Create A Tranquil Oasis in Your Garden with a Beautiful Water Feature
The Science of Serenity
Studies have shown that the sound of flowing water can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve overall well-being. The rhythmic nature of water sounds can help to calm the mind and promote relaxation.
Have you ever stood near a water feature, a river, an ocean or a waterfall and felt a shift in your mood? It is believed to be the effect of negative ions. These minuscule particles are far too small to be seen and are associated with increased energy, better sleep patterns, improved immune system function and a reduction in symptoms of depression.
Found throughout nature, negative ions tend to be found in greater concentrations around moving water. Which is why, for centuries people have been drawn towards creating water features in their gardens. It’s not just for the look of them, or even for the wildlife interest, it’s for the way they make us feel.
Types Of Garden Water Features
Garden water features are available in a myriad of shapes, sizes, styles and functions. From small, self-contained cascades that can be used indoors as well as in the garden, right through to large ponds with plants and waterfalls.
Water features can be designed and built from scratch using pond liners, pumps and accessories from your local garden centre. Or they can be bought pre-built and ready to plug into the mains. This wealth of choice can make decision-making almost impossible. So here are some tips for choosing and designing water features.
How To Choose and Design A Water Feature
Our advice is to visit several garden centres, open gardens and public parks to see which water features most appeal to you. As well as thinking about the type of feature you’d like, you need to think about its size, where it will be positioned in your garden, ongoing maintenance requirements, and whether you will need to hire skilled labour to build your water feature.
If you are considering making a bespoke water feature using a pond liners from your garden centre, please research the phenomenon of “hippo-ing” before you start work. Hippo-ing occurs when the natural water table beneath the pond pushes the liner upwards, making it appear as though there is a hippopotamus lurking in your garden water feature. Prevention involves installing an extra pump beneath the pond liner - which is almost impossible to do once your water feature is completed and filled.
Garden centre staff are generally very knowledgeable about water feature design and can advise you on sizes, depths and how to assemble a simple pond. However, if you are building a raised water feature, you need to be aware of the weight of water involved and ensure that the sides are strong enough to contain it.
Essential Pond Accessories
Water contained in one place can easily become stagnant and attract algae and blanket weed. It’s important to keep ponds and water features aerated by moving and filtering the water. You can install electrically powered pumps to do this for you, or you could invest in a solar fountain which floats on top of the water.
Filters and pumps are generally built into pre-made water features so all you need to do when you get it home is to fill it up and plug it in. However, if you are building to your own design, it would be wise to talk to garden centre staff to ensure you invest in the most appropriate pump and filter for the size and style of your water feature.
For a natural look and feel, try using boulders, pebbles and gravel to replicate a river bed or beach. This can be particularly attractive in a rill or a stream.
Styling Your Water Feature
Plants are the perfect partners for water features - especially if you want to create wildlife habitat. Your garden centre will have plenty of choices for water plants. Just like terrestrial plants, water loving plants can be quite fussy about their environment. Before creating a planting plan, assess how exposed the site is and whether it is in full sun, part sun or shade.
If you have an indoor or a patio water feature, style it up by surrounding it with plants in containers. Not only will it look amazing, but you’ll add to the benefits of your water feature. Plants are also very good at improving well-being.
Don’t forget the lighting! Outdoor lighting adds a whole different dimension to a water feature. Seeing sparkles dancing on the surface is simply magical. Do be mindful though that electricity and water don’t mix. Always hire a suitably qualified electrician to install lighting in or near a water feature.
Whether you’re looking for a small tabletop fountain or a large-scale pone, your local garden centre is the perfect place to find inspiration and the products you need to create your own serene oasis. With a wide range of water features, pumps, filters and accessories available, you’re sure to find everything you need other than to transform your garden into a tranquil retreat.
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