A garden fountain is a great addition that creates a soothing undertone and gives your outdoor space that glossy magazine feel. It is not a difficult or expensive item to make! Below you will find three versions of fountains that can all be made in a single day of work and with a minimum cost. Start reading to understand how you want to make your outdoor fountain.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Sphere Fountain
Step 1. Build the base
Take a bucket that can hold 20 or 30 liters of water and make a hole in the bottom to allow the passage of a PVC pipe of 3/4 inch in diameter (2 cm, but these are standard sizes that you find in the stores of articles for the house and the garden). Turn the bucket with the base up and insert a piece of hose about 60 cm long, leaving about 15 cm of space from the bottom. Use silicone to seal the seams. Place this structure on a fairly large, central piece of plywood around a 30cm diameter concrete mold. This forms the base of the fountain and must be filled with quick-setting concrete. Make sure that the concrete covers the bucket at least 5 cm, and shake the concrete lightly to remove any air bubbles. Then let the cement harden for the time indicated by the manufacturer.
Step 2. Build the sphere
Get a glass of a chandelier, spray the inside with food spray (oil is fine too) and then fill it with concrete. Tape the end of a PVC pipe and insert this end into the concrete, centering it and pulling it down until it contacts the glass. Secure the pipe in place with duct tape and let the concrete dry.
Step 3. Free the concrete templates
Break the glass and the bucket, and remove the concrete shapes, then cut off the excess pipe with a plastic hacksaw.
Step 4. Create the base for the fountain
Dig a shallow pit and fill it with a plastic base of the type you can purchase for your specific use. Fill the base with river stones and set up a pump that allows the recirculation of 400 or 500 liters of water every hour. Then cover the pump with other rocks.
Step 5. Insert the pipes
Run a half-inch tube through the pump, and then into the PVC tube and through the ball.
Step 6. Cut out the excess tube and secure the sphere
Also cut the tube that protrudes, so that it does not come out of the sphere itself. Place the ball in place and secure it with silicone.
Step 7. Add water and run the fountain
Add water to the system and run the pump, then enjoy the end result.
Method 2 of 3: Fountain of Vases
Step 1. Prepare the base
Choose a large pot, and drill it on the side of the base with a pointed ceramic drill. Run the electric cable through and seal the hole with silicone. Make sure you have sealed the hole properly. coat the inside of the pot with silicone waterproofing.
Step 2. Cut and arrange the tube
You need a half-inch tube cut at least two to three cm longer than the height of the pot.
Step 3. Insert the next vase
Choose a vase that is slightly smaller than the first one, that is, with an opening that is the same size as the base of the first vase, and that is about 2/3 tall as the first vase. Use a file to make gaps in the edge of the second vase and drill a hole in the bottom for the half-inch tube to pass through. place this vase inside the first one, with the opening downwards, by sliding the tube inside the hole.
Step 4. Continue with arranging the pots
Arrange a large vase again, placing it on the base of the one you just placed. Also in this new vase you have to drill a hole to pass the tube. Continue with the arrangement until you get the result of having three vases inside each other. Do not forget to drill the holes for the tube to pass and to file the edge of the vases placed upside down in several places, to allow the water to circulate.
Step 5. Add water and turn on the pump
At this point you can enjoy the result.
Method 3 of 3: Fountain with watering can
Step 1. Get the necessary materials
You need a watering can with dispenser, a water-resistant metal food can, and a large metal tub. You also need a pump, half-inch tube, a wooden wedge, and a tool to drill or drill into metal, as well as silicone.
Step 2. Create the base
Drill a half-inch (12-13 mm) hole in the side of the metal tub, and run the tube through the hole. Connect the hose to the pump and seal it with silicone so that the water does not come out.
The hole should be as close to the bottom of the tub as possible
Step 3. Create the seam
Make another hole identical to the first one on the side of the watering can, pass the hose through this hole and seal with silicone as for the previous one.
Step 4. Arrange the various containers
Place the containers on shelves, steps, or boxes, so that the tin container drops the water into the watering can. To get the water out of the metal container, it will be helpful to use the wooden wedge.
Step 5. Add water and turn on the pump
That's it, you can enjoy your new fountain. You can of course add more containers and watering cans to make the fountain even more spectacular.
Advice
- During the summer months the heat and the sun can make the water evaporate quickly, check the level in the fountain regularly.
- There are solar panels to power the water pump without any energy impact.
- Cover the pump with an old nylon stocking as an additional filter to keep it clean longer.
Warnings
- Do not let the pump run empty, otherwise it could be damaged.
- Do not add chlorine. Fountain pumps are not designed to move liquids with a high concentration of chlorine.
