This article was prepared with the support of UFL flower delivery. A garden isn't just flowers and fruit trees — it's a place to unwind. Rose beds, rockeries, lilac walks and, of course, a fountain make it cosy. The sound of water is calming, masks street noise, cools the air in summer and attracts birds. And a small fountain is a perfectly doable weekend project.
Every fountain is a closed loop: the pump lifts water from the reservoir and it flows back.
How to build a fountain yourself
Choose a reservoir. A ready-made plastic basin, a tank, an old bathtub or a hole lined with heavy PVC or EPDM liner. 100–300 litres is enough for a small fountain.
Dig a hole 10 cm larger than the container, level the base and add 5–10 cm of sand.
Set the container perfectly level, backfill the gaps with soil and sand and water it in.
Choose a pump. Submersible pumps are chosen by lift height and flow rate: 500–1,500 l/h is enough for a jet up to 1 m. Low-voltage 12–24 V pumps with a transformer or solar models are the safest.
Mind electrical safety: an outdoor socket rated IP44 or higher, an RCD, and cable buried in conduit. It's best to have an electrician connect it.
Decorate: hide the edges with stones and pebbles, add a nozzle, sculpture or stone bowl, and lighting.
Plant around it: hostas, irises, ferns and astilbes on the edges, water lilies and other aquatic plants in the water.
Top up the water — it evaporates quickly in summer, and the pump must never run dry.
Clean the pump filter and remove leaves every 1–2 weeks.
Fight algae with pond bio-treatments, shade and plants that compete with algae.
If there are no fish or plants, you can change all the water monthly.
In autumn, before frost, drain the water, take out the pump, clean it and store it indoors. Cover ceramic and concrete bowls — freezing water cracks them.
If you already have a pond, add a submersible fountain with a bell, tulip or geyser nozzle. The jet oxygenates the water, which benefits fish and plants, and looks like a natural spring. Read more about aquatic plants, and about shade-loving plants for the edge in our articles on hostas and irises.
Yes, with a solar pump — it runs in sunshine, and some models have a battery.
How much electricity does a garden fountain use?
A small pump uses 10–50 W — less than a light bulb.
Why is my fountain water turning green?
Sun and organic matter. Partial shade, a filter, regular cleaning and aquatic plants all help.
Decorate your garden and home with flowers too — for example, potted plants from UFL.
Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
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