Small Water Features
No contemporary garden would be complete without introducing water somewhere in the design.
With modern equipment, small water features are easy to install.
Creating a water feature used to require considerable planning and some serious excavation, but the development of easy to install kits and reliable low voltage submersible pumps means that even a novice can build an attractive, working feature in less that a day.
Of course, careful planning is advisable to avoid errors, but once you have decided on a suitable position, the time required to install a water feature is short.
There is huge range of features to choose from, but they can be grouped according to their function, a watercourse, which creates a stream effect; spouts, where a jet of water spills from a wall mask; gurgle ponds, where a water spout splashes over a feature such as a heap of pebbles, and still water pools.
Bear in mind that the temperature of small pond, situated in a sun trap, may fluctuate too much for fish to thrive.
You can create a small attractive pool from a half barrel or large bucket.
Sink it into the ground or stand it on the patio as a raised pool.
If the container is not properly sealed, line it with flexible pond liner, stapling the top edge just out of sight below the rim.
Trim carefully to neaten the edges and cover the bottom with a layer of gravel.
Fill with water and allow it to stand for a few days before planting with dwarf pond plants such as dwarf water lilies, corkscrew rush and the variegated form of the Japanese rush.
Larger raised pools are available in kit form from garden retailers or they can be made from fiberglass liners supported with brick walls.
Choose an attractive watertight container such as a sturdy bucket and fill it with water.
You will need to plant it with dwarf or miniature varieties of water lily and water hyacinth.
The size of pump you require will depend on the amount of water needed to produce the effect you want.
A small water feature will require a pump with a flow rate of about 450 liters or about 120 gallons per hour, while a large fountain will need one that can supply 650 liters or about 170 gallons.
If you want to combine features or have a watercourse you will need a much larger pump.
With modern equipment, small water features are easy to install.
Creating a water feature used to require considerable planning and some serious excavation, but the development of easy to install kits and reliable low voltage submersible pumps means that even a novice can build an attractive, working feature in less that a day.
Of course, careful planning is advisable to avoid errors, but once you have decided on a suitable position, the time required to install a water feature is short.
There is huge range of features to choose from, but they can be grouped according to their function, a watercourse, which creates a stream effect; spouts, where a jet of water spills from a wall mask; gurgle ponds, where a water spout splashes over a feature such as a heap of pebbles, and still water pools.
Bear in mind that the temperature of small pond, situated in a sun trap, may fluctuate too much for fish to thrive.
You can create a small attractive pool from a half barrel or large bucket.
Sink it into the ground or stand it on the patio as a raised pool.
If the container is not properly sealed, line it with flexible pond liner, stapling the top edge just out of sight below the rim.
Trim carefully to neaten the edges and cover the bottom with a layer of gravel.
Fill with water and allow it to stand for a few days before planting with dwarf pond plants such as dwarf water lilies, corkscrew rush and the variegated form of the Japanese rush.
Larger raised pools are available in kit form from garden retailers or they can be made from fiberglass liners supported with brick walls.
Choose an attractive watertight container such as a sturdy bucket and fill it with water.
You will need to plant it with dwarf or miniature varieties of water lily and water hyacinth.
The size of pump you require will depend on the amount of water needed to produce the effect you want.
A small water feature will require a pump with a flow rate of about 450 liters or about 120 gallons per hour, while a large fountain will need one that can supply 650 liters or about 170 gallons.
If you want to combine features or have a watercourse you will need a much larger pump.