Hi Rob
We have 2 rock fountains set up now, were in upstate NY. While I did not carve out the top on these I did bore a hole through them as you are talking about. One is in our main pond. The other has a container under it ( @ 1/2 55 gal plastic drum) the water is deep enough on both of them where I do not worry about the pumps freezing, and the fountain pumps allow the water to drain out of the rocks when they are not running. So I just shut them off and leave them for the winter... Perhaps you might want to cover yours with plastic or something to ensure what does not settle in,freeze and fracture the rock.We have been running them for 2 or 3 years now without an issue or a problem either with the pumps or the rocks themselves.

The main pond..

Hope that helps

Curt

Hi Curt,

I like your pond and fountain! I'm planning something similar to the first one, but I plan to use a bigger boulder if I can get it to my back yard.

I'm in zone 4 or 5. Footings have to be dug 42 inches deep here, so the ground doesn't freeze any farther than that. I wonder if water will not freeze below 42 inches if there is only gravel above instead of dirt. I would think that dirt offers more insulation than rocks. Leaving the pump in would be great even if I had to dig my hole deeper.

How did you drill your hole? Your rock looks similar to the type of rock I'd be using (granite field stone). I have directions for hollowing out the top, but I thought I'd have to hire someone to drill a hole.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden pictures.

While I did borrow the drill from work I had to purchase the drill bits.

I would check with one of the box stores to see if they rent the hammer drills like this. I know most of the rental places around here have them.
The rocks, I have drilled several different types; have all drilled easier the concrete.
I bought a 3'x1", and a 18"x1 1/4". I pretty much only use the 1" now as it works easily for sliding the discharge hoses from the pumps into the hole and holds them tight enough to keep them from leaking.

I would go down a good depth so you do not have to worry about a solid freeze. The only thing we do for maintenance on the pondless fountain is a little bleach in the water once in a while.

To move the rocks I use heavy plastic sheeting, (like the old roll up snow sleds)what works good too is a plastic 55 gallon drum opened up. No lifting the rocks onto or off of anything, just roll them, that and I can slide large rocks with my yard tractor and not tear up the grass.
These were the latest rocks we moved in but we have not drilled them yet these are going to be used for lamp posts.

Good luck !
Curt

Curt, that's really helpful. I've read a couple things that made me believe that drilling a rock would be too difficult to bother with. I'd much rather rent a drill than hire someone with a drill.

I also like your rock sled idea. I don't have a lawn tractor, but my neighbor does and my father-in-law has a four wheel drive quad with chains. I have to go over my drain field, so heavier equipment is not an option. You've got me really excited about this project now! I'm planning to do a fire pit and stone patio in the woods behind my house first, so this project will be later in the summer or next summer. I'll post pictures here (probably in "Gardening with Stone") when I get them done.

Thanks again!

If you have access to a quad you will have more then enough equipment to move the rocks are around. I am thinking it took me about 10 or 15 minutes to drill down to the 3'depth in that first stone I posted. The drill was not long enough to get all the way through it so I drill in from the back rather then try to drill in from the other end and meet in the middle.

We did the same thing last year, added a fire pit, we do not have the patio around it yet. Still trying to decide how we want to do it. It sure is relaxing watching the fire and listening to water... :)

I think this is really a DIY thing with no need to hire someone to drill the rock.

Have Fun and be careful this rock gardening, rock collecting seems to turn into a bad habit LOL

Curt

The bad habit has already fully infected me. I've built a couple of small retaining walls, a really long path, boulders, and a boulder with our address engraved in it. I don't want to overdo it, so I'm heading into the woods behind house for my next project. Here's the spot:

The area is on a bit of a slope, so I'm going to level it and make a very short retaining wall. I plan to make a firepit very much like yours.
I have paths like this around the house:

I like to be consistent with the type of stone I use, but the stone I use for my paths would be pretty bumpy for chairs. I found a picture of a path in a book that had mixed flagstone and fieldstone that looked good together, so I think that's what I'll do for my patio.

I really am jealous of your woodland setting, my last home was like that. I love the look of the paths and the foundation.
Please make sure you do post pictures as you get going.

Here is our rock fountain. The pump is in a sump pump bucket/well that is actually in a hole slightly to the right of the rock. Where you see the large flat rock that is actually the cover for the pump well. In the winter we slide the cover (rock) over, disconnect the hose, and remove the pump.

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This picture makes the rock look so small. It's actually almost three feet wide and two feet tall. When they brought it in with the bobcat there was a guy that actually crawled under this and ran the hose through the hole with it suspended over his head. Talk about a high risk job!