Simplicity With Fountains In Garden Design
Elizabeth Jean
Simplicity has always been the basis of good design, and adding
a garden fountain is no exception. Besides, good garden design
is nearly as easy as it is simple! It’s when you complicate
things that issues arise. You have only a few things to worry
with when planning to add a garden fountain to
landscape your
home. They are: 1) A source of electricity 2) The placement
area; and 3) How to create a harmonious landscape around your
new water feature. Creative solving of these basic problems
will beautify your home and greatly improve its beauty and
value. Penciled plans are simple to prepare, easy to repair and
worth their weight in gold when it's time to install new the new
planters, statuary, and green material around your water
fountain.
The first things you need are several large sheets of graph
paper with five or ten lines to the inch and plenty of plain
tracing paper the same overall size, plus a pencil, ruler and
eraser. Tape-measure your lot and draw its outline on the graph
paper, making a special note where you want to install the
outdoor fountain. Use a one-inch square of the graph to equal
10 square feet of your property. This places the usual 50 by
150-foot lot on the graph paper as a five by 15-inch rectangle.
If your graph paper is too short for the entire plot plan use
cellophane tape and stick two sections together, as needed.
Then measure the house and its relationship to the fountain and
the edges of your property. Transfer these dimensions to the
graph paper, together with the size and location of the garage,
driveway, walks and other permanent installations. It's also a
good idea to mark the location of large trees, garden planters,
statuary, or shrubs which are now growing.
Next take the plot plan outside and carefully survey the area
surrounding your home. Perhaps you can see a large telephone
pole beyond the back property line. Mark it on the graph paper.
Indicate all neighboring houses, large trees, statues, or other
obstructions in your line of sight. Mark this survey of your
view from both sides, the front and rear of your home Mark down
everything you can see and indicate its approximate distance
from your house. Now comes the fun part. Cover the plot plan
with tracing paper and you're ready to go to work; adding the
outdoor water fountain to your landscaping on the lot with
everything you would like to have and enjoy. But just a minute!
Before you charge madly off in all directions at once, take a
breath and visualize your yard. Think of those things you like
best (fountains? statuary? cast stone planters?) and mark them
for easy reference. It's these notes, these ideas, that will
springboard you to action in the proper direction when the
truck pulls up and the fountain is delivered.
With the notes you can return to your tracing paper and locate
the essential factors of your garden plan: A place for the
electrical connection, a garden bench, or the surrounding
plants in their garden planting containers, etc. Then,
sidewalks to the front and back doors. Perhaps a protected area
for the children's play area. A dog kennel? If you plan to enjoy
outdoor entertaining, now is the time to decide on how much
paved or bricked area would be needed to surround the barbecue.
Placing your garden fountain is common sense. If you’re on a
firm, level surface, no problem. However the ground is earth,
or lawn, you’ll need to do a little preparation. Dig down about
two inches, to firm ground. Then add a few inches of packed sand
or pea gravel. Use a level, and you’re all set. This will reduce
or eliminate the effect of any natural leveling.
Keep in mind, of course, the view from various parts of the
yard, protection from prevailing winds and use of existing
trees. You don’t want your fountain hidden from view, nor do
you want the water flow to fly around the yard if you place it
in a windy area. Large water features are no longer only for
the wealthy. The landscaping planning phase is the perfect
chance to plan the location of your fountain. Properly chosen,
a water fountain can be the centerpiece of a masterful garden
design.
About The Author: Searching for http://www.garden-fountains.com/Categories.bok?category=Garden+Fountains?
Author Elizabeth Jean recommends visiting
http://www.garden-fountains.com
, where you will also find wall
fountains, garden statuary, and other garden decor.
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