Build a One-of-a-Kind Water Feature

This fountain is so simple and beautiful, it will have you bubbling over with excitement

Nothing is more reposeful than the music of prompt water in the garden . But finding a water feature to complement your style can be problematic . So why not make a custom fountain out of a beautiful piece of pottery ? glass smoke descend in every size , shape , and color imaginable — and making them into fount is simple .

Pot fountains lie of an hush-hush , waterproof basin ; sturdy grating ; and a pot of your choice . Water is pump from the hugger-mugger reservoir up through the pot , where it well over and vanish back into the ground . With no reveal pool of pee , this eccentric of H2O feature is safe for children , and razz and other wildlife — including the family pets — get laid to drink from it . Creating your own unequalled fountain is easy and fun , and you ’ll love the statement it make in your garden .

What you’ll need

Most of these token can be found at a plumbing system - supply or computer hardware memory board or at a greenhouse that bear water - garden supplies . It will take approximately two hour to complete this projection .

Step 1: Plumb the pot

A.Most pots have drainage holes , but if yours does n’t , use a masonry bit to exercise a ½-inch - diameter hole in the heart and soul of the bottom of the vessel . An existing centre drain hole can be widened by slowly rotating the masonry spot around the sides of the hole . Plug any other drain holes with epoxy putty .

B.Place the barb fitting into the hole so that the thread oddment goes inside the sess . draw the PVC female arranger onto the remnant of the shaft inside the flock . implement epoxy glue putty around the base of the adjustment to seal off it in post and to make the container watertight .

A.Dig a kettle of fish deep enough to allow your waterproofed drainage basin to sit slimly above flat coat horizontal surface . Shovel in a 1 - inch - deep layer of sand , which allows you to easily adjust the storey of the reservoir . Put the basin in the yap , and level it . Place two or three clinker blocks in the center of the basin ( to give additional accompaniment to the spate ) , and put the ticker in a recess of the catchment basin .

B.Using a reciprocate adage or jigsaw , cut a trapdoor in the corner of the plastic grate that is expectant enough for the pump to easily overhaul through . This will give you easy accession to the pump for upkeep without having to disassemble the outpouring . The pump ’s electrical cord should be pulled off to the side .

C.Cut a small yap in the center of the grate for the elastic tubing . Attach one closing of the tube to the heart , clamp it in place , and poke the other oddment out of the hole in the nerve centre of the grate .

D.Place the screen or mesh over the grate . Cut a like hole for the conciliatory tubing , and put the tube through the golf hole .

Step 3: Place the fountain

A.Cut a duration of polyvinyl chloride tobacco pipe so that it is as tall as the pot , and spray the top 6 inch with black paint . Slip the PVC pipe ( black side up ) into the PVC female adapter in the bottom of the stool . Do not glue the PVC piping in place — you want to be able-bodied to well take it to debilitate the pot .

B.Bring the pot over to the reservoir ; depending on its sizing , this can be a inapt step and may require the supporter of a friend . Twist the flexible tubing onto the barb sticking out of the bottom of the pot , and clamp it in place . Slowly raise the kitty into place , and dismantle it .

C.Place decorative Lucy Stone on top of the showing to disguise the reservoir . fill up the man-made lake with water , turn on the pump , and delight .

Pump it up!

A mickle no more than 30 inches tall will postulate a pump rated at 950 gallon per hour ( gph ) or less . A tall pot necessitate one rated at 950 gph or more . When it fare to pumps , you may always lose weight the water flow but never increase it , so if possible , choose a ticker that is one size larger than the minimum - gal requirement . This should be you only an additional $ 20 to $ 30 . I prefer magnetic - drive pumps because they are energy effective and are the most reliable .

Don’t let a good pot go bad

You might ask to scrub your fountain from time to time to remove algae and scale leaf . Some people prefer the natural patina of algae on their pot — in which case , no scrubbing is necessary .

For those go in cold areas , you will need to drain your fountain to prevent cracking due to freezing . Do n’t let what happened to this sess ( right ) happen to your fountain .

Anita Nelson is the owner of Nelson Water Gardens and Nursery in Katy , Texas .

Photos , except where noted : Danielle Sherry . Illustration : Steven Cominsky

To watch a video recording on establish a crapper outflow , go toHow to build up a Pot Fountain

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