How do you make a bubbling rock water feature?

Building a bubbling rock water feature involves a few simple steps. You can start by developing a plan like this:

• Step 1: Choose the location for your water feature, ideally a flat area in your garden.
• Step 2: Source a suitable rock or stone with a flat top.
• Step 3: Dig a hole at the chosen location, deep enough for a water reservoir.
• Step 4: Place the reservoir, ensuring its level, then run a water pump line through it.
• Step 5: Drill a hole through the rock, feed the pump line through, and secure the rock above the reservoir.
• Step 6: Fill the reservoir with water, plug in the pump, and watch your bubbling rock come to life.

What materials are needed for a DIY bubbling rock water feature?

For this DIY project, you’ll need:

• A rock or stone with a flat top
• A water reservoir (pre-formed pond liner or similar)
• A water pump suitable for outdoor use
• A drill with a large bit for drilling through rock (if it doesn’t already have holes)
• Plumbing supplies to connect the pump and rock
• A level, shovel, and safety equipment

How to Build Bubbling Rocks 

It’s easier than you think.

Follow the steps in our latest infographic to build your own bubbling rock water feature. If a full-sized pond isn’t practical for your property, this is a great alternative (it’s a great alternative even if your property is large enough for a big pond).

You can click through to the products mentioned in this infographic here:

• Moss rock.
• Sparkly mica.
• Granite boulders.
• Turquoise boulders.
• Amethyst boulders.

Find your closest Grand River Stone location and stop by to stock up today.

How do you maintain a bubbling rock water feature?

Maintaining your bubbling rock water feature is a straightforward process, but it requires regular attention. Always keep an eye on the water level in the reservoir; your pump could be damaged if it runs dry. It’s also essential to clean your water feature regularly to remove debris, such as leaves and algae, that may accumulate over time. For those living in colder climates, winterizing your water feature is crucial. This includes draining the water to prevent freezing and either removing the pump or covering it securely to protect it from harsh weather.

Everything You Need is at Grand River Natural Stone

Ready to create a garden oasis? Come by Grand River Natural Stone, your one-stop shop for all the necessary materials, including the perfect rocks for your bubbling water feature. Visit one of our 5 locations today!

Updated 2023.

The post Do It Yourself: How to Make a Bubbling Rock Water Feature appeared first on Grand River Natural Stone.

Water features are a great way to add a beautiful and interesting flare to your backyard or garden. While a pond is one of the most popular ways to transform your space, there are plenty of other ideas for incorporating water features and creating a tranquil, stunning area your whole family will love to spend time relaxing in.

Adding a water feature to your backyard or garden can be as simple as a well place bird bath, or a more intricate water fall of stones, a winding path beside a pond or interlocking pavers extending your patio beside a water wall. Take a look at some of the ideas here and see if any spark your imagination for a project this summer.

Key Water Feature Ideas to Consider

Here are some key water features to think about including in your current garden or landscape:

A Picturesque Pond

Placing a pond near your patio creates a space for reflection and tranquility. Ponds also offer a safe habitat for wildlife, help conserve water and increase the value of your property. Just imagine sitting out on your patio with a friend or by yourself with a cup of tea and a good book while being able to look out to a picturesque pond.

Peaceful Waterfalls

Creating a free-flowing waterfall that works with your current landscape is a beautiful and calming addition to any pond or standalone area that you want to enhance. Use the sloping or unique layout of your land and the right types of stones to your advantage to build a stunning waterfall water feature that looks as if it was naturally carved by the elements.

Beautiful Water Walls or Fountains

Water walls and fountains add both a water feature and an artistic feature to your backyard patio space. They are mesmerizing to look at, help to minimize stress, and add the peaceful sound of running water to help you truly unwind. You can even think about adding a colour changing light to make the feature truly pop at night.

A Place for the Birds

Bird baths are an affordable water feature to add to your backyard or patio. Offered in multiple sizes, they can fit in anywhere. While enjoying the intricate design of the bird bath, you can also enjoy visits from local birds who stop by for a dip or quick drink.

Bubbling Rocks

A bubbling rock water feature looks great just about anywhere you want to place it. Whether by the pool or pond, or closer to your patio area, a bubbling rock water feature pushes water up through an opening in the top of the formation to trickle down the sides. Ideally, for this you’ll need a rock feature with additional stones around it, and a liner to catch the water. We have a great tutorial if you’re interested in creating your own bubbling rock water feature.

Stepping Stone Pathway

Stepping stone pathways are a good way to connect different parts of your backyard and bring them together. Use an intricate design to create a pathway that draws attention while getting you from point a to point b. Try placing water features such as a bird bath or water wall along the pathway, or use stepping stones in a small pond with a waterfall.

Find Your Inspiration at Grand River

We love helping our customers add these stunning elements to their backyards and have all the materials you need to get started. Remember to check out our gallery for more inspiration!

Water features can help turn your backyard into a true oasis by adding beauty, tranquility and character to your space. Have questions about adding a water feature or not sure where to begin? Contact us today, we’d love to help make your vision a reality.

The post How Water Features Can Enhance Your Backyard appeared first on Grand River Natural Stone.

This is the companion piece: making sure it’s safely and properly shut down before the cold weather arrives.

FALL PREPARATION

Even though you may want to keep your pond running into autumn, it’s a good time to clean it out before the temperatures drop to 10˚C (50˚F) because:

• Any fish in your pond are still active enough to be strong swimmers. The chances of them getting injured as you clean around them are low.

• It’s a lot easier to clean pond water when it isn’t partially frozen and/or full of heavy seasonal debris (like fallen leaves or stray mulch).

Start by cleaning the water’s surface by scooping up leaves with a net (make sure to avoid picking up any fish).

Pump out a little bit of water

Once you’ve cleaned the surface water, remove a little bit of water from your pond.

This will make it easier to hand scoop any topsoil or other gunk that’s stuck to the wall lining of your pond (including any edges, shelves or irregularly-shaped areas).

Any debris you can’t reach with your hands, blast off using a hose.

It’ll end up back on the water’s surface (which you can scoop away again with your net).

At the same time, you’ll also replenish the water you just pumped out.

Plant care

Pond plants are nice to look at and are beneficial to your fish.

They’re also a significant source of fall debris.

As your plants begin to die off:

• Prune away dead stems to prevent water decay
• Take non-hardy plants (like tropical lilies or water hyacinths) indoors for the winter
• Hardy plants (like water lilies) can be moved to the deep end of your pond
• Any bog plants you have can be covered with straw or other insulating aggregates

Cover your pond

Once the pond is clean, install a pond net to rest above it; like a hammock tied between two trees.

A pond net will catch any leaves, branches or other debris and keep it from falling into your pond.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you secure your pond net:

• Suspend it at least 18” from the water surface of your pond
• Tie the edges of the net tight to make sure debris doesn’t slip through them

Lastly, be certain to check your net regularly to ensure it doesn’t sag into the water.

If it does, it can be dangerous to your fish and provide a spot for leaves and junk to collect and get caught in.

CLOSING FOR WINTER

Shutting down your pond for the winter is all about:

• The pump
• The filter
• The UV clarifier

If you recall, winter 2015 started out very mild. In fact, the first real significant snowfall didn’t even occur until the end of January 2016.

There’s no guarantee that won’t happen again.

Turning off the pump

Some people, even in the middle of winter, like to keep their pump running because it creates warm water at the bottom of the pond.

That’s where your fish will hang out in the winter. So it’s a perfect environment for them to be comfortable.

Of course, you can also turn off the pumps and filter for the winter.

If you do, it won’t harm the fish because:

• Cold water has more oxygen than warm water
• Fish tend to breathe slower in winter (they use less oxygen)
• Bacteria won’t grow in winter (so you don’t need the filter to clean it away)

Drain everything

Should you decide to turn off the filter for winter, make sure to completely drain all your pond pump accessories:

• Plumbing pipes
• External pumps
• UV supplies

If you’re storing your supplies in an unheated area (like a garage or shed), double check that every last drop of water has been drained out.

Otherwise, water drops can freeze into ice drops.

As a result, your piping items can crack and break over the season.

Your best bet is to store any equipment you have indoors in a warm and dry location.

Winter fish care

It may sound cruel, but leaving fish (especially koi) in your pond during the winter is actually

good for them if:

• Your pond is at least 18” deep
• It has little to no water circulation

Delicate fish like goldfish, bubble-eyed fish or lionheads should come inside for winter, though.

Remember, warm water tends to sink to the bottom of your pond. In winter, that’s where your fish will be anyway.

They won’t hang out by the surface, so there’s little chance of them becoming frozen or too cold.

One last thing: once the temperature gets below 4˚C (39˚F), you can actually stop feeding your koi fish.

Don’t worry: they won’t starve. They have enough stored energy to sustain them during the winter.

Come to us for all your needs

Whatever you need to close your pond for fall and winter, we’ve got the experience and products to make sure it’s done safely.

Contact us with your questions or ask for a FREE quote on any of our products.

The post The Right Way to Close Your Backyard Pond for Fall & Winter appeared first on Grand River Natural Stone.

• Use more water than usual in order to maintain a nice, green lawn, or…
• Put the sprinkler away and watch the grass dry out and turn brown

It doesn’t have to be an either/or proposition, though.

By following some helpful water-conserving lawn care tips (and some municipal regulations – more on those later), you can keep your water bills low while still having a good-looking lawn.

Before you pull out the hose or sprinkler, you should…

Step on your grass

Prior to watering your lawn, take a nice, leisurely walk on it.

Look back at the footprints you’ve just made:

• If they instantly disappear, and
• The grass springs right back up

Then your lawn is in good shape and doesn’t need to be watered at that time.

Put the lawnmower away…

How often do you cut your grass?

Whatever your regular grass cutting schedule is, you should reduce it. By as much as 50% if possible.

Grass that’s longer in length tends to be more tolerant of hot, dry conditions (as well as being more weed resistant) than shorter grass.

…But keep its blades sharp

Meanwhile, when you do cut your grass, make sure your mower’s blades are nice & sharp.

Dull blades tear grass, which means they need extra water to heal and grow back properly.

Don’t pick up grass clippings

After you’ve mowed your lawn, leave any grass clippings there.

They’ll break down and provide healthy nutrients your grass can use to grow and stay strong.

Adjust your irrigation system sprinkler heads

If more water from your sprinkler system is landing on things in your backyard such as:

• Interlocking pavers
• Patio stones
• Landscaping rocks

Or other hardscaping materials than your actual grass, make sure to reposition the heads accordingly.

Follow local watering by-laws

In case you aren’t aware, here are the watering by-laws for each Grand River Natural Stone location:

Kitchener

Designated watering times are 5:30 am – 10:00 am and 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm.

Ending house numbers & watering days are as follows:

• 0 or 1: Mondays
• 2 or 3: Tuesdays
• 4 or 5: Wednesdays
• 6 or 7: Thursdays
• 8 or 9: Fridays

Stoney Creek & London

• Home addresses ending in 0 or even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8) are permitted to water lawns on even calendar dates
• Home addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 are permitted to water lawns on odd calendar dates.

Fergus

Designated watering times are 5:30 am – 7:00 am and 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Home addresses ending in 0 or even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8) are permitted to water lawns on even calendar dates.
• Home addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 are permitted to water lawns on odd calendar dates.

Enjoy the best of both worlds

This summer, keep the green lawn you’ve worked so hard to maintain.

At the same time, help the environment (and your wallet too) by using less water than necessary.

And if you need any help with your lawn (such as getting fresh topsoil for those very bare spots), all you have to do is contact us.

We’ll get back to you – fast – with all the information you need.

The post Water-Saving Lawn Care Tips appeared first on Grand River Natural Stone.

Over winter, did you miss the gentle sounds of water flowing through your backyard pond?

And did you miss the relaxing feeling which comes with watching pond fish swim to and fro?

Well, now that spring is here, you can finally put your pond back into service by following these steps.

Step 1: Give the pond a thorough inspection

The winter may have damaged your pond, the liner or other water features like:

• Filters.
• Pipes.
• Hoses.
• Decorative pond landscaping rocks.

So give your pond a careful checkup and remove, repair or replace any broken elements as needed.

Step 2: Clean the pond

More than likely, the winter has had some impact on your pond in a few ways:

• Leaves: Even if you installed leaf netting when you closed your pond, chances are that a few leaves got through and settled on the bottom. Make sure you scoop them out.

• Organic matter: Any plants which weren’t totally removed may leave a film of organic matter on the pond bottom. You’ll need to scrub that off.

If you’re not thrilled at the prospect of manually cleaning out your pond (and frankly, who can blame you), then use a pond vacuum or other suitable landscaping supplies to do the work for you.

Step 3: Start the pump

Your pond’s pump has been shut off for winter; now’s the time to turn it back on.

You don’t have to wait until it gets super-warm to do it, either.

When the temperature hits 10 degrees Celsius, feel free to start your pump.

Once the pump is activated, don’t just leave it to run. Make sure you’ll be around the house for at least a few hours.

Every so often, check the pump to make sure it’s working properly and that it’s sending water back into the pond.

Step 4: Clean the filter

Before fully cranking up your pond system, make sure to give the filter a good cleaning.

Just like the pump, the filter’s been off for the winter.

It’s probably covered in bacteria, topsoil particles and other pollutants which will compromise its performance.

Step 5: Test the pond water

Use a pond-testing kit to check for:

• Ammonia: Pond fish (mostly koi) release ammonia through their gills. Too much ammonia will harm the fish and put extra strain on the pond’s filter.

• Nitrite: Not as harmful as ammonia, but nitrite can still harm your pond fish. Adding some live plants to your pond will help keep nitrite levels low.

Levels for both elements should be zero. If they aren’t, you’ll need to change the water and test again.

Step 6: Get your fish ready

If you’re stocking your pond with fish, spring is when they’re most vulnerable to developing health problems.

The shock of transitioning from one water source to another (in the case, your pond) and the introduction of foreign bacteria can cause infections.

To protect your fish before they go into your pond, you should add pond salt.

This replaces electrolytes, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium – all of which fish lose when they’re stressed.

Step 7: Feed your pond fish

The weather is warm. Your fish are hungry.

When the water temperature goes above 10 degrees Celsius (and stays there), that’s when you can start feeding your pond fish.

Something to remember is that there are different fish food options for spring, summer and fall.

Spring fish food is easier to for fish to digest and has high level of fats.

Step 8: Add plants to your pond

As the water temperature goes up, it’ll be time to add plants (either new plants or those which survived the winter) to your backyard pond.

A few things to note:

• You can fertilize your plants; just make sure to use an aquatic plant fertilizer.
• If any plants are overgrown, divide them before planting in your pond.
• Make sure any mulch is removed from the plants or pots.

Come to us for all your needs

Whether you’re opening your pond or wanting to construct your own pond this year, Grand River Natural Stone is your source for great products and helpful advice.

To get more information on either, contact us with your questions or ask for a FREE quote on any our landscaping supplies.

The post The Right Way to Open Your Backyard Pond for Spring appeared first on Grand River Natural Stone.

Make your yard the one everyone else talks about—something you can be proud of.  But first let’s take a minute to go over some quick decisions that need to be made before you start your journey into becoming a pond owner:

Site selection

Choosing the location to construct your pond is key to an attractive, healthy, low maintenance piece of beautiful landscape.  Since we tend to spend more time indoors than out, it would make sense to put your pond where it can be enjoyed through your windows as well.

Your pond should be built on level ground in an area that receives a fair amount of sun.  Having it where you have easy access to water and electricity can be quite helpful as well.  Putting your pond under trees where it will catch leaves or pine needles throughout the year will call for the endless chore of cleaning out the pond.  Also, do not construct your pond in low spots within your yard.  This can cause potential flooding during heavy rain.

Once you’ve picked your location, Grand River Natural Stone offers a wide variety of stones you can use to border, build or enhance the look of your pond:

• Flagstone
• Armour stone
• Retaining walls

Fish or no fish

Some people like to enhance their pond experience with different types of goldfish and Koi.  The maintenance of your pond will, of course, be a bit more with the caring of your fish, by keeping the water relatively balanced as well as different diets for the fish; however, the anesthetic may be worth it. Before purchasing fish for your pond contemplate on whether or not you are willing to take the extra time to add this lively feature.

Sizing a liner

There are three types of liners to choose from when building your pond

• Pre-formed
• Concrete
• Flexible

Normally concrete stone is not used due to it not being as economically feasible, as well as issues with eventual cracking.  Pre-formed ponds are generally for ponds sized 50 to 200 gallons.  They are easy to drop in, but ensuring that the pond is stable and balanced takes a bit more time than a flexible liner.

Also, you are limited in shapes and cannot customize your pond to your liking.  Flexible liners offer the most options in terms of the size and shape of your pond.  They are very durable, easy to install and conform to any shape hole.

You can DIY and we can help

Regardless of the location, size, or liner you choose to use, Grand River Natural Stone carries ideal landscaping enhancements to make your yard that paradise on earth you’ve always wanted.

Contact us and let’s get you started on your dream yard today.

The post DIY Pond Construction appeared first on Grand River Natural Stone.

Imagine transporting one of these water features to your backyard and making it much larger. Instead of a desktop trinket, you now have a cascading stone water wall serving as a unique focal point for your backyard. The sound of the water can have a calming effect while helping to mask the sound of nearby traffic or neighbors. Placed in the right location, the wall will help screen unwanted views and create additional privacy for your yard.
Here’s an example of one of these striking water features:

Getting Started

For experienced do-it-yourself types, a stone water wall is a manageable project. If you are less experienced with outdoor construction, call on a capable friend or family member to help out! Having a sketch or plan of how your wall is going to be constructed will be helpful along the way.
If you feel it is too much for you to do, come in to see us at Grand River Natural Stone Ltd and we will refer you to a capable contractor.

Finding a Location

Your stone water wall is going to be a significant feature in your yard. As well as being beautiful to look at, it can also have a soothing effect from the sound of falling water. You may want to place it in a prominent place, but do consider that sometimes subtlety has more strength.
A backdrop such as a fence, a wall of the house or a grouping of tall shrubs can visually ground your water feature and offer a place to hide the mechanical works. It will also give it some context and help it fit into the landscape.

Sizing Your Wall

While there are no fixed rules, the size of your wall should correspond by scale to the space where it is going to be. You may not want a tiny wall in a big yard or a giant wall next to a small patio. It could easily be four to six feet tall and of an equal, or even much greater width.

Breaking it Down

Your cascading water wall will have three main components: the wall itself, a basin or reservoir at the bottom and a pump with tubing to circulate the water. You will also need an electrical outlet.

You should be able to purchase everything you need at your landscape supplier. It is valuable to do a little extra research into what local suppliers landscape contractors use- these places will be the best source for higher quality parts that will work better and last longer. They can also be a source of information when you have construction questions.

The Wall

Several different types of stone are suitable for your wall, including slate and fieldstone. Pre-cut stone of a somewhat consistent size will make the project easier, though you want some natural variation from stone to stone. You may want a concrete block wall for structure faced with the stone serving as a facade. For taller walls, this will add more stability. Talk to your material supplier or a contractor about the best type of mortar and wall reinforcement to use.

Whatever kind of wall you construct, a solid base will be required for the stone to sit on. Depending on the height of the wall, you may even need a concrete footing. If you are unsure of what exactly is needed, seek help from a qualified installer or designer. At Grand River Natural Stone Ltd we have a wealth of contractors on file who would be happy to install for you.

The Basin

Plastic liners work well to create a reservoir for your water wall. You can also use concrete, but the construction is more difficult and will take longer. The size and depth of the basin is dependent on the pump capacity and the size of your wall.

The Pump

Read the pump capacity and specifications carefully to make sure it is a good match for your project. You will need to connect a riser tube or hose that will carry water to the top of the wall. That connects to a water release tube with a series of holes or small, short tubes that release water over the top of the wall.

After construction, your wall can be finished off with lighting, additional planting and more stone for the finishing touches. Your imagination is the only limit. Soon you will be enjoying the peaceful sound of flowing water in your own backyard.

Come to Us for Material Suggestions

Visit one of our locations to browse hundreds of natural material options, and to speak with one of our knowledgeable team members about your next landscape project.

The post DIY Cascading Stone Water Wall appeared first on Grand River Natural Stone.

Photo credit to Hamed Saber
under cc2.0

Designing and building a natural looking waterfall is both challenging and rewarding for do-it-yourself landscapers. Here are a few tricks and tips to help you along the way.

Study Nature

Spend some time studying nature to figure out how to make your waterfall look natural. If there is not a stream with waterfalls close to you, look through photography books or pictures online. As you begin to sketch out ideas for your waterfall, you might even copy one that you particularly like. Observe things like the relative size of rocks, how they are arranged, the pools of water at the top and bottom and how the water flows.

Work With the Land

Ideally, if you are planning to build a waterfall feature with stone, it works best if you have a sloping area in your backyard. Your waterfall and any associated pools or streams should be built into the ground, not on top of the ground. Dirt that you remove can be used as part of the overall project, to change the grade of the land and build height behind the actual waterfall.

You will also need to decide if your waterfall will have one or more straight vertical drops or if it will be a steeply sloping, splashing waterfall. This is partly a matter of personal preference, but the steepness of the slope in your yard may help you make that decision.

Choose the Right Rocks

Rocks are, of course, a natural product, but there are some things to consider when selecting rocks for your waterfall project. In a natural stream, there tends to be one dominant type of rock with a few other rocks mixed in. You might, for example, want to use mostly gray granite rocks, while also including a few pieces of off-white quartz.

At Grand River Stone we have an excellent variety of River Rock in different sizes and types of stone to create an interesting river bed or pond bottom. We have round stone, potato stone, rainbow river, northern granite, Muskoka granite and black, polished pebbles. We also have flat stones in varying colours and sizes to build up your waterfall and have water fall from: ledgerock, flat mossy, slate and flag stone.

A variety of rock shapes and sizes is also appropriate. Larger rocks should form the actual waterfall; smaller rocks can line the pools or streams. Many natural streams have smooth, rounded rocks along the bottom of the waterway.

Let the artist in you have fun with this project. Choose from a wide variety of feature stones and beach pebbles to create the perfect waterfall.

Let the Water Flow

There are plumbing and mechanical components to your waterfall, including a pump, tubing and an electrical source. All of these should remain hidden from view. The water flow should look like it is occurring naturally, without your assistance. The force of water should also appear proportional to the size of your water feature. A small waterfall should not be rapidly gushing, nor should a large waterfall have water that is barely moving.

Create a Setting

Your natural waterfall will ultimately look like it blends into the surrounding landscape. Water-tolerant plants can be included in and adjacent to your water feature. Don’t have the rocks just stop at the edge of the waterfall or stream. Taper them out into the adjacent area. Natural arrangements of rocks and plants do not follow straight lines. Use loose clusters that appear random, yet flowing.

A thoughtfully designed and constructed rock water feature and waterfall will look like it belongs in your yard or has been there for many years. If you do not feel that you have the design skills that are needed, consult with a professional landscape designer.

Ready to Get Started?

We at Grand River Stone are happy to help you find the rocks that will work for your space. If DIY sounds a little daunting, we also have a list of great contractors from which to choose for design and/or installation. Just ask our helpful staff for a referral.

Visit or contact us today.

The post The Tricks to Building a Natural Looking Waterfall appeared first on Grand River Natural Stone.

Building your own backyard water feature is a fun project for do-it-yourself types that has become much easier in recent years with lots of kits and products on the market. If you understand some landscape construction basics and don’t mind getting a little dirty, creating your own bubbling rock water feature is a fun & satisfying project that will bring you the benefits of the sound of trickling water at a fraction of the expense of a waterfall or a full-sized- pond.

The idea of a bubbling rock is to have water emerging from a hole in the top and trickling down onto other stones in a reservoir or small pond. You will need a feature rock with a hole, additional rocks to surround it, a pond liner, and a water pump with hose or tubing.

Plan Your Water Feature

There are two basic design styles for water features: natural and architectural.

Natural water features are built to blend into a naturalistic landscape, drawing on the appearance of a mountain stream or waterfall for inspiration.

Architectural water features, while using natural materials, are not trying to look like something you would find in nature. They might, for example, consist of a single tall rock that bubbles water onto a surrounding field of evenly sized pebbles or river rock. It’s an opportunity to feature several striking rocks that are not necessarily matching.

A tall, irregular or square cut slab can have a very modern and striking look on its own or paired with a large piece of amethyst or petrified wood. At Grand River Stone we are sure to have a stone or combination that suits your taste for your water feature.

Find a Location

Your bubbling rock feature should not overwhelm or underwhelm the space it occupies. If you have a small patio, don’t build a huge water feature. Save that for a large backyard with a large sitting area.

Install your water feature where you can enjoy it on a daily basis. Most people love the sounds of this feature, so place it near the area of your yard that you most like to relax in. Give our team at Grand River Natural Stone a call today to learn more!

The Bubbling Rock

Grand River Stone has a large selection of decorative stones to choose from including sparkly mica, granite, turquoise, and amethyst to holey moss rock.

Ideally, you will find a rock with an existing natural hole in it. Moss rock is one great option- they are naturally gnarled and full of holes. If you need to make a hole in your selected rock, diamond core drill bits are available from a rental store.

Don’t be tempted to go with a kit that has a fake fiberglass rock- natural stone will last longer and look better.

The Pond

Your bubbling rock will need to sit in some kind of water basin. Plastic pond liners come in a variety of sizes and can be cut to size. Some bubbling rocks emerge from a pool of water; some sit in a field of rocks with little visible surface water. The choice is yours, but be sure the volume of water is sufficient for the size of pump.

The Water Pump

If you purchased a bubbling rock kit, it may have the pump, tubing and a filter included. If you are buying supplies piece by piece, check with your landscape supplier to make sure you will get the result you want. Let them know if you want a rock that softly bubbles or one that gushes water. Be sure there is a power source available for your pump. It is best to have a licensed electrician do electrical work.

The Surrounding Rocks

If you are going the natural route with your design, you will want rocks that blend in well with your bubbling rock. A variety of sizes is important. You might select and place a few rocks close to the size of the bubbling rock, then some smaller rocks, gradually working down to the river rock that lines the pond or forms the surface of your feature.

For an architectural water feature, rocks do not have to match, but the colors and shapes should complement each other. One approach is to have the bubbling rock stand out from the other rocks because of its larger size or dramatic shape.

As a final touch, add some ferns, perennials, or low shrubs around your bubbling rocks water feature. Then sit back and enjoy the results of your hard work.

Need Supplies?

Visit us! We have the widest selection of natural stones in southwestern Ontario.

The post How to Create Your Own Bubbling Rock Water Feature appeared first on Grand River Natural Stone.