Design Your Own
Design Your Own: Water Features
In days gone by, a garden pond was often little more than a dank puddle surrounded by mossy crazy paving. But modern water features make the most of new and traditional materials, allowing you to give full rein to your creative urges. So, soak up our guide and release your inner designer!
Top Tips
- Don't be tempted to use topsoil or even conventional compost for aquatic plants. It'll upset the pond's eco-system. Stick to specially formulated preparations.
- Don't be confined to "out-of-the-box" water feature kits. Purchase the pump, spout and reservoir separately and experiment with different pebbles and fixtures.
Still Waters
Garden ponds pose a significant hazard to young children. If your garden is used by little ones, you're better off building a water feature without an open expanse of water (see Pump It Up on the next page). Choosing the right site is essential. Avoid shade, especially that cast by deciduous trees: their fallen leaves contaminate pond water. You can design your own shape and line it with a flexible butyl liner. Or you can buy a ready-made plastic moulding. The first method is harder work but you'll end up with a more individual design.For more on constructing a ready-made pond, see Building a Garden Pond Video.
Room to Breathe
Don't skimp on space when you design a pond. If you want to create a decent eco-system the pond must be at least 60cm deep in the middle and have a surface area of at least 3.75 square metres. Around the edges, you'll need a shallower shelf where plants can be placed. In addition, allow plenty of room around the pond for access and maintenance.See Building a Pond for more on creating a butyl-lined pond.
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