Fountains in Boise, Idaho

Fountains in Boise yards come in more styles than most people expect, and the question I hear most is, "Where do I start?" Photos online don't tell you how a fountain holds up to a Boise July or a January freeze. This page covers the main types, what each one is like to live with, and how to pick.

I'm Kabe Hockema, owner of Hockema Landscape Design & Build. I've been landscaping since 2012, and I'm on every job from the first meeting to the last rock. I build fountains with Aquascape components. For everything fountain related, start at my fountain contractor page.

How a fountain works

Every fountain I build has three parts. A buried basin holds the water under the rock. A pump in the basin pushes water up through tubing. A feature on top, like an urn or a stone, lets the water out. The water falls onto gravel, drains back to the basin and goes around again. Because there's no open pool, these are often called pondless fountains, and you can read more on my pondless fountain installation page.

The main types of fountains

Bubbling urns and vases

A glazed ceramic urn with water rising out of the top and sheeting down the sides. Urns come in many colors, shapes and heights. They suit cottage gardens, patios and front entries, and the sheet of water makes a soft sound.

Basalt columns

Six-sided columns of dark volcanic rock, drilled so water bubbles out the top and runs down the faces. A single column is simple. A group of three at different heights makes a strong focal point. Basalt fits both modern and natural yards and handles freezing well.

Drilled boulders and natural stone

A boulder with a hole cored through it, so water wells up from the stone. This is the most natural look, and it blends into a planting bed or rock garden. It suits yards near the foothills, where the land is already rocky.

Water walls and spillways

A thin sheet of water spilling off a straight edge or running down a flat face. These are the most modern option and are usually built into a wall or patio. My page on architectural water features covers them.

How to choose the right fountain

Ask yourself a few questions:

• Where will I see it? From a window, a patio or the front walk? Pick a size that reads from that distance.
• How loud do I want it? A gentle bubble is quiet. A taller drop onto stone is louder.
• What does my house look like? Clean lines point toward columns or spillways. A softer, natural yard points toward boulders or urns.
• Who will be around it? All of these are safe for kids and pets, because there's no open pool.
• How much upkeep do I want? All of them need a pump cleaning now and then and a winter shutdown. More pieces mean a little more stone to wipe down.

If none of the standard options fit, custom fountain design is the next step.

How Boise weather affects your choice

Freezes. Glazed urns must be drained before a hard freeze, or trapped water can crack them. Basalt and solid stone are tougher, though the pump still comes out for winter.

Wind and heat. A low bubbler loses less water than a tall spray on a hot, windy afternoon. In an exposed spot, pick something gentle.

Hard water. White mineral spots show most on dark, glossy surfaces. Textured stone hides them better. Glazed urns wipe clean easily with a scale cleaner.

What fountains cost

Aquascape fountain kits start at $5,500. The total depends on the type and size of the feature, how many pieces there are, how far power runs, how easy your yard is to reach, and what goes around it. Once you've picked a type, my fountain installation page explains how I build it.

See a fountain in a finished yard

A fountain usually looks best as part of a bigger space. In this Caldwell outdoor living room, an Aquascape fountain sits with pavers, a short stone wall, a stone fireplace and a fire pit, all built to face the sunrise.

Where I build fountains

I build fountains for homes in Boise and across the Treasure Valley: Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Star, Middleton, Kuna, Garden City and Hidden Springs. I also work in Sun Valley and Ketchum.

Pick the right fountain for your yard

Fountains in Boise yards work best when they're chosen for the spot, not just the photo. Schedule a consultation and I'll walk your yard with you and help you choose.