Where to Put a Garden Fountain: Sun, Shade, Trees and Power

People agonise over which fountain to buy and then put it wherever there happens to be room. It is the wrong way round. The model decides what it looks like; the position decides how much you enjoy it and how much work it turns out to be.

Sun and shade: the algae trade-off

Sunlight and warm water grow algae. A fountain in full sun all day will green up faster than the same fountain in part shade, and you will be cleaning it more often. Full shade has its own problem: it stays cold and damp, and an unlit corner wastes the thing that makes moving water worth having, which is light on it.

The best compromise is usually somewhere with good light but not baking all afternoon — morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled light. If the only spot you have is a sun trap, that is fine; just plan on keeping on top of the water. Our guide to keeping fountain water clear covers the options.

Trees are the one to think hardest about

Under a tree sounds idyllic and is the position that causes the most work. Leaves blow in and block the pump, blossom and seed turn the water cloudy, sap and berries stain stone, and birds in the branches above add their own contribution. Deciduous trees give you a month of heavy clearing every autumn.

If near a tree is the only option, site the fountain beyond the drip line rather than directly under the canopy, and plan on a net over the pool through leaf fall.

Where the power comes from

A mains pump needs an outdoor socket, and the cable run between the two is worth settling before anything heavy is moved. Points to work through:

• Outdoor electrical work should go to a qualified electrician — an outdoor socket needs to be the right type, properly protected and installed to the wiring regulations.
• The cable should run where it will not be dug, mowed or strimmed. Along a wall or bed edge is safer than across a lawn.
• Think about where the plug and any switch sit. Being able to turn the fountain off without crawling behind a shrub matters more than you would expect.
• If a cable run is genuinely awkward, a solar pump removes the problem entirely — with trade-offs, which we set out in solar or mains.

Put it where you will hear it

The sound is half of what you are buying, and it does not travel far. A fountain at the bottom of the garden is a feature you look at; a fountain near the terrace, the back door or an open window is one you actually experience. Enclosed spaces help — hard walls reflect the sound back at you, which is why courtyards suit water features so well.

The other half is the view. Check the position from where you sit indoors as well as outdoors. A lot of fountains are enjoyed through a kitchen window for most of the year.

The ground underneath

These are heavy pieces full of water, and they must sit level on something solid. A pool surround bedded on soft ground will settle unevenly, and once it is out of level the water sits to one side and the overflow goes where you did not want it. Prepare a firm, level base first — and remember a pallet truck cannot cross gravel or steps, so think about how the piece gets from the lorry to the spot.

Things people wish they had thought of

• Wind. An exposed position blows a plume sideways, soaking paving and emptying the pool faster.
• Splash near walls. Constant spray on a wall or fence will mark it and keep it damp.
• Access all the way round. You will need to reach the pump, and tight planting makes a ten-minute job awkward.
• Topping up. A hose that reaches is a small convenience that matters every warm week.
• Neighbours. Running water close to a boundary at night carries further than you think.

Assembly and setting-up instructions are on our installation instructions page, and if you are choosing between models for a particular spot, the two tiered Barcelona fountain is a good illustration of how much base a traditional tiered piece needs.