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