Why a Fountain?

There’s something so very soothing about the sound of water. Falling rain, a stream, the ocean. Water is a wondrous thing with so many calming benefits.⠀⠀

A fountain is a way to have that sound in your own backyard. It’s a project that takes a few weekends and some elbow grease. And totally worth it.

Our fountain is also a source of water for our honey bees. They love it!

Use our STEP BY STEP GUIDE to set up your own backyard fountain.

This fountain works by placing a pump underground. The pump pushes the water up through a tube to the top of the fountain so that gravity can bring it back down.

The water is pushed through that tube with enough force to get it to come out, but not too much force, as the water shouldn’t be spraying straight up.

It’s a balance that will need to be found. Most pumps come with a valve that enables you to control the pressure of the pump. And some of it will depend on your preference.

The earliest known fountain was a carved stone basin that held precious drinking and religious, ceremonial water.

WHAT’S THE BEST PLACE FOR YOUR FOUNTAIN?

Take a walk around your home to find a good location for your fountain. 

First thing’s first. Where is the power outlet?

The pump requires power so an exterior outlet is needed. If one is not available, consider hiring an electrician to place one or run a cord from the inside.

To get the fountain a good distance from the outlet, you can dig a trench in the yard to hide the cord.

Depending on the access to power, this could be a stopping point for the project. Do not attempt to work on electrical wiring without the help of a professional. We are not electricians!

SUPPLY LIST

Make a list of supplies. Use what you’ve got, borrow what you can and rest the rest.

Here’s a list to get you going. 

Disclaimer: Every project comes with its share of trips to the hardware store. Plan for that!

5 gallon bucket
Pond liner (or heavy duty plastic)
Water pump
Heavy-duty grate
Copper tube
Flat rocks
Decorative rocks
Outdoor extension cord

TOOLS NEEDED

Hammer drill
Saw for pipe
Shovel
Hand shovel
Post digger
Work gloves

STEP BY STEP GUIDE

1. Select a location
2. Choose stones
3. Clear the space
4. Dig hole
5. Place bucket
6. Place pump
7. Attach tube
8. Place grate
9. Cut stones
10. Set the stones
11. Test
12. Tweak
13. Enjoy

It’s most likely not a project that can be done in one weekend. Go ahead and set your expectations about that. It’s a lot of work. That makes it that much more enjoyable when you get to just sit and enjoy the sound of it.

Select a Location

Consider spots in your yard that can accommodate a fountain. Is there a power source close by?

A three-prong outlet will be needed to power the fountain.

An area of at least 3 ft. x 3 ft is needed for the area for water to splash off the fountain.

Clear the Space

All right, let’s get to it!

Time to start digging and grading the land. This project gets right into the nitty-gritty, using a shovel is hard work!

There are tillers and other equipment that could do the job but we had a shovel, which is the manual route. Use what you’ve got.

Remove grass and weeds, ensuring to pull these from the roots the best you can.

Dig the Hole and Place the Bucket

Definitely use whatever tool you can find to assist with this step!

We used a good old fashioned shovel, along with a post hole digger. At some point you’ll be down on your hands and knees digging dirt and rocks out of the hole.

It’s a lot of work but again, so worth it! 

Digging a hole for a 5-gallon bucket takes some time. The rockier the soil, the harder it will be.

Don’t rush through this step. Be sure to dig all the way down so the lip of the bucket is level with the ground.

This step could take up the good part of a weekend.

Place Pump and Tube

The pump will depend on the height of your fountain. Ours measures 42 inches from the ground to the top.

The pump should be strong enough to get the water all the way up and through the op of the tube, yet not too strong so that water is shooting out all over the place. 

Most pumps come with a valve that lets you control the flow of the pump. Getting the flow just right will take some trial and error.

Place Grate and Test the Stones

The grate keeps rocks from falling into the bucket. The pattern on the grate should be as small as possible to keep stones out yet letting water to flow back down in.

Ensure the grate is large enough to cover the hole and strong enough to hold several stones on top of it.

Don’t spare here, use a strong grate. If the stones fall in they could damage the pump.

Place the stones, one at a time, atop the grate and be sure it holds as you go. They don’t need to be perfect, just be sure the grate holds for now.

Time to Cut the Stones

This is a tough part and will take some time and patience.

We ended up renting a hammer drill, as we don’t own one, nor do we know anyone that has one either.

Check with your local hardware store to see if they rent them. It’s typically by the hour or by the day.

Set the Stones

This is where it starts to really get fun!

Start by placing the largest stone on the bottom. From the top of the fountain, place the tube through the hole and set it atop the grate.

Place the next largest stone, then smaller and smaller and smaller. Work the rocks around so they sit right. You’ll get a feel for how they should lay together.

It took us several times moving things around to get it to sit right. We still move things around each year, as things settle and move over time.

Test it Out for a Bit

Fill it up and turn it on!

See how it falls and flows. It might be flowing too much and splashing all over the place. 

It could be that the valve is turned too tight and the water isn’t flowing fast enough.

Set it up and let it flow for a bit and just see how things go. It’s going to take some finagling. 

Tweak It

Keep tweaking it until it’s just right.

Swing the stones around, wedge a little rock here, a stone there. It will need to be just right in order not to splash too much.

Finding that balance is part of the fun of setting it up and maintaining it. Pretty soon, it will be just right.

Enjoy the Heck Out of It!

Just listen. 

Aaaaaah!

The sound of falling water in your yard is an enjoyable, relaxing feature to have at your home. 

Soothing and calming, water sounds make you feel closer to nature, whether natural or in this case, man made. 

Enjoy the fountain and also the fact that you made it. How cool is that?

Also, fountains attract frogs and snails and other little critters, and sometimes even a bird or two!