Garden water features have been around since the earliest gardens were formed and they create a lovely focal point for the garden as water can be so alluring. If the water is still it creates a wonderful mirrored image and if it is moving then it reacts beautifully with light and provides a lovely ambient relaxing sound as it gurgles by.
In modern gardens, a water feature can be part of any garden mainly due to the use of wonderful modern materials. A modern water feature can be built to offer relaxation or encourage wildlife in to your garden and can take many shapes, forms and sizes.
Solar powered garden water features allow you to run a submersible pump in your pond without the need for an electricity supply from your home and through your garden. These solar garden water features come with all manner of add-ons that can still be purchased relatively cheaply. Options are available to power your garden’s water feature with standard electricity but it should be noted that due care and attention is vital as we all know that water and electricity do not mix. Another important warning is that water and children do not mix very well either, especially if they are put playing in the garden without supervision. If you have a young family then you should seriously weigh up the risks of having open water in your garden space.
Different Types Of Garden Water Feature
There are many different types of water features of gardens;
• Pools
• Fountains
• Flowing water
• Bridges
Pools
Pools come in three main categories;
• A Formal Pool
• An Informal Pool and
• A Container Pool
A Formal Pool is a regular geometrical shape and is usually constructed above or below ground from concrete or with a pool liner. These formal pools often become a beautiful mirror that can be broken up nicely by complimentary planting. They are usable in all sizes and shapes of garden but if the rest of your garden contains informal lines that may not fit correctly in style.
An Informal Pool is more natural looking in its formal equivalent and is best sited in a low-level area of the garden with plenty of shelving around it for planting that appreciates lots of moisture. They can be constructed using a liner material or from the traditional method of puddled clay. These pools are definitely the way to go if you want to attract extra wildlife into your garden as there were plenty of places through to hide as it is a more natural environment.
A Container Pool is a great feature to a patio or smaller garden and is usually made of a watertight material such as an old tub, sink or even half a barrel. As they are relatively inexpensive, they are perfect for all budgets but be aware that they will probably freeze over during the colder months of the year.
Fountains
Fountains usually present themselves in four different ways;
• Formal Fountains
• Wall Fountains
• Novelty Fountains
• Cobble Fountains
Formal Fountains are a great addition to a formal pool and the simplest design is normally one plume of water shooting upwards. This jet of water is provided by a submersible pump that takes the water from the pool and propels it upwards. The height of the water jet normally corresponds to the power of the pump. These jet fountains are extremely easy to install and can be found as a solar powered option or wired up with electricity.
Wall Fountains are a great garden water feature and normally work by recycling water by submersible pump. The water normally comes out of the opening, sometimes an animal statue or human type statue, and the same water is collected in the base and used again. These types of fountains are relatively inexpensive and can be found in a range of highly customisable designs.
Novelty Fountains are even more customisable and probably the easiest of the do it yourself garden water features. They often incorporate submersible pumps and jets into any item conceivable such as animals, sculptures and even gardening items such as a watering can. They are highly individual as a water feature and so fit into any garden.
A Cobble Fountain is a lower powered jet that gently pushes water over a group of cobbles and sounds delightful with its gurgling sounds. They normally consist of a large stone with a hole drilled through it that conceals a water source and pump. They are safer for children as they are just a trickle of water and are quite cheap to buy and install. These are normally seen as budget garden water features.
So, if you are thinking about buying water features for gardens then I hope this post gives you a little knowledge of the choices that are out there and available.