Water Gardens

The use of water features in the garden has been a bit restrained in recent years due to safety issues for children and pets, but it is still the case that water provides a calming influence, and adds a certain tranquility to a garden that is hard to otherwise achieeve.

You might well choose gardening as a greater priority than children, but if you must have both there exist various solutions to the safety issue - for example it is possible in a pond to install a net a few millimetres below the surface that is invisible to the eye but prevents any possibility of danger.

The most common water features are ponds, waterfalls and fountains.

The smallest feature possible is perhaps a lined half-barrel or large bucket of water containg a couple of water plants. If you prefer to install a proper pond, then generally bigger is better. The larger and deeper a pond is, the easier it is to avoid problems of algae, stagnation, and the pond simply drying out.

Precast plastic ponds are available, ready to be buried in the ground supported on a bed of sand, but it is cheaper to buy a large sheet of pond liner, dig a big hole, and make a pond yourself. This will tend to be deeper and more effective as well. The liner also needs to be placed on a bed of sand, to ensure that no sharp object can damage it, and the edges of the liner either concealed with rocks (or decking if you are going for the sophisticated look) or buried slightly in the surrounding terrain. Avoid placing your pond near overhanging trees if possible, unless you want to spend a lot of time fishing out leaves.

The edge of the pond will usually be shelved - typically a shelf at a depth of 15-20 centimetres, and the main pond with a depth of 50 centimetres.

This shelving allows the use of marginal (edge) plants in the shallower parts, and submerged and floating plants in the main body of the pond. the goal is to have about 50% of the surface of the water covered by plants - no more, because it is important that sunshine can enter the water. Submerged plants are especially important because they aerate the pond efficiently. A fountain installed in your pond also helps with aeration.

If you are lucky enough to have a natural waterfall in your garden make the most of it! The rest of us can emulate moving water by having two ponds at different levels, with a constant stream flowing from the higher pond to the lower. Beneath the ground there is of course a pump that keeps the water circulating, and between the two levels rocks are usually used to provide some interest.