With spring in the air, many of us are working on sprucing up the landscaping around our homes. After all, there’s no better time to revamp the space or brighten up the curb appeal of your home. One creative and exciting way to add some extra pizzazz to your yard’s landscaping is to add a water feature. While this may seem like an intimidating task, it’s actually quite easy to accomplish, and it will certainly make your backyard look fancier. This doesn’t have to be a grand addition or complicated project, either. Keep reading to get ideas on how to easily add a water feature to your backyard that you will love.
1. Install a Bird Bath
Hands down the easiest way to add something that highlights water in your backyard is a bird bath. These come in all shapes and sizes, so you’re guaranteed to be able to find the perfect one to suit your tastes. The best part about this addition is that it doesn’t require any electric work or plumbing, as you simply fill the bath up with water from your garden hose. Plus, this will attract more flying friends to your yard that you are bound to enjoy watching throughout the warm months of the year.
2. Create a Mini Pond
A little pond amidst your plants and flowers is the perfect way to add an additional dimension of beauty to your garden. Believe it or not, this is easy to install yourself. To do so, find something that you want to be the “dispenser” to allow water to flow into your pond. A clay pot works great for this. Then, use a laundry tub (or something similar) to catch water at the base of the pond. Under the pot, install a pond liner that goes all the way down the slope and is tucked over the rim of your tub. Use gravel and rocks at the base of your pond and around it. However, beware of using soil as the nutrients in it could catalyze the growth of unsightly algae in your water. Fill your pond with hose water, and let it refill itself with rain water when possible.
3. Build a Recirculating Fountain
Fountains certainly look fancy, but they are actually easy to install yourself. Plus, you will love hearing the sound of trickling water in your garden during a beautiful summer day relaxing in your backyard. To install a fountain, you can take advantage of a recirculating fountain. These require a ceramic pot, a large bucket, aluminum L-brackets, screen material, a submersible pump with an attachment for fountain spray, and an outdoor plug with GFCI. To get started, you will need to dig a hole big enough to bury your bucket wherever you decide to place your fountain. Then, cut the L-brackets to fit over the bucket. Next, use wire cutters to create a piece of mesh that will fit snugly over the pot, cutting out a hole in the middle that the hose can snake through. The pump should then be placed at the bottom of the bucket, whereas the tubing will be run up through the mesh and pot. Attaching the fountain nozzle to the top, apply silicone caulk and let it dry. Finally, add water and power and your fountain will be ready for use, enhancing the aesthetic and tranquility of your garden.
4. Add a Bubble Fountain
Another easy and delightful addition to your yard in the form of a fountain is a bubble one. For this project, you will need a ceramic pot with NO drainage holes, a submersible pump, clear vinyl tubing, gravel, clear waterproof silicone caulk/sealant, and electrical supplies. To start installing your bubble fountain, drill a small hole at the bottom of the pot that is just large enough to fit the pump power cord. Cut the cord in half, thread it through the hole, and then splice it back together. Next, assemble the pot by stacking it on top of something sturdy like a brick. Use larger rocks to hold the tubing in place to your liking. The end of the tube should sit below the water line. Once you have that in place, seal the drilled hole with silicone caulk. Once that is dry, add water and gravel to create the aesthetic you desire. However, be careful not to cover the pump. Finally, fill the pot with water and trim the tubing to your liking to get the bubbling effect you desire. However, be careful not to trim it too short.
These features attract more wildlife to your yard, bring the sound of nature to your landscaping, and—best of all— require little to no maintenance. Enjoy your backyard even more than usual this summer by doing something different and letting the water flow freely!
Article Courtesy of Doityourself.com