How to Create an Outdoor Water Fountain

Make a mutiple-spray water fountain for your outdoor living space.

Water fountains add dimension, design interest and a soothing quality to your outdoor living areas. You can create an outdoor water fountain from a variety of common gardening materials and a few supplies from your local garden supply store. Sealed buckets and planters are suitable reservoirs for an outdoor fountain, but make sure you bring terra cotta or ceramic planter fountains inside during cold weather. Porous materials absorb water, and cold temperatures can cause the fountain to crack.

Things You'll Need

• Rectangular wooden planter
• Drill
• 1-inch-diameter drill bit
• Plastic pond liner roll
• Scissors
• Staple gun
• 3 submersible pond pumps
• 3 fountainheads
• 6 lucky bamboo stalks
• 6 glass vases
• Rocks/bricks

Instructions

1. Drill a 1-inch-diameter hole 1-1/2 inches from the top rim of the end panel of a rectangular wooden planter. The planter should be at least 4 feet long and at least 10 inches deep.

2. Drill another 1-inch-diameter hole 1-1/2 inches from the top rim of the opposite end of the rectangular wooden planter. Drill a similar hole in the center of the back panel of the planter.

3. Cut a section of heavy-duty plastic pond liner to fit inside the wooden planter. The liner should not cover the drilled holes. Staple the liner onto the inside of the planter with a staple gun.

4. Place the three submersible fountain pumps on the bottom of the planter, directly beneath each of the drilled holes. Feed the electrical cord from each pump through the closest drilled hole. Center each pump between the front and back panels of the planter. Move the pumps on each end of the planter at least 6 inches toward the center of the planter.

5. Fit a fountainhead to the top spout on each fountain pump. Extend the fountainheads to the top of the plastic liner. Fill the planter with water to just beneath the top of the plastic liner. Plug in the pumps to start the fountain spray. Adjust the fountainheads if necessary so that the water spray falls back inside the planter.

6. Place one stalk of lucky bamboo inside a tall vase. Fill the vase with water. Repeat this step five more times.

7. Arrange three vases of lucky bamboo in a cluster in the planter between the center fountain pump and each end pump. Brace the vases as needed with rocks or bricks.

Tips & Warnings

• Use solar submersible fountain pumps and drill smaller, less noticeable holes in the planter. Thin solar cords run to a solar panel that powers the fountain pumps.

• Add a submersible pond light to the outdoor fountain for added design interest.

References

• The Artful Crafter: Simple Steps to Build a Table Top Water Fountain
• Perry's Perennials: Fountains for Landscapes

Resources

• Hometips: Outdoor Water Feature Considerations