Water fountain
Fountains are special way to bring interest into garden, and can provide a soothing affect. Create a garden focal point with a well-placed barrel waterfall fountain.
Waterfall fountains are characterized by having more than one tier, with water cascading from one tier to the next. Before running to the local home and garden center or a nursery, consider the size and style of waterfall you would like to have. Create added interest to the pump by adding decorative features such aquatic plants or a hand-pump from which water will flow. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut a barrel in half to make a water fountain.
Place the largest halved barrel on level ground in the desired position, close to an electrical outlet. Use a level to ensure that the barrel and ground is level.
2. Cut notches about 3 inches wide near the top of each barrel. This will allow excess water to flow from the top to the bottom barrel, creating the waterfall effect.
3. Secure the plastic liner inside the barrel to prevent water from leaks. If using a genuine wine barrel in good condition or a water-proof barrel, the liner may be omitted.
4. Create a platform for the smaller barrel to sit on from similarly colored wood. The platform may be made from a solid piece of wood or several smaller pieces of wood spaced slightly apart, large enough to cover about half of the larger barrel, or the entire base of the smaller barrel. Attach the platform to the barrel rim with nails.
5. Set smaller barrel on top of the platform. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for as many tiered barrel as you would like; the top barrel does not need a platform on top of it.
6. Place several bricks inside the top barrel, and set the pump on top.
7. Attach the fountain head to the tubing, and connect the plastic tubing from the top barrel to the bottom barrel to recirculation the water. Try to conceal the tubing by going up the backside of the fountain. May you need to drill a hole or cut a small notch in the bottom barrel, to allow for tubing access.
8. Fill the bottom barrel with water and plug-in the fountain to start the pump. Continue adding water until you have adequate flow from barrel to barrel.
9. Adjust the fountain head as desired; you may wish to see water gurgling up, or see a slight fountain.
Tags: bottom barrel, smaller barrel, barrel with, flow from, fountain head