Wall-fountains run the gamut from classical Greek figures and wall mounted gargoyles to sleek modern art forms and spouting frogs and fish. A wall fountain usually spills water through--such as a mask or a decorative plaque--into a basin which hides a small pump. The statuary can be terra cotta, plastic, fiberglass, cast concrete (often designed to mimic terra-cotta or stone), or metal. Stone and cast-concrete wall fountains require a wall strong enough to support their weight, as well as sturdy, well-secured mounting hardware.
Hiding the Return Pipe and Cord on a Wall-Fountain
Wall-fountains look best if the return pipe doesn't show. Thus, the best place for these fountains is a freestanding wall that allows you to run the plumbing behind it. However, this is rarely practical for many situations. Small features work best, such as on a townhouse patio. Alternatives include hiding the tubing with vines or chiseling a vertical niche down the wall to run the tubing and then mortaring over it. A more satisfactory option is to build out the wall using similar material'a new line of bricks, for instance, or an enclosure covered with clapboards to match your home's siding. Mount the wall-fountain on the new surface, and run the pipe behind it. For more wall fountain ideas visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/Categories.bok?category=Wall+Fountains.
If the wall-fountain doesn't come with its own basin, homemade options range from building an elaborate brick or concrete reservoir to recycling a half-barrel or an old sink or trough. Don't make the catch basin too small or rapid evaporation will necessitate frequent topping off. To keep splashing to a minimum, mount the fountain no higher above the catch basin than the diameter of the catch basin.
Wall-Fountains Are Not Difficult to Install
Taking up no floor room, wall fountains are ideal for gardens or seating areas that are tight on space. A submersed pump that recirculates water from the basin to a delivery pipe up to the spout powers most wall-fountains. Designs are nearly infinite, but most have a jet of water spilling into a trough or basin. The plumbing on some wall fountains can be rather complicated, often requiring pipes behind the wall. In other cases, the water lines run up the wall surface and must be disguised with vines or other plants. However, simple-to-install, preformed kits are now available with only a cord running from them. Because the ease and cost of installation varies widely, consider the installation when buying a wall fountain.
Wall fountains attach in several ways. Stone fountains attach with mortar and are supported with special T-blocks, decorative braces that act as brackets. Lighter weight fountain kits come with mounting hardware.
Wall fountains are commonly sold as separate units. They are designed to be installed with a pump. They will almost always come with complete instructions. As with any moving water feature, it is a good idea to be able to turn the wall fountain on and off from an indoor switch. Wall fountains are well suited for the small garden. They require a little more work to install, but installation is still straightforward if you have a wall with access to the back.
Planting A Small Garden
The key is to plan well, and to choose plants and designs that are not too overpowering. Even though you may not be able to have large boulders or a sweeping flower garden, or indeed a large pond, it is still possible to have a beautiful landscape that surrounds your home. Making it both attractive and an area in which you can enjoy relaxing and entertaining.
One of the things to remember when you have a small space is that you can build up rather than building out. You can do this by building raised beds for your plants. This can be done yourself, allowing you to save money. In fact, if you have a small yard, your landscaping costs should be fewer anyway. Building a raised bed allows you to create an attractive feature for your small yard without having to worry about taking up too much space. Some beds, if built on planks of wood, can be designed with wheels. Then you can move your landscape wherever you want; you have a moveable landscape!
Another method of maximizing small landscape space is to use containers for planting. Instead of marking out large sections of your yard for flowerbeds or vegetable patches, do a little container gardening. These types of gardens allow you to choose to plant various items in containers. Plants in containers take up less space, and you can move them around as you need to. This also creates a moveable landscape that can be very convenient depending upon your use of the space for a certain day. The containers can be placed for ornamental effect while you are entertaining, or they can be moved out of the way for a rousing family party or game.
Take into account the colors in your landscape. Cool colors (like blue) actually make a space look larger. Therefore, if you would like your yard to feel and look larger, choose the colors that make it look that way. Plants like silver king and evergreens can give your yard a feeling of largeness. Blue spruce and Alberta pine are good examples of plants that add a decorative tough while helping your property look bigger. In fact, Alberta pines are rather small trees, so they do not take up very much space while at the same time conferring a feeling of maximum space.
Another idea for the smaller landscape spaces is a small rock garden. A well-designed rock garden always makes an attractive feature. Make sure that it is in a place that will not be in the way when you mow the lawn assuming you have one of course. A little nook or corner of the property, or even up against the house on a raised bed, will do for a small rock garden. Choose your rocks carefully to complement each other, and choose plants that go with the rocks and that will not spread too much. Hens and chicks are great plants for use in a small rock garden. The rock garden draws the eye, but does not need to be sprawling.
Finally, if you want a water feature, it is possible to use a small one for limited landscape space. Small features similar to serenity fountains can be purchased for outdoor use. You can put them among your rock garden or even place one on the wall of your garden or house. Even a small birdbath can add a feeling of elegance to the yard. And the great thing about buying a small water feature is that it costs much, much less than putting in a big pond or even a medium size waterfall. Water features come in a variety of types and designs, and it very likely that you can find one to fit the size and the look of your yard.
Even if your garden is small, it is possible to design a landscape that enlarges the space in an attractive manner. By carefully considering your design, using small features and cool colors, and by thinking about what would help give your yard a touch of elegance, you can have a very nicely landscaped and cosy surrounding for your home.
Both Elizabeth Jean & Paul P. Duxbury are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Elizabeth Jean has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Landscaping and Gardening. Elizabeth Jean is the author of this article written for Garden-Fountains.com, a premier Internet resource for. Elizabeth Jean's top article generates over 14800 views. Bookmark Elizabeth Jean to your Favourites.
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