Sundial Info There are many ways to permanently mount your sundial. The method you employ can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose. Some require only a little shopping. Some will require a little “elbow grease.” Another may require engaging a mason for a small job. Choosing the “right” option for you will greatly enhance the appearance of your grounds and showcase your sundial. Almost all of the materials and tools for these pedestal options are available at your local Home Depot. 1. Ready-Made Pedestals Most garden stores have a large inventory of pedestals. Their sundials don’t display accurate time but their pedestal selection is great! With a little ingenuity and some pliable adhesive available at any hardware store, they can be easily adapted for use as a sundial pedestal. Make sure your dial is level and properly oriented to true north. 2. Wild Birds Unlimited Off-the-Shelf or Custom-Made Wild Birds Unlimited (300 stores nationwide) has a wide variety of wrought iron structures, which are suitable for affixing your sundial to. The WBU storeowner nearest our headquarters assured us that he could have structures custom made to suit this purpose. 3. Directly on Deck or Deck Railing Cut a 2" X 10" (or 2" X 12") pressure treated board to fit your dial and screw the board to your deck or deck railing. Get it as level as you can. You may have to use wooden shims to accomplish this. Screw (or glue) your dial plate to your board, perfecting the leveling process with the use of wooden shims, if necessary, and make sure it is properly oriented to true north. 4. 4 X 4 “Mailbox” Post Obtain a cedar, pine or pressure treated 4” X 4”. Cut to desired length. Dig a 2 ½’ deep hole with a posthole digger. Pour in about 6” of gravel. Place the cut end of the 4 X 4 into the hole and fill to ground level with cement. Make sure the 4 X 4 is level (straight vertical). A post level (available at HD for about $3.00) will prove to be useful for this purpose. Cut a 2" X 10" (or 2" X 12") pressure treated board to fit your dial and screw the board to the “factory end” of the 4 X 4. Get it as level as you can. You may have to use wooden shims to accomplish this. Screw (or glue) your dial plate to your board, perfecting the leveling process with the use of wooden shims, if necessary, and make sure it is properly oriented to true north. 5. Stair “Starting” or “Landing” Newel Obtain a cedar, oak or pressure treated newel. They are more ornate than a 4 X 4 and are available in 48” and 54” lengths. Some newels have a “ball” on their tops that must be cut off to provide a level mounting surface. Complete dial mounting the same as in 4 X 4 “Mailbox” Post above. 6. 3” Aluminum Lamp Post These are available (at HD) in many different finishes, i.e. bronze, brass, white and black. Cut lamp post to desired length and follow mounting instructions included with lamp post, installing it as level (straight vertical) as you can. It can be mounted on a deck by using the cast aluminum pier base or in the ground. Cut a 2" X 10" (or 2" X 12") pressure treated board to fit your dial and screw a cast aluminum pier base to it’s under side. Place the pier base (with dial board affixed) on the lamp post. Make sure it fits on snuggly. You may have to use some tape around the lamp post to accomplish this. Screw (or glue) your dial plate to your board, perfecting the leveling process with the use of wooden shims, if necessary, and making sure it is properly oriented to true north. 7. Brick Structure This option is a little more expensive but can provide a striking addition to your grounds and a special showcase for your sundial. Engage a mason to build a brick pedestal with a cement top. Your sundial can be embedded directly into the cement, making sure that it is level and properly oriented to true north. 8. Cement Bed This is a great option for a terraced or tiered garden or grounds. Dig out 6” of earth (more for extremely soft soil) to form a square hole a little larger than your sundial. Place plywood “forms” along the sides of the hole, extending from the bottom of the hole to 3” above ground. Fill the hole with gravel leaving about 2” for the cement bed. Fill the hole with cement to the desired height and imbed your sundial into the cement, making sure that it is level and properly oriented to true north. When the cement is thoroughly dried, remove the forms and fill in with earth. With some careful cutting and shaping of plywood forms, you could build a cement bed for your sundial directly on a large landscaping rock! 9. Tree “Stump” Large, older trees are being taken down from parks and home landscapes regularly. Call a tree service and ask them to cut a piece out of a tree they are cutting down which is large enough in diameter to suit your taste and the exact height you desire. The section of tree could be cut at an angle to accommodate a slope in your yard at your chosen sundial location. A little shimming may be required to make sure the top is level but you wind up with a stunning pedestal. Place this section of tree upright in your yard and affix your sundial to it.   You can email us at info@accuratesundials.com or phone (262) 387-9992