How to Keep Your Outdoor Fountain Running Smoothly
Outdoor water features add a great deal of serenity and nature to your landscape design. One of the most diverse and easy to maintain aquatic additions you can introduce to your property is a water fountain. These features also attract beautiful wildlife, adding to the overall charm and natural feel of your yard.
There are actually quite a few reasons why we recommend water fountains. We suggest fountains for both first-time water feature enthusiasts but also for seasoned pond and waterfall lovers. Here’s why.
Fountains Are Diverse
Finding the right water fountain is a matter of taking the time to match your current design with your water feature. Styles like modern, classic, and old English are popular trends for many fountain designs. For example, the more modern your garden or landscaping is, the more minimal your style should be. The right installation expert
can help you match your current style to your desired water feature.
Water Expands Your Yard
It may seem strange, but water features make your yard appear bigger than it is. Why is this? Well, perhaps you’ve heard interior decorators talk about the expansive properties in mirrors
and how they can make rooms look larger. The same can be said for water features. Water is nature’s mirror, and having a pond or fountain in your garden can make a huge difference.
Water Is Calming
Water has been used for its calming and meditative effects. From the reflective nature to the tranquil sounds, water fountains are a way of bringing bodies of water home. Introducing water features is a way to become closer to the natural world for both a tranquil and therapeutic effect.
Water Attracts All Sorts of Animal Life
Your yard can become a haven for wildlife such as frogs, birds, and fascinating insects with a water feature. The addition of water plantings only does more to attract incredible wildlife. With the right water fountain placement, you’ll find your yard bustling with new and exciting animal life.
Introduce Fish
Continuing with our wildlife trend, fish are also a possibility with backyard fountains and ponds. Depending on the size of your water feature, you have a few popular options. Larger features can house larger fish like Koi, while smaller ponds or fountains can house goldfish. You will have to be extra diligent in maintaining your water feature if you do decide to add fish, but we’ll get into that later on in the post. If you have curious pets like cats or dogs, fish may not be a good option because pets have been known to kill fish.
Water Fountains Are Pretty Easy To Maintain
Contrary to popular belief, water features
aren’t that difficult to maintain. They do, however, require regular attention. With so many moving parts and potential for growth, you’ll need to be mindful of algae buildup, blockages, and cleaning.
Speaking of maintenance, that’s what this post is all about. Let’s not waste any more time. Here’s what you should be doing to keep your outdoor fountain in good shape and living long.
Fountain Maintenance
Cleaning your fountain is not only necessary for plant and animal health but also for the lifespan of your water feature. If you don’t want to deal with constant repairs or to purchase a whole new fountain, you’ll want to maintain it regularly. Here are some easy steps you can take to keep your water fountain in good shape.
Keep Your Pump Clean
If you notice that your fountain isn’t running as smooth as it used to, there may be some buildup in the pump. Dirt, debris, and especially algae can stop up your pump and keep water from easily flowing through it. So, you’ll need to clean your pump every few weeks (even more so for areas with hard water).
The best way to clean your pump is to follow these steps.
Use the Right Cleaners
Most outdoor fountains are made out of concrete, stainless steel, or sometimes even copper. Therefore, your cleaner needs to be one that doesn’t cause unwanted wear or damage to your fountain. Cleaners like CLR (calcium lime remover) work well for removing mineral deposits. Vinegar is also a popular choice for cleaning outdoor fountains.
For the inside of the fountain, you can use hot water and mild dish detergent with a stiff scrub brush to clean off debris. If you notice mineral stains, you can go back to trusty vinegar to loosen and get rid of stains.
Once you’ve thoroughly washed the inside of the fountain, rinse out until all the detergent is gone. Wipe the walls down with a soft rag to ensure that there are no traces of detergents, vinegar, or other cleaning solution left behind. You can then plug it up and fill with distilled water for best results. Reinstall the pump and plug it back in!
Note: If you live in the Minnesotan cold, you will want to drain, clean, and take apart your fountain once it begins getting cold. You don’t want to deal with frost and melted debris come springtime, which can be a huge mess and a massive headache.
Keep Your Fountain Running Smoothly
Taking the time to perform monthly or even weekly cleaning and maintenance on your fountain
will keep it running without a problem. The more you stick to a regular schedule, the less of an issue cleaning will be down the line. Forgetting to clean out your pump for months on end can lead to a pretty disastrous cleaning situation.
Are you looking to add a water feature to your property? We are experts in water feature design and construction and would love to give you a hand. Contact us today
for a quick quote.
Ready to Start on Your Next Project?
Call us at (763) 568-7251 or visit our quote page.
Some people like to use the phrase "nature is healing." However, in some cases, nature can't heal itself alone. That's where we come in. Recently, a homeowner in Maple Grove, Minnesota reached out to KG Landscape after struggling to revitalize a back yard that was simply failing to thrive. Despite what seemed like ample sunlight and water, the turf suffered from numerous thin and bare patches that refused to improve. To determine exactly why they couldn't get this yard to flourish on its own, our client asked us to assess the yard and determine a plan that could reinstate the lush green lawn they expected for their Maple Grove home.
Seldom will you find a piece of landscaping less desirable than the unintentional water feature. That's why a recent client in St. Paul, Minnesota's Macalester-Groveland neighborhood reached out to KG Landscape. Poor drainage in their yard had begun to allow standing water to accumulate, which not only damaged the lawn but was also beginning to make its way into the home's foundation. Our assignment was to determine why this water was pooling where it was, then find a way to divert it to a safer outlet. In order to do so and to improve the health of this St. Paul lawn, our team developed a system of catch basins and underground drain pipes to capture and redirect rainwater. Additionally, we restored the damage standing water had done to the lawn with a full topdressing treatment combined with seed blankets in the most critical areas of the lawn. Upon completing the project, we successfully resolved the yard's drainage issues while also bolstering the health of the lawn.
Faced with tight constraints in a small Edina backyard, our team devised a solution that created a comfortable patio along with increased privacy for our client.
By employing double-pass aeration and overseeding, we were able to replenish a South Minneapolis lawn that had suffered years of neglect and was failing to thrive.
Learn why proper grading is essential before installing hardscapes and plantings. See how KG Landscape solved drainage challenges in St. Louis Park.
See how KG Landscape transformed a small St. Louis Park backyard into a functional outdoor living space with creative hardscape and planting solutions.
See how the team at KG Landscape created a beautiful new yard with a functional patio, updated landscaping, and improved curb appeal for a St. Louis Park, MN home.
Struggling with side yard water problems in Minneapolis–St. Paul? See when French drains or re-grading works best for small yard drainage fixes.
How French Drains Around Your Patio and Deck Footings Prevent Frost Heave Damage in Plymouth MN Clay
Protect your Plymouth patio and deck from frost heave damage and shifting by installing French drains that keep clay soil dry around hardscape and footings.
One Edina family had a 25-foot slope and nowhere for their kids to play. See how we turned it into a lawn, sport court, and fire pit.