Tips for the Best Fountain or Water Feature
Posted: Sunday, February 20, 2005
by lorien1973
Online Discount Mart Home & Garden Decor
A garden fountain can be a beautiful thing. It can just as easily, however, become the bane of your existence, wasting weekends as you try to take it apart yet again to fix one of a dozen regular malfunctions. In hindsight, of course, you realize just how little you knew going in and how hard you made it for yourself. So, if you're thinking of taking a plunge into the fountain, so to speak, or you've just installed one and are starting to wonder how long the water will stay so clear for then read on...
There are few things in the garden less attractive than a green slime where your water was once clear and sparkling. Of course you can - and should - clean it regularly but isn't prevention better than cure? There are a number of products on the market you can buy but a trip to the store isn't necessary when all you need to do is to add a few drops of bleach to inhibit alga growth. However, if there's a chance that animals - domestic or wild - or children could drink from the fountain then household vinegar will do the job admirably.
How Often Should I Clean my garden fountain?
This depends on how flowing or stagnant your water feature is but as a general rule you might want to think about giving it a clean every two months. Depending on where your feature is located you will find it collects anything from leaves to hair to bird poo, all of which will make it considerably less attractive. It's not always necessary to drain the fountain a toothbrush or a 'scooper' (a small version of those used to clean pools - the sort of thing pet stores carry to pick up fish) should do the job.
Installation
Fountainheads should be installed slightly above the surface of the water to achieve the full effect of the spray pattern. Too low and you'll get more of a bubbling cauldron effect too high and you'll be losing water.
Select Your Site
Choose the site for your fountain carefully. Don't locate your water feature on or over anything that could be damaged by water - if something can do wrong, it probably will. Your pond should receive as much sunlight as possible, so carefully consider your proposed site at all times of the day to see where the sunlight will fall. Electricity will also be a consideration electrical pond equipment will need grounded outlets. This isn't the time to cut corners talking to a building supplier if not an electrician will save you money in the long term when you don't have to pay to fix your mistakes.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)How much vinegar should I add to my 60 gallon fountian.
somewhat, but it reads like it was translated from another language. What does "the water will stay so clear for then read on" mean? or " This isn't the time to cut corners talking to a building supplier"
We have a 4 tier garden fountain, and it looses water quite frequently. It averages on having to be filled up about every 24 hours. Is that normal for a fountain, or do you think we have a slow leak somewhere. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
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