Putting In A Millstone Fountain

Figure A

Landscape designer Dan Berger of Land Plan chooses a millstone fountain to create maximum impact in the small space. Millstones, used in the past to grind grain, now add a sense of nostalgia and character to gardens. However, authentic millstones are very heavy — about 800 pounds — and expensive. So he chooses a reproduction millstone made of fiberglass (figure A), which weighs only 10 to 15 pounds, so it's light enough for any do-it-yourselfer to handle. Faux millstones are available on the Internet and from specialty fountain stores and some home-supply stores. They come pre-plumbed and ready to hook up to a pump, so you don't have to drill a hole through heavy granite.

Berger estimates that a professional would charge about $2,000 for a real millstone and labor (not including plants), but a do-it-yourselfer can make this simple fountain for $450 in only one weekend. This project is rated a 1 on a difficulty scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult).

Step One: Preparing the Site

The existing site is a small front-entry courtyard surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and a patio made of rectangular concrete pads with cobblestones between the pads. Berger chooses a corner of the courtyard that would help mask street noise and that could be seen from the front door and windows. The crew starts by marking a 5 x 6-foot area of a concrete pad to be removed and cut into the slab with a circular saw with a diamond blade. (Be sure to wear ear and eye protection when using a circular saw.) They break up the concrete with a pickaxe and removed the pieces from the fountain site.

Figure B

After clearing the fountain area, mark the diameter (about 40 inches) for the basin, using landscapers' spray paint. Then dig out the basin to about 9 to 10 inches deep. Using a level and tape measurer, make sure that the sides are level and the depth is consistent across the basin (figure B) so water won't spill out once it's filled.

Step Two: Laying in the Liner

To make the basin leak-proof, use a 20- to 30-mil rubber liner, which costs about 45 to 55 cents at home improvement and pond supply stores. You'll need a piece that is large enough to cover the basin bottom and sides and flow over around the perimeter so that if water splashes out, the liner will direct it back into the basin. Gently press the liner into the basin, not pulling it too taut and being careful not to puncture or tear it. Use rocks or bricks to hold down the edges of the liner outside the basin.

Figure C

Next, wash some bricks with a power washer (available for rent at about $60 per day) and place the bricks around the inside perimeter of the basin (figure C) to raise the height of the fountain for a more dramatic effect. Stack the bricks about seven inches high, and also place a couple of bricks in the center of the basin to elevate the pump.

Figure D

Step Three: Setting Up the Fountain

Berger recommends using a submersible pump (figure D) that can handle 350 gallons per hour, available at home supply stores for about $80.

Screw the pump into the PVC tubing that comes installed in the faux millstone. Then set the pump and millstone on the bricks, and pull the pump's electrical cord out of the bottom of the millstone.

Figure E

Surround the fountain with a natural rock pool using cobblestones (pre-cleaned with a power washer). Fill up the basin around the millstone with the cobblestones so that water bubbling out of the hole in the millstone will flow down the sides and disappear under the stones and into the basin. Extend the stones a few inches all around the millstone and tuck the edge of the liner in between the outer two rows of stones (figure E) to keep water from spilling outside the stone area.

Next, fill up the basin with water, plug in the pump, and test the fountain.

Step Four: Sealing the Cobblestones

Water brings out the vivid earth tones of cobblestones. To achieve this glistening look even when the fountain is not running, apply two coats of masonry sealer with a paint brush to the exposed portions of the cobblestones around the millstone. Coat only those within about six inches of the fountain because they are the ones that would normally get wet.

The crew also sprays masonry sealer on the concrete patio pads to bring out the colors in the aggregate pebbles embedded in the concrete. The crew uses a spray pump to seal the pads, placing scrap cardboard to shield the plants from the spray.

Planting a Tranquil Garden

To enhance the simple fountain, Berger chooses plants with colorful, up-lifting colors and a variety of textures. He plants some broad-leafed plants along the courtyard borders to create a lush feel, and tucks some small plants with vivid hues between the cobblestones. These plants include:

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Zones 3-11
Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), Zones 9-10
Gaura Lindheimer 'Siskiyou Pink', Zones 6-9

Tips: Choosing Garden Decor

Garden art allows you to personalize your garden and enhance other features, such as fountains. Examples of garden art include a wrought-iron topiary, a bistro table and chairs, a tall wrought-iron bird looking toward the fountain and colorful pots of flowers.