Setting Up and Maintaining Large Garden Fountains

Most outdoor wall fountains are available in "for-dummies" style kits that will give you all you need to properly install it. The kit includes a submersible pump, hoses as well as the basin, or reservoir. Depending on its size, the basin can typically be hidden quite easily amongst the plants. Once installed, wall fountains typically only require some light upkeep and regular cleaning.

Replenishing and cleaning the water on a consistent basis is very important. Remember to get rid of debris like leaves, twigs or dirt as fast as possible. Additonally, outdoor fountains should always be shielded from freezing temperatures during the winter months. If kept outdoors, your pump could break as a result of icy water, so bring it inside during the winter. Simply put, your outdoor fountain will be a part of your life for many years with the proper care and maintenance.

Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Originate from?

From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, via aqueducts or springs nearby. Until the late 19th, century most water fountains operated using gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the artist who created it. Bronze or stone masks of wildlife and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. To illustrate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages added fountains to their designs. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were intended to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. To mark the entrance of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the construction of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts arrived in the city of Rome

Urban fountains created at the end of the nineteenth functioned only as decorative and celebratory ornaments since indoor plumbing provided the necessary drinking water. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to provide recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.

These days, fountains adorn public areas and are used to recognize individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.

The Countless Styles of Wall Fountains

There are two specific styles of fountains you can buy: mounted and stand-alone. Small, self-contained versions can be hung on a wall are known as mounted wall fountains. One of the most important features of wall fountains is that they be lightweight, so they are typically made of fiberglass or resin to replicate the look of stone. In large free-standing fountains, otherwise referred to as wall fountains, the basin is situated on the ground with the flat side positioned against a wall. Normally made of cast stone, these water features have no weight limitations.

It is a good idea to incorporate a custom-made fountain into a new or existing wall, something often suggested by landscape experts. Installing the basin against the wall and installing all the plumbing work requires a professional mason to do it properly. It is also necessary to add a spout or fountain mask to build it into the wall. If you want a cohesive look for your garden, get a customized wall fountain because it becomes part of the scenery rather than a later addition.