Enhance Texas Landscapes – Add a Water Fountain

Creating a place to retreat from daily cares and merge oneself into natural sights and sounds promotes mental health and a sense of well-being. Fountains for the Texas landscape come in a vast array of sizes, forms, and costs. Almost any place in the landscape is a good place for a fountain, but near the patio or deck offers the added attraction of the soothing sound of moving water for those sitting nearby.

Types of Landscape Water Fountains

According to the History of Garden Fountains, ‚”The first recorded use of garden fountains and wall fountains in the historical record comes from the ancient middle east. Diagrams on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs shows the use of garden fountains within the enclosed courtyards of dramatic homes.”

There is an almost infinite variety of water fountains for the Texas homeowner. One can purchase small, table top units or 10 foot high statues. Water fountains either spill water down or push it up. Downward falling water fountains often have objects along the path of the water to make the movement more interesting and enhance the sound.

Falling water fountains may include Italianate statues with children, men, or women seeming to pour water. Or they may have a more natural appearance using rocks and stones for the water to flow over. Contemporary water fountains often use geometric or abstract designs in glass or metal.

Rising water fountains push water up from a base and allow it to fall with gravity into the container receptacle to be recycled back. A rising water fountain may have one or several spouts for either a simple or complex visual experience.

Fountains may be made of glass, marble, stone, or metal. However, the most common material is concrete. Concrete can be adapted to many shapes and textures. Concrete also has the advantage of tolerating outdoor conditions without deterioration or breaking.

A relatively new entry into landscape water fountains are those powered by a solar cell. Although similar in appearance and features to electrically powered fountains, they do not need to an external power source. Texas certainly has enough sunny days to keep these types of water fountains fully powered.

Caring for a Landscape Fountain in Texas

Other than the container and water for the fountain, the landscaper only needs to worry about the water fountain’s pump to keep the unit operational. The fountain base should be cleaned to remove leaves, algae, or mineral deposits as needed. Calcium deposits can be removed from stone or ceramic fountains using a kitchen or bath cleaner.

Always make sure that a fountain has sufficient water before turning it on. If the fountain is left on all the time, check it a couple times per week especially in the hottest part of the Texas summer. An advantage on continuous running is that moving water does not attract mosquitoes the way standing water attracts them.

If the pump becomes clogged, it can be cleaned with a mild vinegar solution. Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s directions before disassembling the pump. Replacement pumps are available to lawn and garden stores or through on line catalogues.

Tip

Water fountains are available at lawn and garden centers beginning in early spring. However, the best prices are in the fall when retailers want to clear their space for winter and holiday items.