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September 15, 2009
There are many different types of ponds you can have in your garden. These may range from water gardens and Koi ponds to formal ponds where wildlife is minimal.
You should remember that the water feature you choose should fit into the surrounding garden area and compliment any existing features. If you have decided to have a formal pond, the shape of the pond may well be the most important consideration. Most formal pond shapes are quite symmetrical like rectangles, circles and squares and the garden planting often follows the same rules. The new current trend is for a long rectangular rill (like a small canal) with a water feature such as a cascading fountain at one end. This feature will have the effect of elongating your garden and making the whole area seem bigger. Such ponds or water features are usually constructed in concrete with many being tiled and finished at the edge with stone paving.
Just because you decide to have a formal pond doesn’t mean you have to neglect planting. You can still include plants in your pond, but you should try to continue the symmetrical pattern your pond follows and include the same types of plants in the corners or place plants at fixed intervals along the ponds length.
September 2, 2009
There are so many choices to make when it comes to building garden ponds. But once you’ve built your pond, there are still more options to consider to improve the look of your pond and the pleasure it gives you.
A lot of people decide to build a water feature to create a bit of movement to their pond and also to create that delightful, relaxing sound that moving water makes.
The type of water feature you choose will depend a lot on the size of your garden. For example, if you have a small garden then a large water garden design will be overbearing. However, a waterspout will create the perfect atmosphere.
One of the most popular types of water feature is the pebble or millstone fountain which is created by having a hidden reservoir. Water from the hidden reservoir is forced up over decorative stones and then the water sinks back into the reservoir below. From here it is re circulated by a small pump. This is a fairly simple design but it can be incredibly effective, particularly for small spaces.
A water garden is an invaluable tool for creating a calm, relaxing outdoor space. And there’s nothing better when it comes to gardens.
August 23, 2009
If you haven’t got room for a full size pond then maybe you could have a look at the many different types of standalone water features there are currently available on the market. These usually feature water trickling from one level to another and can create a brilliant focal point to your garden design.
If you already have a pond then there are many ways you can spruce it up a little – and not spend a fortune. Most involve either a little hard work or a simple new feature.
Such features could perhaps include a water mister – this natty little device can not just add atmosphere to your pond area but many come with LED lights and a remote control so you can change the ambiance at the touch of a button. They are safe for all your pond life and turn the water into mist particles without the addition of any chemicals.
Another option you could go for would be to add some floating water lilies, these are UV resistant and are available in different colours and look just like the real thing. They provide shade for your fish and are a cheap way to add that little something extra to your pond.
August 6, 2009
A garden pond can be a beautiful addition to anyone’s home, the sound of trickling water and the tranquillity the pond can add to your garden can calm the senses and provide a beautiful backdrop to outdoor eating or entertaining.
A garden pond can fall into many categories, from purely a water garden that is setup to support minimal life to a large formal pond containing Koi. If you have little space and just want to create a feature and a pond would just not fit there are however other options available.
There are many off-the-shelf products available that can give you a water feature in your garden. This could be a standalone water container with some sort of pump creating a waterfall effect, it could be water falling down a sheer face creating a wall of water effect or could be just water falling from a tap into a receptacle and then being pumped back to the tap. You can even get small submerged pools that are covered with decorative stones with a fountain rising from the centre creating an amazing decorative effect.
Whatever option you choose it will add that something special to your garden. Remember however that these small containers and fountains are not suitable for supporting fish life and should only be used for decoration.
July 14, 2009
Possibly it is beyond the realms of the average water gardener but fountains and water features can be powered by gravity rather than electrical pumps to quite startling effect.
Chatsworth House in the Peak District boasts the highest gravity fed fountain in the world with the Emperor Fountain having reached a height of 280 feet.
Chatsworth has the advantage of being outside the realms of the average water gardener and the ongoing refinement and development of the gardens over many decades sees the gardens with a diverse range of beautiful characteristics and some truly unique water features.
The Emperor fountain is fed by water from an eight acre reservoir located at the top of the hill behind the house. It is the height difference between this reservoir and the fountain that enables the fountain to reach such impressive heights. The Emperor Fountain was designed by Joseph Paxton who was working in partnership with the 6th Duke of Devonshire who resided at Chatsworth in the early part of the 19th century.
Chatsworth also boasts an additional unique water feature in addition to the formal ponds and Emperor Fountain. This feature is the cascade. The cascade is a less striking but still grand feature. The continuous flow of water for several hundred feet down a successions of steps is renowned for the sound it makes as much as the visual appeal. Anybody with an interest in water gardens should ensure that Chatsworth is added to their list of intended destinations.
July 12, 2009
When planning a waterfall as either a standalone feature, or as a feature within a pond, one important consideration is the size of the fountain relative to the dimensions of the pool.
Even the most impressive of fountains is unlikely to place an excessive demand on the volume of water in your pond in the same way that a watercourse can do. However, the issue that you may face with a fountain is that the if your jet is too powerful, you may well face an issue with water loss through splashing. Even if your fountain is pointing vertically upwards, you should not anticipate the water following a simple up and down trajectory. This may seem like a given when sat down with a piece of paper designing your pond, but, this is a common mistake in forgetting to allow for the affects of wind in dispersing water far and wide.
The choice of pump for your fountain should also be made wisely, the top of the range, solids handling pump that powers your filtration system may be more than sufficient to power the fountain you have installed but this approach has a couple of clear disadvantages. A solids handling pump will enable physical debris to passed into you fountain which is both potentially dangerous and may also lead to damage or blockages within the fountain, secondly, tying in the fountain to the power of your filtration system effectively limits your ability to control your fountain. Your filter system needs to run 24/7 and yet your fountain running on the same timetable may prove an indulgence too far. It is probably best to install separate pumps where possible.
July 7, 2009
Water features offer the opportunity to introduce the comforting sound of running water to your garden and possibly some aquatic plant life and visiting wildlife. All of this can be done on a limited budget, with high levels of safety if young children are present and lastly within the confines of almost any garden.
In many respects, water features can encompass considerably more diverse design possibilities than the typical pond. Whilst pond designs can be hugely varied, they are fundamentally a body of water with some reasonably consistent proportions. On the other hand, a water feature can be a recessed small pond, a trough, a tall water cascade with a very small footprint or a narrow weaving watercourse amongst many, many others. The design possibilities are truly limitless.
The local garden centre or even DIY store will most likely have many designs available off the shelf and these could even be for indoor use. Whilst these are a fantastic, readymade feature, rather than simply providing a solution, they may just pique the interest of the designer within you.
The basic types of designs to consider are whether you have an open pool that can accommodate some planting, a covered reservoir that collects the water from a fountain or a cascade with a collection pool at the bottom. Whichever concept is chosen, designs can replicate natural scenes or be completely contrived and artificial, some clever designs can even appear to defy the laws of physics, if the feature is complementary to the garden, it can bring many hours of happiness.
June 19, 2009
Small reflection pools are a fantastic way to introduce running water to your garden on a modest scale and to also encourage wildlife. A reflection pool is a small preformed liner that is designed with a dip in the centre to accommodate a pump. This is surrounded by a shallower tray which creates the catchment area for the fountain and an area of inviting water for visiting birds and other wildlife.
These types of ponds are one of the best and safest ways to introduce open water to your garden. Whilst any open water does have an element of risk for young children, these ponds are very shallow. Providing children are supervised, any unfortunate stumbles should only result in wet body parts and a few tears rather than the very real threat of drowning posed by a pond.
A couple of marginal plants combined with a layer of gravel and some carefully positioned decorative stones will transform the pool into an attractive feature.
With a limited depth and a manageable size, these pools represent a half way house between a pond and a water feature. Installation requires only a modest excavation and this type of pool is also perfectly suited to a raised garden or small gardens which otherwise could not accommodate a pond.
June 3, 2009
Your garden pond is intended to be a source of joy and pleasure for both yourself and hopefully likeminded visitors. In order to ensure that it remains a source of happiness and not of worry or distress, there are some safety aspects of which you should be aware.
Probably the most obvious safety issue surrounding ponds is that of young children and the potential for fatal accidents. Drowning is one of the biggest causes of accidental death in youngsters. These are also accidents that frequently occur away from the child’s own home. In terms of managing this risk the best solution is to securely restrict access or install a rigid pond cover that will support the weight of at least a child.
Beyond the extreme example of fatalities there are other less drastic but equally as real dangers surrounding ponds. A common problem is loose slabs surrounding a pond. These can often lead to people falling into ponds with varying degrees of discomfort accompanied by wet clothes and dented pride.
A further challenge is that of electrics. It is well understood that electricity and water don’t mix well; and yet the modern pond is often equipped with an array of electrical appliances from lighting, to pumps and filters, to UV clarifiers. These units themselves will almost certainly be constructed to very high safety standards and pose little threat in themselves if properly installed. Probably the biggest challenge is in ensuring proper fitting. A qualified electrician should always be used for any bespoke wiring whilst any plug in appliance should be connected to the mains through a Residual Current Device (RCD). RCD’s are readily available in DIY stores and ensure that, in the event of electrical mishaps, the power supply is immediately isolated. This should be coupled with the use of purpose built electrical fittings that are designed for external use and/or water features.
In simple terms, having a large hole in the garden subsequently filed with water and electrical componentry does sound like a recipe for disaster. As with all aspects of pond keeping though, some simple planning steps can ensure that the pond is a source of joy with very little worry.
June 2, 2009
Most water gardeners will avoid trees near their ponds despite the fact that trees can offer one very important benefit to a pond in providing shade. Shade is important to your pond as it will help to reduce the temperature increasing significantly on sunny summer days and will also restrict sunlight reaching the pond. Direct sunlight is a significant contributor to algal growth. Preferably a pond should only receive direct sunlight for half of the day and remain in shade for the rest.
The objection of many water gardeners to trees is that they do have a number of downsides for water, which in many people’s opinion, far outweigh the benefits that shade can offer.
So what are the down sides of trees?
Some trees, such as laburnum are poisonous. Tree roots can cause problems with pond liners; in addition, particularly deep roots potentially affect the soil structure. However, the primary problem that trees cause is quite simply leaf-fall. All of the fallen leaves can be visually displeasing and a pain in the proverbial to clear. The real issue are the leaves that do not remain on the surface and cannot easily be cleared. These fallen leaves will effectively act as compost in the pond. Whilst the effects of this ‘compost’ will not be realised over the cold winter months immediately following the Autumn leaf fall, come spring, this will fuel algal and weed growth on a potentially troublesome scale.
Whether or not you are able to control the source of problem leaf fall, it is important that you tackle the symptoms and either cover the pond with netting or actively remove leaves from the pond with a rake, or similar, on a regular basis. If you are planning to create a pond within your garden and wish to incorporate trees into your garden design then smaller species such as silver birch or willow tend to be more suited to the pond environment.
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