The Corten water feature blends rugged elegance with natural serenity, making it a striking focal point in any garden. Metal water features strike a balance between industrial durability and organic softness, with the weathered, rust-colored surface of the material clashing with the flowing water. Here are 7 pro tips for creating a corten water fountain that will enhance your outdoor space.

Choose the Ideal Type of Water Feature

• Contemporary / Small gardens: a minimalist steel water fountain with clean lines, such as a reflective bowl or sink, is suitable. The sharp lines of corten steel reinforce the modern theme and complement the minimalist planting.
• Large gardens: go bold with a more imposing corten water feature, such as a cascading wall or geometric pond. Corten steel is durable enough to support large structures without diminishing the visual impact.
• Natural / Organic Style Garden: Corten steel edges can be designed in a free-form fashion to create ponds or stream-like outdoor metal water fountains that mimic the look of natural waterways. Its rust-colored texture blends well with lush greenery and irregular pathways.

Position Is Key

• Focal point: Place a large metal outdoor fountain in an eye-catching location, such as near a deck, at the end of a garden path, or visible from an interior window.
• Light Balance: Avoid direct sunlight (to minimize algae growth) or complete shade (to prevent the formation of the rusty color of Corten steel); a half-shade, half-sun environment works best for metal garden water features.
• Sound Considerations: Place bubbling or trickling metal sculpture water features in a quiet sitting area, while a cascading corten water fountain would be appropriate for a lively entertainment area, avoiding a sense of oppression in a small space.

Integrate With Garden Elements

• Plants: Soften the steel edges of an outdoor water fountain with water-loving plants such as iris, yucca or ferns. Herbs and creepers add texture to metal surfaces.
• Material Harmonization: Use complementary hardscape materials (e.g., stone, wood) to connect the metal water fountain to existing elements of the garden and enhance the overall flow.
• Reflective Potential: Use the smooth surfaces of corten steel to design still-water type water features (e.g., mirrored pools) that reflect the sky, plants, or architecture to add visual depth.

Planning for Wildlife-Friendly Design

• Access points: Add shallow areas or stepping stones to backyard water fountains to facilitate safe drinking for birds, frogs and insects.
• Aquatic Plants: Balance the ecosystem and reduce maintenance by pairing pond-style metal water fountains with oxygen-supporting plants such as water lilies.
• Chemical-free care: Avoid harsh cleaners -- the rusty layer of corten steel is non-toxic, and natural bacteria or barley straw keep the water clear in outdoor water features.

Embrace the Ageing Beauty of Corten Steel

• Rust Formation: This material gradually turns to a rich, deep rust color, creating a unique “garden year” for the corten water fountain. Avoid painting or sealing to preserve this natural process.
• Duabilty maintenance: Ensure that the underside of the corten water fountain is well drained to prevent standing water from accelerating rusting beyond the protective rust layer.

Simplify Corten Water Fountain Maintenance

• Pump maintenance: clean your corten water fountain's filters monthly to keep the water flowing smoothly; opt for a solar-powered pump to be eco-friendly and less of a hassle.
• Debris Disposal: Skim leaves seasonally from still-water corten water fountains. For corten water features with a stacked water design, check for clogged waterways.
• Water Cleaning Program: Any water feature that is not treated properly can become slimy and smelly, with algae being the main problem - not only aesthetically pleasing, but also damaging the filtration system and the corten steel water feature itself. The heart of keeping it clean is having a proper filtration system and cleaning it regularly, especially in the spring when debris must be removed to prevent buildup.

• Depending on the size of the water feature, a thorough cleaning should be performed every 1-3 months: turn off the pump, remove decorations and stones, wipe down the interior and components of the metal water feature with warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge, clean the pump, and reassemble. This thorough cleaning reduces waste and nutrients in the water and inhibits algae growth. Biological treatments can also be used to remove algae using beneficial bacteria, which is both environmentally friendly and suited to the properties of corten steel.

• Winter Preparation: In colder regions, metal outdoor water feature pumps need to be emptied during the winter months to prevent freezing -- corten steel is built to withstand harsh weather.

Enhance Your Corten Water Feature With Lighting

• Underwater Light: Illuminates the still-water corten water fountain from below, casting a warm glow through the water column and emphasizing the texture of the corten steel.
• Up Lighting: Use spotlights to highlight vertical elements of the garden water feature (such as wall water features or water jets) for a dramatic shadow effect.
• Ambient String Lights: Hang soft string lights from plants around the corten water fountain to outline the fountain in a way that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Customize Your Water Feature

From simple rectangular water tables to artistic fountains, from mirrored pools to eco-channels, the possibilities for combining weathering steel and large metal water fountains are endless. We offer a full range of weathering steel water feature solutions:

▸ Hydrostatic mirror series: ultra-thin steel plates for borderless reflection pools
▸ Dynamic Springs: customized bubble matrices and cascading water walls
▸ Eco Waterfront Series: natural symbiosis of rusted steel plates and aquatic plants

Each piece is meticulously crafted by a team of professionals to ensure precise control of the water flow trajectory and seamless splicing of the steel plates. Let time witness the transformation of your garden - the weathering steel will gradually evolve into a darker rust color over time, as if engraving a unique wheel of years for your garden.