Image taken on 2007-06-01 10:04:42 by Chalkie_CC.

It was time to shed off those layers of clothes and turn off the furnace. This was my favorite time of the year. The robins were chirping and the buds were forming on the trees. This year it was my desire to turn my garden into my sanctuary.

Starting with planting the flowers, which I take great pride in, to turning my lawn into looking like a golf course. By arranging the shrubs, bushes and flowers, it was very pleasant to look at. With the new patio furniture and grill, I thought everything was in place.

Something was missing and I couldn’t put my finger on it. As I would sit in my comfy lounge chair reading a book, I was still edgy not relaxed. Turning on the stereo, placing the lighting in just the right direction and sipping a cool drink, just didn’t put me in the right mood.

Then it dawned on me what I was yearning for. It was quite simple my body wanted to be around water. A swimming pool or hot tub was not an option since it would take up the entire yard. Looking through home decorating magazines, it was there I found that special touch that was needed. The wall mounted outdoor fountain.

Wall mounted garden fountains achieve the same effect as any other fountain. The serenity and tranquility of water trickling down is an essential element to any outdoor setting. The element of water enhances any environment by just its visual presence. These fountains seem to touch the human spirit deeply and personal. The sound that comes from a fountain is perfect to help you unwind at the end of a busy day. It is soothing and relaxing which creates peace and harmony.

The two most common materials are cast stone concrete and fiberglass. The fiberglass models have a sand stone finish and weigh less for shipping purposes and are less expensive. There are various styles that will fit with anyone’s decor. Whether you want a traditional or contemporary model it is easily located. If you are on a tight budget try wall mounted garden fountains made of plastic or resin. Whatever material you choose, they are sure to add class and sophistication to your out door area.

Every imaginable color, illumination, size and theme is available for all variety of tastes and needs. Some popular themes are animals, birds, fish and biblical characters. The size you purchase strictly depends on where it will be mounted. They have these fountains for walls, fences, alcoves and trees. Don’t be surprised if a bird swoops down for a drink.

Outdoor wall mounted fountains help clean the air and remove harmful pollutants. They also help add humidity into the air which is ideal for keeping your flowers and plants healthy.

A small amount of regular maintenance will allow you to enjoy your fountain for many years. Simply spray it down with a garden hose, keep the basin free of debris and in winter remove the pump and keep it dry. Most come with easy to follow installation instructions and do not require a professional to install it. You just need to make certain that you conceal the pump and hosing.

If you wish to make the fountain the focal point of your garden, get creative. Add some rocks or cut flowers to the water. Put some lights near it so it sparkles and to unleash those senses add some aromatherapy oil to the basin Your friends and family will admire your fountain as a masterpiece of sight, smell and sound.

You might be pondering whether to go for whimsical or an ornate design. Let me assure you that it does not matter. They will all sooth, ease your mind and stimulate the senses. This is a must for your summer pleasure.

I have an outdoor water fountain on my front porch.wondering if I have to turn off the water pump and empty the water out..before it get to the freezing point this winter...what shall I do? Or can I keep it running during the winter season?..Do I need to bring it inside?Thank-you..enjoy your day..

it should have come with winterizing instructions. you can leave it running providing your power does not tend to go out for days at a time when it is freezing out. but i would recommend turning it off and draining it for the winter. if you have a garage, put it in there. otherwise, put a large plastic bag over it to keep out water and leaves. it should be fine on the porch. I shut off my pond waterfall in the really cold months because we tend to lose our power a lot.

I'm also thinking about using a very large tuscany plant pot for a water feature. Need find a reasonable priced solar water pump somewhere. Thanks....

http://www.siliconsolar.com/solar-fountain-pumps.php

we have a small effort of a ball with hole and water piped to pour out of it when switched on at the mains. It works rather pathetically. However i have seen a nice feature, bigger and well reduced, would this be easy to fit into the same area. I would have enough space width and breadth. Just wondering about the electrics/pump etc.

Water features usually come with a pump etc.

Have you tried cleaning out the pump and water retainer of the one you have? I do ours in the spring of the year and it makes all the difference.

There will also be a valve on the pump that lets you adjust the water pressure.

A garden pond adds new dimensions to any garden. As well as providing a tranquil spot to sit and relax on a hot summer's day, it attracts a whole range of wildlife to your garden such as frogs, newts, and water birds and almost inevitably gives you a mini nature reserve. It also opens up new plant growing opportunities both in the water and at its edges.

Choosing the right location, shape and size of garden pond.

An ideal spot for a garden pond is in an open area with plenty of sunshine, but not too exposed to the wind and it is best not to locate it directly under trees to avoid accumulating soggy leaf mould every autumn. You should aim for as large a size as you can manage and the location will comfortably support, as larger ponds will gave a greater impact and are easier to clean and maintain than smaller ponds and are less prone to green water. The shape should be gently curving to blend with the environment and it is best to avoid narrow necks of water if possible. The ideal depth for a garden pond is around 2 feet deep, any shallower and it will be prone to drying in the summer and if much deeper it will accumulate mud in its base.

What lining material to use

Flexible liners are generally the best materials to use and are usually made of either butyl or PVC. If working to a lower budget then polythene can be used but this is thinner and generally won't last longer than 3 years before it needs to be replaced.

Preparing the hole

You should mark out the area to be excavated with a trail of sand or an old hosepipe and the best months for pond making are April and May, so you should start digging around March. The pond base should be dug to around a 3 feet depth in its centre and you should make arrangement for disposing or using the surprisingly large amounts of material which will result! It is a good idea to consider preparing a shelf around the edge of the pond, in preparation for plants that prefer to grow in shallow water and otherwise the sides should slope at around 45 degrees. It is also advisable to protect the liner with a layer of fibreglass matting or sand in the base of the hole.

Laying the liner and filling the pond

Make sure the liner is large enough and then stretch it over the hole and hold the edges down with some heavy stones and check that it overlaps an even amount all around the pond and even out any wrinkles. Now you can start to fill it with water. A hosepipe should then be prepared and the exciting part can begin, filling the pond with water, which will settle down the liner with the weight and help even out any wrinkles. Fill the hole to the brim.

Edging the pond

Usually the best way to edge a pond is by laying flagstones and tucking the liner under them, they should be laid so that they overlap the edge by about 2 inches. These should be laid carefully to get a level finish and should be bedded with fine soil or sand. It is best to avoid concreting them in or repairs can be difficult. Now it's time to stand back and admire your new pond but a little patience is required as it requires about 2 weeks to bed down and for undesirable chemicals in the water to disperse.

Then it is time to start planning to decorate it with water plants of your choice and for you local wildlife to discover it and hopefully take it up as their new residence.

It should always be borne in mind that open water can present a dangerous hazard to young children and this should be considered before making a garden pond.

In a future article I will discuss the range of plants now at your disposal and some of the fish wildlife that you may wish to introduce.

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The garden in itself is a beautiful place. But no garden is ever complete without a garden fountain. They add beauty and charm to the place they are installed in. The sound of the water adds to its natural appeal.

Types of Garden Fountains

They come in different sizes and shapes. They can be either big or small. Bigger fountains are suitable for large gardens while smaller ones can be installed in small parks. Garden fountains can be wall fountains or pond fountains. Wall fountains are attached to walls and do not take up much space. Hence they are preferred for smaller gardens. You can even have different types for indoor and outdoor fountains. Pond fountains are large and are wired and programmed to perform different patterns of water sprays.

There are various materials used in making garden fountains. Some of the popular ones include fiberglass, wood, copper, concrete and porcelain. Concrete and ceramic are considered to be the best. Carving with sculptures and then giving a finish with sandstone add to the beauty of the fountain. You can customize your water fountain just the way you want it.

Selecting the right type of the water fountain for your garden is an important decision. There are a lot of things to be considered like how mechanized the water fountain is required to be, the right kind of wirings and tubes to be used and similar technical issues.

Garden fountains must be constructed preferably on strong, stable and level ground. It is recommended to get professional help so that the fountain can be designed to best compliment the place.

Maintenance

There are certain things you need to keep in mind to maintain fountains -

- One of the common problems with a fountain in the garden is the uneven flow of water from the garden. A possible reason for this may be that the fountain is sinking. This can be avoided by placing garden fountains on strong and leveled ground.

- The water may turn green and dirty. This may sometimes be caused due to irregular cleaning of the water. Algae when formed in water, can make the water appear green. In such cases water in the fountain needs to be replaced.

- Use some animal safe algae treatment for your garden fountains. Regularly drain the water and clean the fountain by scrubbing. You can then refill it with tap water. Keep visiting your garden fountain regularly. When a fountain is left unclean and unmanageable, it becomes difficult to solve the problems. Proper care and maintenance will add an everlasting charm to your garden.

Proper planning is the main requirement for installing garden fountains. You can even refer to various magazines and visit different sites to get a clear picture of what type you require. Well-designed and planned fountains can be your source of relaxation and pleasure.

Peter Finch
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/all-you-need-to-know-about-garden-fountains-101591.html

So you have decided to build a garden pond? Congratulations! With a little bit of time, effort, and money you can build a pond that is both beautiful and functional. Below you will find a checklist of what needs to be done to construct a garden pond in your backyard, as well as a list of additional things that you will want to consider when designing your pond.

The Basics

Step 1: Design/Plan your dream pond. This step in the process is not one to be taken lightly. You need to decide the best place to put your pond, how big you want it to be, the shape/depth, whether you want fish or not, and many other details. Changing your plan mid-construction will likely cost you both time and money. Write down all of your ideas and create a list of the things that you want your pond to have, and what you could do without.

Step 2: Outlining your pond. You will want to use a garden hose, or twine and stakes to outline the general shape of your pond. Double check to make sure that it isn't in the way of power or water lines, and is away from overhanging trees or other environmental hazards.

Step 3: Start Digging. This is the most labor intensive part of the process. You can either dig the pond yourself, or hire someone to do it for you.

Step 4: Line your pond. Depending on the type of liner that you choose, this can be a simple or a complex procedure. If you use a PVC liner, it is simply a matter of getting the liner in place and smoothing out bubbles to make it conform to the shape of your pond. Fiberglass and concrete linings (which are more durable and long lasting) require more prep work.

Step 5: Finish up the liner. If you are using PVC lining, you will want to leave a couple of inches around the edge of your pond for rocks and edging. If you choose fiberglass or cement, you will want to make sure that the application was completed properly, and your system is flushed ready for water.

Step 6: Decorate! Small and large rocks strategically placed around the outer rim of your pond will help conceal the liner and make it appear more natural. You can be as creative as you want with this process.

Step 7: Stock your pond. If you plan to put plants or fish in your pond, this is the time to do it. You will likely want to wait a while before introducing fish, and test the water often to make sure that the water levels are acceptable for supporting life.

Additional Items to Think About

If you follow the steps above you will have a simple garden pond to enjoy for many years to come! If you plan on having any fish or want to design a medium to large pond, you will also want to read up on filtration systems, waterfalls, and the various types of plant and animal life for your pond.

Michele Miller
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/constructing-your-garden-pond-the-basics-53155.html