Water is a real soother of an element. Just gazing at a body of water restores a sense of calm to a busy day. This month, Hanna Moore gives you advice on how to introduce a water feature indoors or to your garden.
1 Choose wisely
You can choose between hundreds of amazing designs varying from standing water walls, statues, monoliths, bird baths, wall-hanging fountains to animals and many more! Think long term about what will be suit your garden all year round.
2 Don’t limit yourself
There are three basic types of water features: ponds, water gardens and waterfalls (ponds have fish and plants, water gardens focus more on the plants). Turn your search for a water feature into a proper project and scope out
all possibilities.
3 Location, location, location
The best spot for a pond is on well-drained, level ground. The pond should be installed where rain can’t flow, since rain can carry fertilisers, chemicals, and organic debris into your pond.
4 Avoid trees
Do not place your pond under a tree, if you can avoid it, as it will leave you constantly removing debris; some leaves can be toxic to fish and plants.
5 Shape and style
Before digging your pond, experiment with your hose and fix it into different shapes and sizes. Traditional ponds tend to be geometrical but to make it look more natural go for a curvy shape.
6 Electricity
Most water features and ponds will need a power supply so, again, location will be very important if you want a running water feature.
7 Keep the water clean
You can either look for fish that eat algae, or you can purchase special products to fight off Mother Nature and keep your feature looking fresh and clear.
8 Indoors
Having water fountains indoors releases purities which freshen the air by removing dust particles and impurities, enriching the air around them. Having them inside can also reduce stress levels and leave you feeling relaxed and happy.
9 Melodies
The sound of an indoor water feature varies depending on the material and size of the feature. The speed at which the water falls or runs and the height it falls from also play a part.
10 Positioning
Where your feature is situated is crucial, as a furnished, carpeted room will muffle the sounds and a more spacious tiled room will cause the sound to be louder and more obvious.
