Scrapbook image

Your scrapbook

Forgotten your details?

Enter your email address and we'll send your username and password to you

London

  • CloudyToday
    9°C/17°C
  • CloudyTomorrow
    7°C/15°C
  • See Gardeners'
    7-day forecast

Our Gardeners' 7-day forecast warns you of changing weather conditions (including frost, high wind and drought) and suggests actions to take to protect your plants.

Advertisement

Gardeners' World

How to...

make a bubbling urn water feature

Bubbling water urn

You will need:

  • Water feature urn
  • Large terracotta pan
  • Small pond pump
  • Plastic-coated grille
  • Pond liner
  • Cobbles
  • 60cm of hose
  • Scissors
  • 4 bricks

Overview

The gentle babble of flowing water from this urn water feature helps to create a calm and soothing mood in the garden. A water feature like this is really simple to assemble and is also a safe choice if you have young children as there is no accessible reservoir of water.

How to do it

  1. Lining pan with pond linerPlace the pond liner in the terracotta pan and push it down flat with your hands to check it fits evenly. Keep it flat by pressing out any folds.

  2. Cutting liner to fitUsing a pair of old scissors, cut the liner so that it fits just under the rim of the pan with as few folds as possible. The liner shouldn't be visible once the feature has been completely finished.

  3. Attaching hose to pumpFit the length of hose to the output of the pump. Dipping the end of the hose into very hot water will help it to slip over the nozzle easily.

  4. Placing pump in reservoirPlace the pump on the base of the pan. Trail the flex out over the back so that it will be concealed once the feature is completed.

  5. Placing house bricks in the resrvoirPlace two house bricks on each side of the pump, ensuring that their upper level is slightly higher than the top of the pump. Fill the pan with clean water, to just below the level of the trimmed pond liner.

  6. Fitting grille to reservoirLay the plastic-coated grille on top of the four bricks, easing the hose through it. Cut the hose so that it's the right length to insert into the base of the urn.

  7. Positioning urn on top of metal grillePut the urn on the top of the grid and push the hose through the hole in its base. Switch on the pump to check the water flows correctly.

  8. Positioning pebbles on metal grilleWhen you're happy with the flow of the water, arrange pebbles on top of the grille to disguise the liner and pump.

  9. Position a few pebbles in front of the feature and some plants behind for a more pleasing effect. Don't forget to top up the water during warm weather.

Adam's Tip

Adam's Tip

"Try mixing shells with the pebbles for a seaside effect."

 

Subscribe to the magazine

May edition of Gardeners' World Magazine

In May...
The May issue is on sale from 29 April. Subscribe today and receive the next three issues of Gardeners' World magazine for just £1.

The UK's number 1 gardening magazine

Our show

BBC Gardener's World Live

Gardeners' World Live, 11-15 June 2008

See details

TV & Radio

Television icon

What's on this week

Find out what gardening programmes are on TV and radio this week. And read more about the Gardeners' World programme.

Offer

Planter

Buy a Felco pruning set for just £44.99

BBC Magazines

© BBC Magazines Ltd. BBC Worldwide Ltd.

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine word mark and logo are trademarks of BBC Worldwide Ltd.

BBC Magazines is owned by the BBC and our profits are returned to the BBC for the benefit of the licence-fee payer.