Planning A Water Fountain Garden

A water-fountain garden will go anywhere in theexpensive) and are jobs best left to the pros. Most
yard, on the patio, on a balcony, or a porch and evenwater fountains can be bought in easy to install kits.
indoors. But certain water features are better suitedAssess your time and strength. A tub garden will
than others to certain sights (and to certaintake an hour or two to put together, but a large
gardeners, for that matter). What is Feasible forwater fountain garden may take weeks to dig and
Installing a Water-Fountain Garden? This should bebuild. It will also require a good back and strong arms
your first question, and to find out whichand legs. An 18-inch-deep, 6-foot by 4-foot hole may
water-fountain garden best suits you, yournot sound like a big job, but it would probably take a
resources, and your space, you'll need to educatemiddle-aged man of average strength a half day to
yourself. Be a "know it all" before you start, and youdig. 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 canRemember to calculate maintenance time, too. A tub
tolerate. Call garden suppliers that handle watergarden 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 ownersfountain garden. Add plants and fish and you add
or those who care for them. Visit local clubs-manymore time. A garden just a few feet across with a
communities have organizations that sponsor tours. Iffew plants and fish will need your attention for an
you're well informed, you'll make better plans, findhour or less each week. Larger gardens can demand
installation easier, and prevent frustrations down thetwo or three hours a week. For more wall fountain
road. Size and Site for Planning a Water Fountainideas check out SHOULD you HIRE IT OUT? A
Garden First, check out your site. A largeSKILLS RANKING. - Working with medium-sized
water-fountain garden with a spectacular waterfall willboulders and rocks 1 to 3 feet in diameter - Building a
overwhelm a small lot. It also might overwork yourwood-sided water garden CHALLENGING - Installing a
budget, your time, and your back. A small gardenwall fountain - Installing a bridge - Working with large
pool, on the other hand, could get lost in anboulders and rocks more than 3 feet in diameter FOR
expansive landscape. If you're planning anything morePROFESSIONALS (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 withbackhoe - Laying brick and concrete block - Installing
city or county offices to find out if there are any1-foot or higher stone walls - Pouring concrete EASY
ordinances that apply to the installation ofENOUGH FOR BEGINNERS - Sealing and installing a
water-fountain gardens. Get more ideas on waterpump in a container - Digging a hole a few feet
fountains by visiting Be Calculating When Planningacross - Laying flagstone or stacking concrete paving
Your Water Fountain Garden Figure all costs inblocks - Installing narrow widths of flexible or
advance. Small gardens are inexpensive, but largepreformed liner - Creating a bog garden - Working
gardens can cost thousands of dollars. You don'twith sand, gravel, and boulders less than 1 foot in
want to find yourself in the position of the would-bediameter INTERMEDIATE SKILLS - Installing a
water gardener who dug a large hole one springfreestanding fountain - Building a stream or waterfall -
weekend only to fill it in again because the liner wasLaying a brick patio - Laying small amounts of tile
too expensive and didn't fit in the budget. You mayElizabeth Jean is the author of this article written for
need to contract a large project (or parts of it) to aGarden-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