What makes a patio fountain suitable for your garden? Ultimately, a well-chosen water feature will not only conjure calm but tie together the entire landscape. People select an outdoor fountain with the hope of their back yard becoming one of their favorite places. Certainly, an outdoor space can be as important as an indoor space, in the right property and with the correct kind of care. Malibu Fountains, designer of exquisite patio fountains in copper and glass, has special insight into the process of selecting the perfect fountain for your patio.

What Should I Consider When Buying an PATIO Water Fountain?

There are multiple factors to bear in mind when you’re selecting the perfect fountain for your patio. The space is one factor. A large open garden patio invites a similarly large fountain. A more compact area lends itself to a more modest design. Do you want a freestanding piece, or does the space lend itself to something more compact, like a grapevine wall fountain or a tabletop model? What substance do you want your fountain to be made from? Cast stone? Copper? Or are you interested in a glass fountain?

Cast stone: highly durable and lighter than granite, stone offers a diverse range of options for designs
Copper: elegant and colorful, copper fountain creations create a warm look and serve as a strong, eye-catching centerpiece
Metal: a modern appearance, most metal fountains are highly durable, even against the elements
Fiberglass/resin: these combine the appearance of heavy metals or stone with a lightweight frame that lends itself to moving it around at a later date.
Bamboo: the natural appearance this material confers can be damaged by prolonged contact with moisture— make sure it’s well varnished!

Popular PATIO Fountain CHoices

There are many types of fountains that are commanding interest at the moment. Tiered fountains, common in Mediterranean gardens, courtyards, and plazas for decades, offer a classic aesthetic. Wall fountains, abutting or hanging on an existing wall, add texture and cohesion to your landscape features. Disappearing fountains, with their hidden reservoirs, are often advantageous in smaller spaces, as a lot of their workings are housed underground. Glass floor fountains are popular for lobbies and spas, but do not often lend themselves to use on anything but the most sheltered of patios: an indoor, not outdoor fashion. The soothing sound of a waterfall fountain brings a peerless kind of serenity to many, and frequently see use as the focal point of a garden. Some fountains, like bird baths, can serve dual functions, being both a charming piece of decor, and a lure for birds to flutter and sing in your garden, adding to the aura of serenity cultivated by your garden.

Our copper tree fountains garner much interest, from the prestigious Bellagio Hotel Garden in Las Vegas to private courtyards. Even minimalist landscape designs for smaller spaces such as a patio, you can have a copper tree fountain all year round, symbolizing nature in its most simple form. Add a touch of nature to any exscape design without it becoming too fussy or requiring much maintenance.

Fountain Installation and Maintenance

When you are contemplating which fountain is best for your setup, you should consider the crucial step of installing it in the first place. That fairy waterfall fountain with LED lighting may seem appealing in the store, but if it’s going to require you to dig up five yards of decking in order to route it to the mains electricity, you might ponder how essential it is. Perhaps you can achieve a similar effect with solar power, or even batteries.

Larger fountains should not be placed on unstable grounding such as loose soil or mulched beds. Patio stones, hard packed fine gravel, or even sand are much more stable. After you have positioned the pump in the fountain’s basin or bowl, fill it with water. Many fountains will malfunction if the pump is running dry.

Maintenance is something you should take the lead of the fountain manufacturers on. It’s important to keep your fountain filled to the correct level and regularly treat the water to deter the formation of algae. Corrosive household cleaners, and chemicals intended for cleaning or treating swimming pools or spas, are not recommended for garden water features. They are bad for the natural environment of your garden, and can damage the finish of your fountain itself. Chlorine bleach, in particular, is hazardous to the pump mechanism and finish. If your climate promotes the growth of scale or mold, use a fountain water treatment to prevent its growth. In areas with extreme drops in temperature, it is vital to drain the water from any outdoor fountain mechanisms. It can be beneficial to disconnect and store indoors pumps, hoses, and other operating apparatus. It may also be worth putting a fountain cover over the body of the fountain so as to prevent the frost from having negative effects on the mechanisms or even the material of the fountain itself. It is a bad idea to allow water to collect and freeze in fountain basins or bowls. To protect them from freezing temperatures, consider filling them with burlap bags, hay, or other material.

Fountain Cleaning Protocol

As well as treating the water, you should clean the fountain periodically to prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris. Keeping your fountain clean does not have to be a heavy-duty affair, if done regularly. So long as your fountain is hand-cleaned with a soft brush and dish soap every week or two, the basin washed, rinsed, and refilled, you shouldn’t have anything else to worry about. Be sure that you remove leaves and debris from the hose, filter, and pumps while you are draining the basin. Particularly with stone and bamboo constructions, though, you may find that leaving grime on the surface of the fountain too long will allow it to bed in, damaging the surface and making it much harder to effectively clean. The pump (or filter) of the fountain may require a little more care. Typically it is necessary to unplug and disconnect the machinery in order to give it a thorough cleaning. However, not all pumps require this kind of attention at all, and the ones that do will generally come with instructions on how to clean them in a safe and efficient way that won’t harm the mechanism itself. Especially when considering the cost of the average water feature, it’s only good sense to commit to maintenance, whether it’s mechanical in nature or simple cleaning. Wondering how to clean your fountain without chemicals? Finally, don’t miss our tips for cleaning your outdoor fountain without chemicals.

Common PATIO Fountain Problems and Fixes

Many fountains on the market experience problems such as these, but the fixes are typically straightforward.

If your fountain is splashing too much, you may need to alter the amount of water flow. Try adjusting the pump intake-control valve.
If you’re struggling with the flow of water in your fountain, make sure that the pump is fully submerged in the water. The bottom basin needs to be full of water. Adjust the flow of the valve to get your desired water flow.
If your pump is too noisy, it might be because it’s not fully submerged in the water. If this is not the issue, check that the pump isn’t vibrating against the basin’s side or bottom in some way. Lastly, make sure that the connections are secured so that air cannot escape and make noise.

Sweeping Maple PATIO Fountain

Another excellent choice for a smaller patio or yard is Malibu Fountains’ Sweeping Maple Copper Tree Branch Fountain. A compact 3’ tall, 3’8’’ wide and 5’ long, the trunk of this fountain sweeps down as if to lean into a stream. It is designed to protrude from a pond or other static water feature, but can also be grounded in a cobblestone or pebble bed, allowing the water to flow through into an underground reservoir. The ruddy, flat maple leaves glisten and glint in the light as water trickles over them, providing an eye-catching and aesthetically-pleasing effect to accompany the sound of water.

Topanga Tree PATIO Fountain

One fountain that Malibu Fountains produces that is suitable for smaller patio spaces is the Topanga Tree Fountain. This is one of Malibu Fountains’ more compact copper fountains, standing 5’4’’ and weighing a total of 142lbs (including base). The copper branches and leaves will age and grow more striking in color over time. Have no fear— this fountain is crafted to endure for many decades. The sprinkling of water over the leaves is a highly relaxing noise and sight. The fountain comes with a 1500gph pump.

Choose a Malibu Fountain for Your Patio Decoration

Malibu Fountains are proud to design and supply exceptional copper and glass water features. The relaxing water walls and intricately-sculpted leaf work of our copper tree fountains provide a unique interpretation of a waterfall fountain that will make your patio or garden stand out and create a striking connection with the natural beauty of your environment. Our delicate, colorful, and charming glass flower fountains provide elegance and wonder. Our award-winning fountains have been lauded by London’s Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows, as well as being exhibited in Las Vegas, Singapore, Shanghai, and Doha. If you’re interested in adding one of our fountains to your garden or patio, you can contact us on (424) 781-7698. We look forward to hearing from you.

Patio Fountains & Design Ideas