Birds, butterflies and other wild animals will enjoy a rustic fountain made from a wine barrel just as much as you will if you build such a water feature yourself in your own garden. Fountains and gardens share a rich history, and adding an element of water to your outdoor space can enhance it. Enjoy the soothing sounds as you relax after a busy day. However, a wine barrel fountain is not just a pleasant way to relax. This is also a creative conversation piece that can add personality and style to your outdoor living area.
Use old barrels and build your own water feature
Nothing creates a more beautiful andoptimized garden areaas the perfect balance of elements. Whether it's the Eastern philosophy of Feng Shui or a more modern approach to design that lives closer to nature, water is an essential part of this delicate balance. To add a sense of monastic tranquility to even the most modest backyard, you don't have to pay for expensive designs from home and garden centers. So building a water feature yourself can give your garden an amazing new look. However, such a decorative element is not just about aesthetics. Its acoustics also help create a calming outdoor space.
Few small DIY projects are as beautiful and easy to make as a rustic wine barrel water feature. All you need here is of course a barrel that you can find somewhere in your shed or at the flea market, some greenery and of course a pump to get the job done. Additionally, this can be a smart and easy start to a stylish garden makeover. It's best to first choose a location forYour DIY garden fountainout of. The area must be sunny, have good drainage, and be close to a source of water and electricity. Below you will find simple instructions that can serve as a basis for creative projects.
Instructions for the DIY wine barrel water feature in the garden
After finding the perfect spot in the garden area, you can dig a shallow hole for the water feature and place the water reservoir in the ground. This way you can check in advance what the whole thing will look like. You can also position your fountain or water feature on solid ground. However, you will need a base for this. You can either assemble these yourself or find them in the store.
- Then, use a pencil to mark a straight line widthwise across the center of the barrel. Cut the barrel in half with a circular saw, using this line as a guide. One half of the barrel is needed for the well. Set the other half aside for a future project.
- First, drill a hole about 3 cm in diameter on the side and 5 cm from the edge of the wine barrel. This serves as an exit point for the cable of a pump. Then place the barrel on either the concrete blocks or pieces of wood and rotate it so that the hole faces the nearest electrical outlet.
- Place a 1.5 X 1.5 meter piece of PVC pond liner on the half barrel. Then press it down so its center is in the middle of the barrel. Stretch the liner to conform to the inside of the barrel.
- Try to eliminate all wrinkles. Using scissors, cut a small hole in the liner in line with the hole through the barrel. Staple the liner along the inside edge of the wine barrel, placing a staple every 8cm. Cut off any pieces of liner that are sticking out of the barrel.
After you build and set up the water feature yourself
After cutting, add just enough gravel to the barrel to cover the bottom. You can spread the rest of the gravel around the bottom of the barrel for a decorative touch. Place a pond pump with a bubbling fountain head in the center of the barrel so that it rests on the gravel. You should adjust the fountain head so that it appears about 8 cm below the edge of the barrel. Route the pump's power cord through the hole in the side of the barrel and outward. Cut a piece of PVC pipe about 3 cm in diameter to measure the same distance from the barrel to the power source.
Then, using a hand shovel, dig a shallow trench from the bottom of your barrel to the power source and run the power cord through the PVC pipe. Place the pipe in the trench and cover it with soil to hide it. Fill the fountain or water feature with enough water to just cover the top of the fountain head. Turn on the pump and adjust the flow rate of the pump to achieve the desired effect of bubbling.
Plant the repurposed barrel
Now it's time to work with some soil and plants. You can buy a mix of flowers and greenery and place them on the sides but a little forward. Then you can add, for example, 4 ivy vines, two at the front and two at the back. Then fill the remaining areas with new soil. If you want, you can add even more green for a natural touch, as the barrel itself looks similar. It is also possible to let the green appear over time. Once you've done this, you can again cut off the remaining cover film that sits on the fountain.
More tips and ideas
The results of your creation may amaze you and your guests. Store-bought water features can also be updated with just a few new additions. So you can get a finished water feature without having to pay a lot of money for a brand new massive one. That's what thinking is all aboutoutside the box. In this way you transform a rustic element into a suitable andtrendy garden decoration, which is easy to add.
There's also something so calming about the sound of running water, and you can also plant new flowers every year to make your homemade water feature or fountain even more colorful. Over time, such an area can also be divided into a few smaller seating areas, which can help create a cozy feeling in the garden space. Additionally, such a DIY project will help transform your outdoor space into a popular place to relax in the summer months. This lets you and your family feel the rush of summer, with children's sports activities also increasing and neighborhood kids running around between the yards.
