For years, we haven’t been able to figure out what to do with this oddly placed bed on the side of our home. When we came across a set of three basalt columns, it finally occurred to us what to do make it the site of a new small scale water feature design.
As I proceed to explain what we did I can also guide you through your own water feature construction. It didn’t take long for us to start digging a trench about a foot and a half deep. We had to leave about four inches of soil as a wall on either side of the trench. This reservoir will be able to hold a lot of water while also being deep enough to stabilize the tall columns.
Once the trench has been dug, we pulled out a heavy-duty pond liner purchased from the local pond supply store. “Always buy more than you need so it reaches and covers all the edges,”
On top of the liner, we placed some flat pieces of limestone. This stone will serve as a support base for the basalt columns while also protecting the liner from tearing during the columns’ placement into the trench. Now the reservoir is ready for the columns to be placed. The three columns range in various heights and weigh several hundred pounds each. The columns have pre-drilled holes running their entire length. Use a pump to push water through these holes so that it will bubble out the top and run down the sides of the columns.
Enlists the help of several friends to help move these heavy columns into the trench. But first gets a sheet of plywood and places it between the limestone bases and the pond liner against the house wall. Then take a second sheet of plywood and lay it on the ground on top of the pond liner. By doing this, you will protect the liner and the side of the house from any potential damage during the move.
Then carefully place each stone so that they are balanced on the limestone base and so that the pre-drilled holes are easily accessible at the base of each column. Dump pre-washed river rock over the limestone bases, just enough to make a solid carpet of rock in the bottom of the trench.
Find a professional plumber to help with putting together a simple tubing system that connects the pump to the pipes for each column. Use PVC joints, check valves and flexible tubing to create the manifold.
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