So I live in Round Rock on the clay side of I-35. When I first moved in I put an Arizona ash (one of many mistakes) into the front yard along with a Bur and Red Oak. Well after awhile it was clear the Ash was out growing the other trees forcing them into unhealthy growing patterns. Basically they were leaning away from the Ash. So I cut it down.

I have the landscaping sitting there and did not just want to pull it so I put the bird bath in, probably about 6 years after I cut the ash and three years ago so the roots are there and noticeable but now they have rotted to the point that they affect the bath but not as much. Otherwise when I put the ash in I dug a five foot wide 18-20 inch hole that was filled with tree and over the years more dirt. so pretty good hole. I balanced the BB just 2.5 months ago and it already started to lean so much I had level again this weekend. I first put a large step stone under it, roughly 12X12X2 and its still there. So here are my options thought of:

1. Next time I redo it pour fine sand under and around the stone.
2. Take stone out and just use much more sand
3. take stone out and try my luck with just packing the stem deep into the hole.
4. get a wider stone w or w/out the sand
5. Let OB tell what other solution will work best.


Pics to follow shortly.

Pre fix


Post fix



Stone in ground

You're issue isbprobably from decomposing roots expanding.

I'd say just deal with it for a couple of years and it'll eventually stop being an issue.

I agree. The clay base will always move around but the old roots are much firmer then the dirt but as you said they are a few years from fully decomposing. But if I can do better engineeering so only have to redo once a year I will do it.

Fill the bird bath with beer and the birds won't know any difference.

Your birds are too fat

Sam thanks for the bump. Birds actually use it and the wife likes that. Client of mine who rarely posts texted me to dig deeper with a post hole and fill that with sand so a better foundation

Yep. Same issue with my two bird baths but I'm bad and the water doesn't get changed as often as it should. My problem is doves! I have five seed feeders and the doves love them. Unfortunately, they can empty the feeders in two days or less!!
Too bad I don't eat doves! lol

samsal75 said:

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Yep. Same issue with my two bird baths but I'm bad and the water doesn't get changed as often as it should. My problem is doves! I have five seed feeders and the doves love them. Unfortunately, they can empty the feeders in two days or less!!
Too bad I don't eat doves! lol

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You're one of those people.

If there are no roots in close proximity to the base, and the thing is constantly moving, I would think about digging a hole, lining it with landscape fabric, and putting in a layer of sand for the BB to float on. Sound like the fat clay in your yard is shrinking and swelling with the dry and wet cycle.

I will dig down next time to see where the clay is. It's been a while since I dug the first time but I think I went around 5-6 inches into clay but won't know what has happened since down there until I do. The brick is ground zero for the old ash.

When I first put it in there I had fairly solid roots left. Like needing an ax if I could get to them. Now I can break them up pretty easy with a shovel.

Unless OB can come up with anything better I'm going to dig another 5-6 inches the entire brick area, fill the hole with sand, go down to Home Depot and browse for a slightly wider brick or just reuse the one I have.

As you can see from the pics I can go deeper but not much wider and still have mommas flower

I'd drill an 18" pier 10' deep with 3000 psi concrete, reinforcing steel, and set some anchor bolts, but that's just me...

SteveBott said:

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I will dig down next time to see where the clay is. It's been a while since I dug the first time but I think I went around 5-6 inches into clay but won't know what has happened since down there until I do. The brick is ground zero for the old ash.

When I first put it in there I had fairly solid roots left. Like needing an ax if I could get to them. Now I can break them up pretty easy with a shovel.

Unless OB can come up with anything better I'm going to dig another 5-6 inches the entire brick area, fill the hole with sand, go down to Home Depot and browse for a slightly wider brick or just reuse the one I have.

As you can see from the pics I can go deeper but not much wider and still have mommas flower

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You can go deeper...

ConstructionAg01 said:

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I'd drill an 18" pier 10' deep with 3000 psi concrete, reinforcing steel, and set some anchor bolts, but that's just me...

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Now THATS AN OB response. Waiting for this since I posted.

Bunch of slackers around here.

ConstructionAg01 said:

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I'd drill an 18" pier 10' deep with 3000 psi concrete, reinforcing steel, and set some anchor bolts, but that's just me...

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User name checks out.

critter sabotage

and congrats you are whipping your neighbors arss in the curb appeal department

You may want to try some crushed granite instead of sand below that bird bath. It is much easier to level with, and generally stays in place. I have used it on many projects. Also, another thing to try for leveling is pea gravel.

Aggieangler93 said:

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You may want to try some crushed granite instead of sand below that bird bath. It is much easier to level with, and generally stays in place. I have used it on many projects. Also, another thing to try for leveling is pea gravel.

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Was about to post something similar. Perhaps something larger than pea gravel, but same thought to give it a solid stable base. A bag of sackcrete instead of DG would probably also work, but be a pain to adjust in the future.. Probably 8-10 inches thick with your concrete block should help stabilize it for awhile.

Just take 4 pieces of 12-18" long rebar and drive them into the ground with a sledge until the tops are at equal heights. Fill in around them with sand and set the base on top of the rebar ends. Poor mans pilings. Should be plenty stable.

I was thinking something like this, except using t-posts.

Another approach is to just dig a post hole 36in deep, make a small level form at the top. Fill with concrete and level. Harbor freight is a cheap place to buy concrete trowels.