DIY Water Fountain

It looks like our summer vacations (maybe even fall and winter) are still on hold as the world stands still in this unpleasant covid-19 pandemic. Many of us have been putting home upgrades on the back burner since the past who knows how many months or even years because “we never have the time or energy” to really deal with it and the escape to the beach, restaurants and weekend trips seem so much more fun and appealing than organizing/planning a backyard upgrade. Well times have changed as we spend much more time in our own space than ever before. Those areas that needed some attention before this pandemic started seem to become more and more prominent in our sight. Here are a couple very easy and fun water based projects that you can create in one day to give your outdoor space a new “wow” effect.

1) Create your own sanctuary disappearing water fountain

You can build this no standing water magical soothing fountain under $80 and easily in one afternoon. The idea behind this is the fountain is not attached to a running water source but build with a water filled bucket and water pump. This means less maintenance, no small critters will end up in standing water but you still get the same amazing benefits as a classic water fountain. 

Here is what you will need:

• large plastic tub container

• sand

• narrow flower pot with same height as tub container

• electric water pump

• wire hardware cloth

• flagstone or concrete retaining wall blocks

• 1-3 fountain dishes

• small decorative stones to cover the wire cloth

• ceramic tile bit (for drilling the hole in your water dish)

• All this should cost you around $80-$100 and that’s all

Now decide where you want your beautiful new fountain in your yard. Dig out a 2”-4” deep area and level it out with sand large enough to fit the plastic tub and also the rocks that will surround the fountain. Creativity is all yours!

Get your sturdy plastic flower pot that will hold your water pump. Cut a hole close to the bottom where you can feed the pump cord through. Place the flower pot and pump in the center of the plastic container. Take your wire hardware cloth (available at most home centers) and clip a hole that is large enough for the pump to fit through, then position the cloth on top of the tub and bend the edges over the tub sides so that it won’t move. Add a second piece of wire clothes as a trap door over the hole for the pump so that you will be able to remove it if needed, leave a hole big enough for the water pump stem to stick out. Now add your flagstone or concrete blocks around the fountain base ( about 2” higher than the tub) and fill the center on top of the wire clothes with decorative rocks. You are almost done!! The next step is to add your fun water dishes and don’t be scared to get creative! Anything from a ceramic dish, flat wide vase or even teapots can be added to the center where your fountain will shoot the water out of. Drill a hole with a ceramic tile bit (use a soft cushion underneath to avoid too much pressure on the fragile ceramic object). Most water pumps come with a variety of heads so decide which one works best for your fountain and voila the newest addition to your backyard is done, all within one day and a fairly small amount of money.

Next post we will teach you how to make a pint sized water garden!