Outdoor Fountains Add Charm and Style to Any Outdoor Setting

Outdoor fountains fit into any style garden. A fountain packs a lot of charm into a small landscaping space. Whether traditional or contemporary, it propels a stream of water through the air and creates a cooling effect. It's ideal for up-close viewing, which is why fountains are usually located on a porch, patio, or other sitting area.

A fountain can attach to a wall or stand alone. Some freestanding fountains are designed to rest in-or next to-a pool or pond, while others are water features unto themselves, working well on a deck, patio, lawn, or tucked into a flower bed. Tabletop fountains have recently become popular, taking just minutes to set up.

You can choose from a wide variety of styles, colors, materials, and sizes. However, choose an outdoor water fountain that is in keeping with the overall style of your garden and home. A classical statuary fountain might look out of place in a simple country garden, for example. A wall fountain fashioned of brick and stone or stone look-alike is best set against similarly sturdy masonry-not wood-siding.

Most fountains are made of precast concrete. Reconstituted stone and fiberglass have also become popular, simulating the look of stone with amazing realism. Whether concrete or stone look-alike, fountains come in numerous colors and surface finishes. Finding just the right fountain for your garden takes some research. Visit garden centers to scout their offerings. Ask if there are other fountains that you can special order. Also check out mail-order catalogs. If you want a special, one-of-a-kind fountain, visit art fairs or ask at art galleries for the names of local artists who might design a fountain for you.

Freestanding outdoor water fountains
Appealing because of its ease of installation, a freestanding outdoor fountains also makes an ideal focal point for a patio, flower bed, or lawn. In this type of outdoor water fountain, a small submersible pump is housed in the lower pedestal, in a hollow base beneath the bowl. Its design should allow easy access to the pump so you can clean and maintain it, usually monthly.
These ornamental fountains can be placed near a pond or pool or in the water feature itself. The decorative statue has a supply pipe projecting from its base. The pipe is connected to the pump with flexible tubing. Large statues must have firm footing. For an outdoor water fountain on the side of a pond, make sure its resting place (including any edging) is firm and level. If you want to install the fountain in the pond, you can mount it on a hollow in-pond pedestal created specifically for that purpose or build your own with mortared bricks or stone. If the statue is small, black plastic storage crates make an easy, hard-to-detect base as long as the base of the fountain is slightly under water
Caring for your outdoor water fountain
Fountains in sunny spots tend to have problems with algae. If you are not raising fish or plants in your outdoor water fountain, you can prevent algae by adding chlorine bleach to the fountain water. Add it at the rate of 2 ounces of bleach to every 10 gallons of water, once a month. If that doesn't work, increase the amount of bleach to 5 ounces. If you do have plants or fish, consider using an algaecide. Make sure it's labeled for use in ponds with fish and plants; follow package directions exactly.