How to Make Water Fountains for Gardens

Turn a ceramic urn or pot into a garden water fountain.

A water fountain can be just the thing to complete a garden or yard area. There are many different ways to make a water fountain, but a classic design is to used glazed ceramic pots as the fountain container. Tall, thin ceramic pots can be used to make a more modern-looking fountain; while wide, shallow pots can be inset into the ground for a ground-level water feature. Alternately, classic urn-shaped pots will give a feel of antiquity to the garden.

Things You'll Need

• Glazed ceramic pot
• Silicone sealant
• Fountain pump
• Fountain pump hose
• Scissors
• Galvanized wire
• Wire cutters
• Fountain nozzle
• River stones or crystals

Instructions

1. Inspect the ceramic pot for holes. If the pot was intended for use as a planter, it will have drainage holes in the base. Fill these holes with silicone sealant and let dry. Check the sealant manufacturer's instructions for approximate drying times.

2. Position the pot in place in the garden. You won't be able to move it once it's full of water, so find the perfect spot while it's empty and easily moved about.

3. Turn the flow meter of the pump to medium, then place the pump on the bottom of the ceramic pot. Run the electrical cord of the pump over the back of the ceramic pot and to the power outlet, but do not switch the power on yet.

4. Attach the fountain pump hose to the hose nozzle on the pump, typically on the top of the pump. Hold the hose up vertically, then cut it about two inches below the rim of the ceramic pot. If the hose is not strong enough, or the distance to the rim too long for the hose to stand upright on its own, then wrap a length of galvanized wire around it to make it stand straight.

5. Connect the fountain nozzle to the end of the hose. Fountain nozzles are small attachments, generally between 1 1/2 and 2 inches long, that create the fountain spray. There are nozzles available that deliver the water in different ways, giving either a shower-like spray, a bell-shaped sprinkle, a star-shaped spray or a number of other types of fountain spray.

6. Place river stones or crystals in the bottom of the ceramic pot, enough to hide the fountain pump without interfering with the fountain hose.

7. Fill the ceramic pot with water, until just below the tip of the fountain nozzle. Switch the power to the pump on. The pump will push water up the fountain hose and out the nozzle. If the water flow is too fast or too slow, adjust the flow meter on the pump until the desired fountain spray is achieved.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a pump that comes with a filter if you want to keep fish in the fountain.

• Top off the water in the fountain weekly and empty and clean the fountain quarterly.

References

• Sunset Magazine: 32 Inspiring Garden Fountains
• University Of Hawaii: Building Your Own Indoor Water Fountain; Kent Kobayashik