A shady corner of the garden is a place of solitude and peace, where every person strives from time to time. And if you want light, joy and elation, then a fountain for the garden is what you need, this is a place in the garden where your spirits always rise, where there is a lot of emotion and beauty. If you don’t have such a place in your garden, you can make one. Buy a decorative fountain for your dacha. In good weather, a multi-colored rainbow will always shine in the garden as a symbol of wish fulfillment.
A fountain in a garden plot is an excellent opportunity to complement the landscape design
Fountain for the garden - the song of water
If you have garden fountains installed in your garden, then every day a wonderful water extravaganza and a solemn festive event takes place in front of you. The sound of falling water excites and bewitches. The drops shimmer in the sun, the fountain sings the endless melody of summer, and this fills life with joy and hope.
On summer days, the fountain improves the microclimate in the recreation area, acting as a natural air humidifier
Even on a hot afternoon, it will be cool and fresh around the fountain
And even if the mood is not very good, then this living organism from another life - carefree, light and beautiful, will always set you up for the positive.
A well-chosen fountain design will fabulously transform the atmosphere of the garden.
A garden fountain is not just a hydraulic structure in your garden. It’s as if it opens an invisible door to another reality, in the times of beautiful ladies in crinolines, gallant gentlemen with swords, this is a departure from monotonous everyday life, when beauty shapes our lives and makes it more festive, filled with happiness and charming mystery.
The last stage is checking and finishing
Having finished installing and connecting the pump, pipes and distribution nozzles, you need to make sure the system is working. And only after checking that everything functions correctly as intended, you can begin to decorate the pump and bowl.
The device will work correctly with precise and correct assembly and proper connection of the electric pump. The main impression is made not so much by the design of the structure as by the appearance of rising jets, sparkling and running streams.
Fountain for a summer residence, decorated with a tub of flowers
If you do not check the functionality of the system, subsequent dismantling to correct deficiencies will create many problems.
Garden fountain
Decorative fountain and garden style
When thinking through the design of your site, and planning a place for a future fountain, you need to clearly imagine a single solution for the space. It should fit harmoniously into the natural landscape and not disrupt the overall style.
It is important to ensure that the design of the fountain matches the overall style of landscape design
A classic garden will be perfectly complemented by a sculptural fountain - ancient gods, cupids or young maidens
If your site is built in a natural, natural style, then you should not install a huge classic multi-tiered fountain for the garden. This will destroy the atmosphere of the place and will not fulfill its main function - to create harmony and beauty.
For a small garden in a modern style, a fountain made of metal or concrete with simple geometric shapes is suitable
For a garden in a natural style, we can recommend a fountain made of rough stone with a tub of bright flowers.
You cannot install a huge fountain group in a small area, it will look ridiculous. A landscape fountain is always a positive atmosphere and emphasized style.
A compact fountain made of monolithic concrete will fit perfectly into a small garden
Project implementation and equipment connection principle
The operating principle is simple. The water that is discharged through the nozzle is collected in a container, thicket or drained into a reservoir. Then it enters the funnel, where it is cleaned during movement and enters the pipeline, after which it is distributed and sprayed using a pump.
Garden fountain decorated with carvings
The hydraulic pump is the heart of the system. It is below the waterline of the drains. Since the appliance is electric, the fountain must be within reach of the exterior cords at the pump outlet.
The main element that determines the formation of the type of flowing streams is nozzles or nozzles. The parts are organized into a tube with holes placed accordingly. Their number, size and location shape the generated water flows. Nozzles can be purchased at the store. Some craftsmen make them with their own hands.
Decorative frog fountain
Creating a water picture also includes a special source of water flow regulators. Water is poured out under pressure through nozzle holes running at right angles.
Garden fountain made of copper
The nozzle of a fountain not equipped with a pump should be installed 0.5-1 meter above the liquid level. As a result of the drop in pressure, water will be pumped out.
The distribution of pipes and nozzles depends on your imagination. Usually they place the main large nozzle as the center of the composition, and then add small thin elements.
Metal fountain for a summer residence
Luxurious landscape with a fountain in the spotlight
The gardens have a varied natural landscape, sometimes very bizarre and complex. The main task of a landscape designer is to make maximum use of the natural feature that is in the garden and present it in the most favorable, unexpected light.
The larger the area of the suburban area, the more massive and representative the fountain can be
Owners of large fountains can be recommended to install them in front of the main entrance. This is a traditional French layout of the formal gardens of the nobility. Garden figures and fountains are the dominant center of the composition. It emphasizes the status of the owners of the house and to some extent represents the level of wealth of the family.
In front of the entrance to the house, a fountain with a bowl-pond looks impressive
Suitable only for large, flat areas where a system of paths leading to the fountain can be arranged. It is located so that it can be clearly seen from different sides; large trees should not block the view of the fountain. The front entrance to the house and the center of the fountain should be on the same line. And decorative plantings should be located strictly symmetrically on both sides of the fountain group.
Owners of large plots can afford stationary fountains of impressive dimensions
In this case, the fountain should be considered as a source of pride for the owner of the house. As a rule, this is a richly decorated structure; it can be complemented by sculptural groups, compositions made of natural stones, a marble pool and a figured side. Such fountains can be multi-level; the discharge of the water jet should not be too high: drops of falling water should not fall outside the fountain pool.
If space allows, you can create a spectacular composition of several fountains at your dacha
There are uneven areas with sharp changes in the landscape. This is a great opportunity, with the help of retaining stone walls and shady alleys of conifers, to create a secluded corner in the garden, where you can comfortably place a landscape fountain in an oriental style with a large pond in which colorful fish are often bred. This is a unique opportunity to take advantage of natural features and transform them into luxurious places for relaxation.
The height of the structure and the direction of the jets must correspond to the size of the bowl
Large estates boast remote areas filled with wild trees. A natural environment is created where a fountain-waterfall can be organically built in. Such structures are made of polystone - an artificial stone that perfectly imitates natural material. Visually it is almost impossible to distinguish them. Experienced designers will create such a fountain in the garden plot, which will give the effect of complete unity and wildlife: a waterfall, an abandoned pond overgrown with yellow water lilies. Such a luxurious place can become a favorite corner for reflection, relaxation and restoration of mental strength.
What types of waterfalls are there?
Types of artificial waterfalls suitable for self-construction are shown in the photo. Pos. 1 – source waterfall. The aesthetic qualities are minimal, but its construction will require little work, and the initial and operating costs will not ruin any budget. The fontanel waterfall itself, as a rule, ecologically fits perfectly into any inhabited body of water. To increase the decorative effect, the outflow of the source waterfall is most often made in the form of a jug, amphora, shell, figurines of nymphs, frogs, etc. The air in the vicinity is practically not humidified in addition to the pond, but the water meter almost “does not see” its loss due to evaporation. No additional space is required.
Types of homemade waterfalls
Fountaining source, pos. 2, this is mainly the source of an artificial stream, which is a separate topic. Powered by a fountain pump.
A simple single-cascade waterfall at pos. 3 can be called a mono-waterfall in a modern way. Its aesthetics are good, water losses are small, and the air is additionally humidified within a radius approximately equal to the height of the fall. The labor intensity and costs are relatively low, and it takes up little space. However, even when the jet falls 0.8-1 m, the soothing splash of water above reverberates in its thickness as an unpleasant rumble or rumble, similar in spectrum to the noise of a working stone crusher. Every diver knows this, and aquatic organisms are much more sensitive to water hammer. Therefore, if a pond with such a waterfall can be inhabited, it will be by unpretentious local savages.
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Cascade waterfall, or multi-cascade waterfall, pos. 4, gives perfect aesthetics with a fall of only 25-30 cm per cascade, but is complex, expensive, labor-intensive, requires a lot of space and moisture for evaporation at +30 in the shade, it loses up to 10% of the hourly water consumption per day. On a site in middle-class and lower-class households, it is often replaced with an artificial stream with thresholds that is no less aesthetically pleasing, but fits well into the pieces of free space and loses less water.
Also, for the sake of saving space and reducing water loss, the cascade waterfall is replaced by an aesthetically equivalent waterfall-cascade, pos. 5 and 6. Deep spray chambers already reduce evaporation losses by half, and the sides hold a cushion of moist air above the reservoir - the breaker bath. In the garden, a waterfall-shelf is perhaps the optimal solution. Thanks to the small splashing of the jets with a small fall, it loses even less water than a single waterfall, and can easily be attached to a populated pond. True, in an open place the freshness of the air in the heat can only be felt directly next to it.
The most beautiful, but also the most expensive and complex decorative waterfall is a chamber waterfall with laminar, i.e. without internal turbulence, in jets, pos. 7. In some manuals, mini-waterfalls with closed reservoirs are called chamber waterfalls; we note this for clarity. The structure of a large chamber waterfall is shown in Fig. below. Each of its cascades consists of a breaker bowl 1, a splash chamber 2 and a water slide-shelf 3, on which a laminar flow is formed. In the breaker bowls, the water calms down after falling, and the spray chambers prevent the jet from sticking (laminar jets are very prone to this) from the undersides of the shelves. The source bath has the same configuration as the breakers, but is larger.
Construction of a chamber waterfall
The hydraulic design of a chamber waterfall is very complex. For those familiar with hydrodynamics, let us inform you that it boils down to the fact that, by varying the configuration and dimensions of the chambers with shelves and the height of the fall in the cascades, by the middle of the width of the shelves, reach the Reynolds number Re, corresponding to the laminar flow of a flow of a given value. The calculation procedure is such that even specialists’ brains, as they say, sweat and shrink.
But even for unprepared fans there is very good news about chamber waterfalls: ready-made sets of plastic bathtubs with shelves are available for sale, and the specifications for them include the dimensions of the slides. Thanks to professional computer modeling, a chamber waterfall slide based on purchased elements is usually quite compact and not very labor-intensive. If you don’t want to decorate the area with plastic or you’re simply not happy with the price, you can take the dimensions from the company brochure and build it yourself. Small errors in the configuration of the cascades are forgivable, but based on rougher material, the depth of the baths must be increased by 10%, and the width of the shelves by 15%.
A small fountain decorating the area in front of the house
Owners of small plots who want to install fountains can be advised to pay attention to modest fountains that do not take up much space, but at the same time create comfort and a special atmosphere of a secluded place, without which you would like to have a place in your garden where you can relax your soul and restore strength.
A decorative fountain should be proportionate to the site
Any fountain, even the most modest in size, can become a bright decoration of a suburban area
When installing a small fountain, you should remember a few simple rules that will make it possible not to spend a lot of time maintaining the structure.
- Try to install the fountain bowl so that leaves from the trees do not fall into the pond, so that the drains and filters do not become clogged. This way it will last longer.
- When installing the fountain, try to do it on a level area. The water level in the bowl must be constant; this is important for the full functioning of the pump.
- The fountain should be located at a sufficient distance from the entrance to the house so that in windy weather the stream of water does not fall on the porch steps or walls of the house.
- Small fountains can be decorated with a variety of plants and additional decor, which will diversify the interior look and create a special atmosphere.
Once the decision has been made to install a fountain in the garden, the main thing is to make the right choice and not go overboard with the size of the object and stay within the framework of the stylistic decision that dominates your estate. Then you will know exactly where to go to recuperate and relax, breathing in pleasant coolness in the summer heat.
Fountains come in different levels of complexity and types
Deciding on a place to install the fountain
A fountain in a garden is always a special place that attracts and evokes special feelings. You want to sit next to it and admire the falling streams of water. Therefore, choose secluded places that are not visible from the entrance. And it doesn’t matter that it won’t immediately catch your eye. A few steps deep into the garden and you will be able to impress even the most picky guest.
For a fountain, it is advisable to choose a quiet, secluded place where you can rest and relax to the sound of flowing water.
There are several rules that should definitely be taken into account when choosing a location:
- Never place the fountain near large trees - rapidly growing roots can damage the bowl, and fallen leaves will fall into the pool and clog the water.
- The fountain on the site should not be installed very close to the house. Otherwise, jets of water in windy weather will fall on the house and on the steps in front of the entrance. And this is very uncomfortable and unsafe.
- If the choice fell on a large stationary fountain, then it should be clearly visible from different sides of the garden; trees should not cover this beautiful structure. Most often, large fountains are installed in front of the front entrance to the house, but it should be noted that the maximum height of the jet should be half the distance to the front door of the house.
- Do not install a fountain in a courtyard where there are constant drafts, as the water jets will constantly be deformed in the wind, and it will lose its beauty and attractiveness.
The recommendations are very simple, but they should be taken into account in order to choose the right place for your fountain.
A popular solution is a fountain in the form of a waterfall, when streams of water flow down over stones arranged in steps.
The fountain can be installed in a swimming pool
Sound effects
When planning the presence of any type of fountain in the landscape design, it is worth paying attention to the sound. The sound of water can be different:
- quiet and loud;
- soft and bubbling;
- sonorous and muffled;
- cheerful and calm.
There are two main factors that influence the character of a fountain's song: the shape and height of the jets. Thin and high-rising jets of water can generate ringing notes. Volumetric and wide flows will complement the landscape design with a deep and calm sound background.
Special nozzles are responsible for the formation of jets. Typically, manufacturers offer 2-3 different types of products in a set. This allows you to diversify not only the visual range, but also expand the sound range of the fountain.
At the birth of the “song of water”, the speed of its flow also matters. The sound can be changed during the operation of the structure by adjustment, which is provided in the equipment set.
The photo is not capable of conveying sound effects, but it can highlight the elegance of landscape design with the presence of a fountain:
Proper care of a garden fountain
Caring for the fountain does not require much effort. There are a few simple rules that will allow your fountain to last longer:
- Periodically check the cleanliness of the pump filters and clean them as necessary. In water, filters become clogged with mud. The more active the fountain is, the more often you check the equipment.
- Remove debris, leaves, sticks, and plant petals from the fountain bowl. If the water turns green, remove the blooming algae, drain the dirty water and refill with at least partially clean water. If the fountain is installed in a natural body of water, then simply check the pump filter often and make sure that the electrical wiring is protected and out of reach of children. It is better to place the wires from the pump in protective boxes.
- Take care of the plants that are planted next to the fountain. Otherwise, they will spoil the appearance of the exterior landscape group; periodically change the plants depending on the season.
The pleasure and joy that the fountain area will give you is so great that you hardly need to be afraid of such simple care steps.
Human imagination is limitless. Sometimes it can be difficult to decide and choose exactly what you need from the many offers. And it’s not always possible to come up with something special. Not all of us are high-class dreamers and designers.
The sound of flowing water attracts attention, creates comfort and a calm atmosphere
Now on the Internet you can find a huge selection of photographs of a wide variety of fountains. Look at the pictures, slowly choosing for your garden exactly what suits it. Gradually, a unique image of a fountain group will emerge, which will not only decorate your garden, but will create a place where you can always relax your soul. You can look at the water for a long time; it reflects the beauty of the sun, the brightness of the sky and the uniqueness of nature. Water washes away all troubles and carries them away without a trace. This is probably why we love to look at fountains and falling water so much.
Photo gallery - fountains in the country
Take your time with your choice. Give the image a chance to form. Time will decorate it with beautiful accessories and additions, but if the image still turns out to be a little blurry, then use the photo gallery. This is the only correct solution that will significantly save time and find exactly what worries you so much, but has not yet taken shape in the final image.
