Tranquil Abiding

One of the most requested elements from my clients in their landscape design brief is some form of water feature – and understandably so. Its hard to beat the restful ambience and gentle background noise created by water running over rocks, or the sparkling reflection created by light catching the movement of rippling water.

The traditional form of water feature was typically a free-form, rock edged pond that often had a few gold fish making it home. More contemporary designs tend to be rectangular concrete forms that are seamlessly integrated into the paving pattern of a courtyard or patio. If you are considering how a water feature could work in with your garden, there are a couple of key points you should consider.

Where to position it? It makes sense to locate it somewhere central, in a key outdoor living space or centred on a view line from an internal living room. Consider how much sunlight the water feature will receive as this will impact how quickly algae may grow.

How much maintenance will it require? A water feature with an open body of water will require a high level of maintenance, as its prone to collect wind blown dirt, leaves and insects which will invariably settle and form a slowly decomposing organic layer on the pond floor. This will need regular cleaning if you want to have clear, clean looking water.

How much will it cost? To set up a low maintenance feature can be costly and involve hard fittings like UV filters, bio-filters and skimmers. This will complement the other associated costs of pumps, under water rated lights and construction.

If designed and constructed well, your water feature will perform well, give you much enjoyment and add another sensory element to your outdoor space.