How to make your own water feature
Nothing inspires peace and tranquillity in the garden quite like the soothing trickle of water. But if you don’t have room for a pond, try another option. A small ceramic bowl or even modified plant pots can be turned into a trickling water feature for your patio or garden.
Whether it’s a bubbling urn or overflowing water bowl on a pedestal, these reservoir water features all work in the same way. The feature sits over a small, hidden reservoir which contains the pump. Water is pumped up through the feature, trickles over the sides back into the reservoir, and then it’s pumped back up again.
A wall fountain works in the same way, and it’s a great means for introducing moving water to smaller courtyards. There are many types of wall fountains, all of which are completely self-contained and cascade into a raised or sunken pond, bowl or urn. The pump is placed in the reservoir pool while the pipe circulating the water is hidden behind the wall.
Last year I decided to make my own water feature using three glazed terracotta pots. I couldn’t find a ready made water feature that I liked, so I decided to improvise.
Materials
3 glazed terracotta display pots, differing sizes 2 support pots (to fit inside the two largest display pots – these won’t be seen) 1 small terracotta pot around 120mm in diameter 3 small terracotta saucers, around 80mm in diameter Resene Terracotta Sealer Small submersible pump (I used a Pondline PL550 with a 1.3 metre maximum height) Rubber plug (to fit the drainage hole of the largest display pot) 2 rubber bungs (to fit the drainage holes of the remaining display pots) 1m of 10mm clear vinyl tubing (or a diameter that fits your pump) Waterproof silicone sealant Electric drill Level Knife or scissors Dustpan and brush Brush the insides of the display pots to remove any dust, then seal with Resene Terracotta Sealer. Allow sufficient time to dry. Insert the rubber plug in the drainage hole of the large display pot. This is to stop the water leaking out. Drill holes through the centre of the two rubber bungs, big enough for the tubing to fit through. Insert the bungs in remaining pots’ drainage holes, so they sit flush on the outside bottom. They will poke up on the inside of the pots. Using the silicone sealer, seal around the plug and bungs. Attach the tubing to the pump and test the water flow rate in a bucket of water. Adjust as desired. I wanted a gentle trickle rather than a waterfall. Place the pump on the base of the largest pot, running the power cord over the rim. Place the support pot over the pump, propping it up on saucers. Run the tubing through the middle. Place the next pot on top of the supporting pot. Make sure it’s level, then seal around the tubing. Repeat with the remaining support and display pots. To help keep the tubing upright, feed it through a small inverted terracotta pot. Cut the tubing 2-3cm below the rim of the display pot. Add water until the pots are overflowing. Plug your pump into an exterior power outlet (use a registered electrician) and turn it on!