!: DIY Fountain - Creating a Bubbling Fountain Is Easy to Do

Tabletop fountains are an attractive means of masking annoying sounds such as traffic and lawn mowers. But while moving one outside to the patio to cancel audible irritants seems like a good idea, most indoor tabletop fountains are not built for out-of-doors. No worries because here's how to create your own bubbling outdoor fountain.

You will need a few supplies: water-tight container, rocks, submersible pump, metal grate, and access to electricity.

The benefits of creating your own bubbling container fountain are many:

It's relatively easy and fun. It will draw wildlife to the area. It will allow moisture loving plants to thrive adding variety to your garden. It's a kid-friendly way to add a water feature. It recycles water and protects it from evaporation so you use less.

First decide on a location. If you're not sure, consider creating a container water garden or container water fountain that you can move from place to place. The location must have access to an outlet and it should have a G.F.C.I. (ground fault circuit interrupter). Do not use an extension cord. A G.F.C.I. will stop the flow of electricity if any moisture is detected thereby preventing electrical shock hazard and will keep you, your family and friends as well as any wildlife safe.

Next, find a water-tight container that is sturdy enough to be sunk into the ground and wide enough to catch the spray from your fountain. If you set the pump flow rate to just bubble then this will be less of a concern. If you choose a container that is dark on the inside (you can line it with pond liner or paint it) this will create the illusion of depth. Something that approximates a large paint bucket (5 gallons) is a good gage. The water level will drop over time due to evaporation. A smaller container may require constant topping up.

Dig the hole, place the container.

Your choice of pump will depend on the size of your container and the effect you are looking to create. Pumps are rated by their flow rate and head height. For example, the flow rate of a 75 g.p.h. (gallons per hour) submersible pump can vary from 35 to 75 g.p.h. The maximum head height (the highest the pump can push the water) may only be 1.5 feet. If your container is 2 feet deep then this pump will not be of much use to you.

Pumps will have a chart explaining their flow rate and maximum head height. Choose one that is one size bigger than you think you'll need. Performance will diminish over time and if the pump filter clogs a little that will also affect the pump's output.

Place the pump a little up off the bottom of the container to protect it from clogging from debris. Place the metal grate across the top of the container making sure it overlaps somewhat onto the ground. Cover it with some stones to hide it and create the illusion of a natural spring. Fill the container with water.

Using a removable cover will make maintenance easier. Simply lift the metal grate to adjust the pump's flow rate, clean the container of debris, and replace.

Place water-loving plants in containers amongst the rocks or along the edge to further camouflage. You'll create a lovely garden space that you wouldn't be able to accomplish in a traditional garden.

Children are inquisitive and are naturally drawn to water. To make this water feature child-proof stake the cover down or lock it to the container in some manner. Creating a bubbling natural-looking spring can be very satisfying. In addition to the lovely sounds and moisture you'll enjoy the sights and sounds of wildlife as they discover your 'spring' and tell their friends about it.