Guide to In-Ground Garden Fountain Installations

Streams of water splashing over the edge of a fountain, river rocks glistening in the sun - nothing makes quite such a luxurious impression in the garden as a built-in water feature. Many outdoor fountains with basins can be set into the ground and covered with stones for a rich, timeless look that will add a sense of tranquility and elegance to your outdoor space.

Built-in water features don't have to be custom-made to be beautiful. There are a wide variety of garden fountains available that can be purchased as a set with an in-ground basin and easily installed in an afternoon with just a few people (depending on the weight of the water feature itself. Some are very heavy and may require heavy equipment - you can hire a local contractor to help in that case). Some options include solid granite, stainless steel and lightweight fiberglass composites.

So, how do in-ground fountain installations work? It's simpler than it looks. You purchase the main water feature part of the fountain, which generally includes a pump and tubing (though sometimes, this must be purchased separately). A good example of one of these is the Basalt Column pictured above; it's available in three sizes and comes with a pump and tubing.

The next thing you need is the basin. Many water features like the Basalt Column have a recommended basin that works well with that particular fountain. If it isn't mentioned in the product description, you can generally use any basin available that will support the weight of the fountain and contain the water stream that comes from the main water feature. If you need help with this, the customer service representatives at KineticFountains.com will be glad to assist you.

In the photo of the SW Basalt Column Garden Fountain, right, you can see the entire setup put together. The base of this would be buried in the ground; the river rocks hide the basin on the surface. (The base of this fountain is sold separately). When the water streams out of the top of the basalt columns, it 'disappears' through the river rocks into the basin below and is pumped back up into the water features, so you don't need a dedicated water source. River rocks are generally not included, but you can find them at your local garden center. You'll need to occasionally add water to the basin to make up for evaporation.

You can find a wide variety of water features, basins and other fountain parts in the 'Garden Fountain Components'' category at KineticFountains.com.

Interested in learning about the actual set-up process? Check out our previous post, 'Memorial Day Garden Project - How to Install an Outdoor Fountain'.