No garden is complete without at least one water feature. From small bird baths to large tiered fountains, what you choose is up to you and your style choices. Read below for help on how to choose good garden fountains and how to maintain them once they are installed.
Choosing Garden Fountains
When choosing a garden fountain, there are many things to consider. How much space do you have? How many do you want? What style are you looking for? The decision comes down to you and how much responsibility you want to have. Many fountains have some kind of mechanical system to pump water, so it is important to consider your garden setup and what machinery you will need to purchase in addition to the fountains so that you can power them.
In addition to these factors, also read below for other things to consider when purchasing fountains for your garden.
1. Match the Vibe of Your Garden
The look of your fountains should match the aesthetic of your garden. If your garden has more of a modern look with concrete potters and sleek furniture, then a fountain with water that cascades straight down is a perfect addition. It will provide tranquil water sounds while you relax on your lounge chair with a cold drink in your hand.
If you have more of a secret garden vibe, then a tiered fountain with an antique concrete mold will fit in just great. It will make you feel like you are in the Victorian era without the polluted air and corsets.
2. Decide What Kinds of Fountains You Want
If you are going for more than one fountain, decide if you want a matching theme with one on either side of the garden or a mix of different designs with a nice bird bath right in the middle. Map out your ideal setup and then decide how many fountains will be necessary to accomplish your vision. There are many kinds of fountains, from still water ponds to elaborate rock water features to wall fountains, so figure out what you can fit and what is in your budget and then go crazy.
3. Choose Strong Materials
Your fountains are going to live in your garden for years to come, so you want them to be made of good material. The best materials for outdoor spaces are stone, concrete, resin, and metal because they can withstand the elements pretty well.
Maintaining Garden Fountains
Depending on the types of fountains you choose to put in your garden, some may require more maintenance than others. Read below for some tips on how to keep your fountains clean and functioning.
1. Cleaning
Some fountains have sitting water while others have water that shoots straight up into the air. No matter what kind you have, it needs to be cleaned. Sitting water fountains like bird baths need more regular cleaning and refilling because the water isn’t being constantly pumped through a system. There are many bird bath fountain cleaning tips that will help you keep your bird bath free of grime. It is also extremely important to keep bird baths and other types of fountains clean because birds come and drink the water. It is good to replace the water in a still water fountain once a week if not more in the warm months.
When it comes to cleaning fountains with pump mechanisms, there is more detailed cleaning that needs to be done. The areas around the pumps will erode over time, so it is good to keep them clean and use water that is not too rich in minerals because they will build up around the mechanical areas. The pumps themselves need to be cleaned out every once in a while as well because dirt and pollen can clump up around the pumping mechanisms. There may also be filters in your fountains that need to be removed and cleaned because debris like fallen leaves and bird droppings will build up quickly.
No matter what style of fountains you have, giving them a good scrub every once in a while will help them from getting discolored or being overtaken by the garden. Depending on the material of your fountain, whether it is stone, resin, metal, or concrete, there are different cleaners you can buy to maintain the look of each material. For a good annual clean, you should completely drain your fountain and scrub it from top to bottom, and then fill it up again with new water. Distilled water is the best option because it doesn’t have any sediment. This big clean should happen in spring as the weather starts to get warm.
2. Water Treatment
Adding water treatment solutions to your fountain water can keep the water clean longer and will also keep the tubes in pumping mechanisms clean and clear. If you are worried about how the solution will affect the wildlife in your garden, be sure to only purchase animal-friendly water treatment solutions. You should also make sure you are buying a solution that does not clash with the material that your fountain is made of because this can erode the fountain and cause cracks.
These solutions will need to be added to your fountains every few weeks as needed.
3. Damage Inspection
Checking your fountains regularly for damage like cracks, chips, and leaks means that you can catch issues early and fix them before they become big problems. If you are sitting in your garden and relaxing, it takes just a few minutes to look over your fountains to make sure that they are in top shape.
4. Winter Maintenance
If you live somewhere that gets really cold in the winter, then you need to be prepared to shut down the fountains for the cold months and store them so that they do not get damaged by the elements while they are not running. This may include buying tarps to cover the fountains and getting protective coverings for the pumps as well as knowing how to restart the pumps in the springtime.
Water fountains offer a relaxing vibe to any garden setting and will entertain you for years if you maintain them well. Keep these tips in mind when you are getting ready to invest in a fountain or two.