Garden fountains

Garden fountains make landscapes come to life with sound and movement. These water fountains can provide a dramatic climax to the calculated symmetry of a formal garden pool; fluidity to a rigid, freestanding sculpture; or sensuality to an entire garden as water bubbles over a crop of cobblestones.

Choosing the right garden fountains

Whatever the design of your garden, you will have a wide array of fountain choices. The best fountain for you will depend on a number of factors, including your preferences of sound and style, as well as the fountain’s size in relation to the other elements of your garden.

If you intend to place the water fountain in your pond, avoid purchasing one with lead fixtures, as these can be toxic to plants and fish.

Types of water fountains

There are basically two types of garden water fountains: spray fountains and statuary fountains. Spray fountains feature jets that spread water in a variety of patterns. Statuary fountains, on the other hand, are more decorative, as the water pours from sculptures or figure(s) of some sort. In some ways, spray fountains have more dramatic flair, as pressurized water, powered by a recirculating pump, bursts through nozzles or fountainheads into a variety of intricate designs.  A spray fountain will easily complement you’re a modern-style home and garden; however, if you prefer a statuary fountain, then you choose one with a contemporary sculpture so that is does not clash with its surroundings.

Garden fountains include either an integrated or a remote pump. A remote pump, unlike those that are built-in to the body, resides outside of the fountain and delivers water via a concealed pipe. In addition to the pump’s location, the size of the pump will determine how high and how intense the spray of water will be; thus, you should choose a fountain whose pump size corresponds to the desired spray pattern. You can also adjust the flow rate within the range of a pump, which gives you an even greater degree of control. As a rule of thumb, the height of the spray should be less than half the width of your garden pool.

You must also consider the shape of your pond when shopping for garden fountains. Circular- and square-shaped ponds look good with fountains placed in the middle. In rectangular-shaped ponds, however, a line of pipes that spray water from the center to the edges generally look better. It’s a good idea to take a look around your garden and note the shapes of significant elements in the landscape. Try to visualize what other large features you might add, including shrubbery. If the garden furniture and the dominant plants in the vicinity are round, then they can be complemented by a rounded spray fountain; if they are square, then more vertical fountains might be preferable.

If you are planning to have floating plants in your pond, remember that garden fountains will disturb the surface of the water. Tall, exuberant fountains are likely to push water lilies and other plants to the sides of the pond. Fountains with lower, bell-shaped water columns, however, tend to disturb the surface water less than other designs. Fish lovers will prefer the enhanced aeration that more splashy fountains provide.

The wind factor

The wind strength in your area is another factor to consider when selecting styles of garden fountains. Fountains that atomize water into a misty spray and bell garden fountains that spray a thin film of water will not function properly in a windy site. In a windy garden, you may have to settle for a geyser-style garden fountain that projects a robust column of water.

Conclusion

These are some of the considerations that you will need to think about before you pick out your garden fountain. Just remember that the successful choice of a garden fountain requires a balanced sense of scale and an understanding of how different features contribute to the overall effect that you want to achieve in your garden.