What are some aspects to consider with your new fountainscape?
Ready to get your fancy new fountain installed in your backyard? Fountains are the perfect starter water feature to begin your waterscaping journey. Whether you’re our neighbor down south here in New Prague (below Prior Lake and Shakopee area), or more up in the Cities area, a fountain just fits! Installing a fountain adds beauty and serenity to your outdoor space. Let’s take a look at some important aspects of a fountain installation…
1. Fountain Location
As you’re selecting your spot, don’t forget these keep aspects of your fountainscape project:
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Accessibility: Don’t put your fountain where you can’t enjoy it. Select a spot that’s easily accessible to you for your personal enjoyment, and for cleaning and maintenance.
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Visibility: You want to see your fountain, don’t hide it away! Place your fountain where it can be seen and enjoyed from your favorite window, or close to your frequented outdoor or indoor areas.
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Level Ground: Wherever you place your fountain, it will ultimately need to be leveled. While you can make this work on sloping ground, more work will be needed to blend it into the surrounding landscape. Starting with level ground keeps it easier to install.
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Sunlight and Shade: How will you enjoy your fountain? Are you a sun-loving person, or do you prefer the shade? Depending on your answer you may want to place your fountain out in the open, or in a corner of your house so you get more shade. If you’re a shade-lover, you could always consider a patio umbrella as well.
2. Fountain Type
Besides the location, there are a variety of fountain styles to choose from, as well as sizes. You want a fountain that will complement your style and your general waterscaping and landscaping theme. Here are the main options we offer to give you some ideas:
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Small and large spheres (scalloped and slate)
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Small and large urns (scalloped and slate)
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Stacked slate walls
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Small and single basalt columns, and large and multiple basalt columns
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Spillway bowl and basin combos
3. Tools and Materials
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Basic Tools: If you’re doing your fountain installation yourself, you’ll want to make sure you have basic tools on hand like a shovel, level, drill, and a large pair of channel-lock pliers. Some other tools you might want to have on hand to smooth the process would be a pick, a breaker bar, a tamping pad, and a a bag of basic hand tools nearby.
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Additional Materials: Besides your fountain piece, you’ll need your fountain pump, tubing, electrical supply, river rocks, and any other decorative elements you’ll be adding to your fountainscape feature. Otherwise, if you grab yourself an Aquascape fountain kit, you’ll really just need the decorative river rocks to go on top and cover the basin.
4. Major Building Steps
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Digging the Hole: For in-ground Aquascape fountains, you’ll need to dig the right size and shape hole to accommodate your collection basin.
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Leveling the Fountain: After getting your collection basin placed in the hole, you’ll need to make sure the basin and fountain are leveled so that your flow is even and consistent all the way around the fountain. Don’t rush this part just because it’s almost done!
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Finalizing Finishes: After everything is in place, it comes down to making final adjustments and making sure the pump is fully connected and set up. After this, lay your river rocks down to cover your basin, integrate into the surrounding garden landscape, add any last decorative pieces, and you’re done! Now it’s time to…
5. Enjoy Your Fountain
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Love Your Water Feature: Sit back, relax, and enjoy your beautiful fountainscape in your backyard! Become relaxed through the sound of the lapping water, soak in the calming splashing of the water cascading down the sides, and love life more.
Installing a backyard fountain is typically a straightforward process, but don’t forget any of the important building aspects here. Once installed, your backyard fountain will serve as a charming and peaceful addition to your outdoor living space.