DIY Life

This has been a summer about fountains in our home. Earlier this summer I created a water feature mostly for birds, then I created another one for my three year-old son to enjoy. I did this mostly so that the birds could bathe and drink in peace without being subjected to my son's daily mawing of them. After a few setbacks with his fountain, I finally had a creation that was safe and enjoyable for him. However, I have learned a thing or two about the best placement for a fountain.

The following points might come in handy if you are currently planning a fountain for next summer or if you have one that is not quite working and needs some revising.

• A fountain under a tree will require more attention than one located elsewhere. A tree will shed branches and leaves throughout the summer and fall requiring much cleaning and filtering.


• A sandbox in the near vicinity will also create more work for you. Sand easily clogs the pump filter and shortens the life of your filter.

• Keep your fountain to a manageable depth. Anything too deep can be a safety issue.

• Keep it simple. If this is your first fountain, easy is better. Do a trial run and then if you enjoy the water, go a bit bolder. Explore live fish or lily pads.

• Know your water source. Water is an ideal breeding ground for algae and other life that can clog pumps and tubing, so it is good to know how to keep your water clean.