You tried sweating it out in the sauna, you can’t let go in a yoga pose and gym isn’t exactly hitting home. And no wonder—you’re working too hard at relaxing! What you need is a place to sit quietly and contemplate the sounds of nature: birds chirping, breeze blowing, brooks babbling. What—no backyard brook? Not a problem. Just build yourself the next best thing with a softly trickling garden fountain.

The project is nothing to get stressed about. In a mere weekend, you can “fountainise” most any leftover garden ornament, turning it into an enduring monument to tranquility. Revive a defunct birdbath, declare your own ode to a Grecian urn, or drill holes in a stack of rocks you found on-site. When the job is finished and your fountain runneth over, you’ll rinse the tension from your bones in calm, cascading rivulets. Relaxation never seemed so easy.

Learn the anatomy before buying the goods

A garden fountain is composed of three things: water, which flows up a pipe and trickles back down in a continuous cycle; a pump, which propels the water; and a piece of sculpture, over which the water flows. The sculpture can be built from any material that will withstand constant water. For most projects, large stones are used but pavers, some metals or pottery will all work. Regardless of the fountain material, the guts of the system remain the same. It starts with a waterproof tub or basin that lines a hole in the ground to make a reservoir for the water. Above that is a rigid mesh screen that blocks large debris from getting into the tub. The screen is topped with a support system made from a strong but water-resistant material, such as composite decking, to keep the body of the fountain from falling into the basin.

The submersible pump is the heart of the system. It sits below the water line in the basin, recirculating and fine-filtering the runoff from above. Since the pump is electric, the fountain needs to be within reach of an exterior outlet—pump cords rarely reach beyond 50 feet and manufacturers discourage the use of extension cords. It also needs to be accessible for maintenance after the fountain is built, so you’ll need to cut a trap door in the screen that’s big enough for you to reach in, unhook the pump and pull it out. (The screen and support decking can be camouflaged with small stones or even mulch.) The pipe that carries the water to the top of the sculpture screws onto the pump. It also includes a small ball valve that will allow you to adjust the fountain’s flow, giving you the option of creating anything from a calming trickle to a formidable geyser.

Making a garden fountain is easy – now all you need to do is buy the materials needed for it!

To find the materials you need for your garden fountain is simple – all you need to do is contact Pool Spa & Filtration. With Pool Spa & Filtration you will be able to create your ideal garden fountain. Pool Spa & Filtration are not only about swimming pools, they are about water features and so much more! To find out more about the products and services on offer through Pool Spa & Filtration, visit their website www.poolspa.co.za