| A water-fountain garden will go anywhere in | | | | best left to the pros. Most water fountains |
| the yard, on the patio, on a balcony, or a | | | | can be bought in easy to install kits. Assess |
| porch and even indoors. But certain water | | | | your time and strength. A tub garden will |
| features are better suited than others to | | | | take an hour or two to put together, but a |
| certain sights (and to certain gardeners, for | | | | large water fountain garden may take weeks to |
| that matter). What is Feasible for Installing | | | | dig and build. It will also require a good |
| a Water-Fountain Garden? This should be your | | | | back and strong arms and legs. An |
| first question, and to find out which | | | | 18-inch-deep, 6-foot by 4-foot hole may not |
| water-fountain garden best suits you, your | | | | sound like a big job, but it would probably |
| resources, and your space, you'll need to | | | | take a middle-aged man of average strength a |
| educate yourself. Be a "know it all" before | | | | half day to dig. For large projects, you can |
| you start, and you will be well prepared to | | | | rent a backhoe. Maintenance of Your |
| begin your water garden. Check out prices and | | | | Water-Fountain Garden Remember to calculate |
| calculate what your budget can tolerate. Call | | | | maintenance time, too. A tub garden with a |
| garden suppliers that handle water fountains | | | | water lily takes just a few minutes a week. |
| and ask questions about their products. Also, | | | | So does a freestanding or a wall water |
| visit local water fountains. Talk with the | | | | fountain garden. Add plants and fish and you |
| owners or those who care for them. Visit | | | | add more time. A garden just a few feet |
| local clubs-many communities have | | | | across with a few plants and fish will need |
| organizations that sponsor tours. If you're | | | | your attention for an hour or less each week. |
| well informed, you'll make better plans, find | | | | Larger gardens can demand two or three hours |
| installation easier, and prevent frustrations | | | | a week. For more wall fountain ideas check |
| down the road. Size and Site for Planning a | | | | out SHOULD you HIRE IT OUT? A SKILLS |
| Water Fountain Garden First, check out your | | | | RANKING. - Working with medium-sized boulders |
| site. A large water-fountain garden with a | | | | and rocks 1 to 3 feet in diameter - Building |
| spectacular waterfall will overwhelm a small | | | | a wood-sided water garden CHALLENGING - |
| lot. It also might overwork your budget, your | | | | Installing a wall fountain - Installing a |
| time, and your back. A small garden pool, on | | | | bridge - Working with large boulders and |
| the other hand, could get lost in an | | | | rocks more than 3 feet in diameter FOR |
| expansive landscape. If you're planning | | | | PROFESSIONALS (OR HIGHLY SKILLED AMATEURS) - |
| anything more involved than a pre-made | | | | Wiring and other electrical work - Operating |
| fountain or container water-fountain garden, | | | | a backhoe - Laying brick and concrete block - |
| you'll also need to check with city or county | | | | Installing 1-foot or higher stone walls - |
| offices to find out if there are any | | | | Pouring concrete EASY ENOUGH FOR BEGINNERS - |
| ordinances that apply to the installation of | | | | Sealing and installing a pump in a container |
| water-fountain gardens. Get more ideas on | | | | - Digging a hole a few feet across - Laying |
| water fountains by visiting Be Calculating | | | | flagstone or stacking concrete paving blocks |
| When Planning Your Water Fountain Garden | | | | - Installing narrow widths of flexible or |
| Figure all costs in advance. Small gardens | | | | preformed liner - Creating a bog garden - |
| are inexpensive, but large gardens can cost | | | | Working with sand, gravel, and boulders less |
| thousands of dollars. You don't want to find | | | | than 1 foot in diameter INTERMEDIATE SKILLS - |
| yourself in the position of the would-be | | | | Installing a freestanding fountain - Building |
| water gardener who dug a large hole one | | | | a stream or waterfall - Laying a brick patio |
| spring weekend only to fill it in again | | | | - Laying small amounts of tile |
| because the liner was too expensive and | | | | |
| didn't fit in the budget. You may need to | | | | Elizabeth Jean is the author of this article |
| contract a large project (or parts of it) to | | | | written for Garden-Fountains.com, a premier |
| a professional. Pouring concrete, installing | | | | Internet resource for wall fountains and |
| electric lines, bricklaying, and excavation | | | | garden fountains. |
| can be extensive (and expensive) and are jobs | | | | |