Reuse Old Plastic Plant Pots To Make A Serene Water Feature For Your Garden

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There's something special about having a water feature in the garden. They can create a calming atmosphere, an interesting focal point, and attract birds to drink and bathe. However, large water features are rarely worth the money. For most people, it's a better idea to focus on one or more smaller versions that are less expensive and can be created in various styles to complement the different parts of your yard.

Garden water features don't have to be difficult, and building one with a solar pump means you can position it without needing to worry about expensive and complicated outdoor wiring. This is what Blue Diamond Garden Centres did in a recent Instagram video. The result is a serene water feature surrounded by beautiful plants, and it reuses old plastic plant pots that might otherwise have cluttered up the shed or gone in the trash. It's the kind of project that can be put together in just a few hours, but the results are spectacular.

You'll need two different containers for the main construction. Size isn't important, as long as one will sit comfortably within the other, leaving space for planting. Many solar pumps, like the popular Mademax Solar Fountain Pump that you can get at Amazon for under $20, are around 6 inches in diameter, so you'll want to check that the upper container can accommodate that.

Filling the entire lower container with potting mix isn't necessary. Instead, you can reuse old plastic plant pots to fill half of the space, put in a cardboard disk, and top up with soil. The cardboard will probably break down eventually, but by then the plant's roots should have bound everything together so it won't collapse. Before you add the top planter, make sure that any drainage holes are blocked. Silicone bath sealant should do the job. Add your chosen plants to the lower pot, fill the top container with water, and pop in the solar fountain. It's that simple to make a serene water feature that's easy to put together and kind to your wallet.

Since the fountain's performance depends on light, it's a good idea to find a position for it that gets lots of sun. You could also pair it with a similarly styled version as a birdbath, just use a shallower top container or omit the solar fountain completely. There are a number of positives to having a dedicated fountain for our feathered friends, and their presence will only add to your garden's beauty.