Turn A Water Pump & Affordable Materials Into The Cutest DIY Garden Fountain

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

There are plenty of benefits to having a gorgeous water fountain in your backyard. For many people, the sound of trickling water is extremely relaxing, which is why indoor fountains are so popular during meditation and yoga sessions. Even a small, underrated water feature will give your yard a luxurious touch. Nature lovers will be pleased to hear that fountains attract birds and other wildlife to backyards. Ready-made garden ponds can cost quite a bit of money, but don't despair if they're out of budget. You can easily make your own by setting up a solar water pump in a bowl filled with rocks, aquatic plants, and, of course, fresh water, just like design Instagrammer @organic.neutral.home did.

To make this cute yet affordable water feature, you'll need a bowl that's about 18 to 24 inches in diameter and doesn't have drainage holes. A trip to your local nursery or garden center might be fruitful, or you may find just the right bowl at a local thrift store. Big box retailers like Walmart and Target have resin bowls for around $30. Or this 19-inch Bleuhome Heavy-Duty Plant Saucer Tray may work in a pinch — a two-pack costs about $34. The next thing you need is a Lawoho Solar Fountain Pump or similar product. These pumps are generally super affordable and readily available online or in garden or hardware stores. While you're out shopping, pick up a bag of Yiszm Natural River Rocks and a selection of your favorite water plants for ponds. If your local nursery doesn't stock aquatic plants you can add to your natural water feature, try an aquarium supplier.

To get started on this wildlife-friendly backyard DIY, place your bowl exactly where you want your fountain. The positioning is entirely up to you. It would look great as the focal point in a garden bed, sitting in the corner of a deck, or as a discreet patio feature. It's best to assemble the fountain in situ because it gets quite heavy once it's filled with stones, aquatic plants, and water. Place the solar fountain water pump in the base of the bowl and secure it in place by covering it completely with heavy river rocks. They keep the pump submerged, hide the ugly mechanism, and obscure the sides of the bowl. River rocks are considered the best types of gravel for pool areas, but there's no reason you can't get creative with the filling. A big bag of non-toxic Zraiupusa Multi-Color Glow Pebbles costs about $7 and they glow in the dark! Finally, fill your bowl with water and then you're ready to add your plants.

Aquatic plants not only look fantastic, but they also help to keep the water clean and clear by blocking sunlight and limiting algal growth. If you want to submerge the plants, consider native water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri) for Zones 8 to 11 or 'Pygmaea Helvola' (Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'), which has pretty yellow flowers and is one of the smallest hardy water lilies. Plant your submerged greenery in specialist aquatic plant pots filled with silt-loam, heavy clay soil, or potting soil made specifically for ponds, like The Pond Guy Premium Natural Plant Media for Aquatic Horticulture. Complement these species with some floating plants. Instagrammer @organic.neutral.home used floating fern (Salvinia minima), common duckweed (Lemna minor), and hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum).