt.
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7
Attach the fountainhead to the spout at the top of the pump. Extend the fountain head. Fill the tub with water. Start the pump. Raise or lower the fountainhead as needed to keep the spray inside the wash tub.
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