Designing a Great Water Feature

Designing A Great Water Feature

Water features come in all shapes and sizes, from tabletop fountains to powerful, towering jets. Obviously, the construction of large water features is best left to the professionals, but for smaller projects, it's possible to design a great water feature in a single afternoon.

Style and Materials

The materials you use for your water feature should complement the materials and style of your home and garden. For example, if your home is formal, symmetry, formal shapes, then classic materials such as concrete basins will look best in your garden.
If your home is more rustic or located in a more natural setting, a water feature made to look like a natural creek bed may be more fitting.

Scale and Proportion

How much space do you have for your water feature? How will the water feature be viewed, and what kind of statement do you want to make? For example, if you live in an apartment or condo and you want to build a water feature for your balcony, the space may be tight, and you could probably create a great water feature using a couple of small, ceramic or concrete pots. However, in the same space, you may want to make a grand statement and construct a taller wall fountain instead. The scale and proportions should be in keeping with the feeling and aesthetic you are trying to create.
When thinking about scale and proportion, also think about how the water feature will be viewed in relationship to your home. You don't want the water feature or your house to look too big or too small when seen together.
Also consider how the water feature will be viewed. Will it be seen from a few feet away or 50 feet away? Obviously, a water feature that is farther away will need to be larger or it may not have the visual impact it needs. It would be a shame to spend time building a water feature and then realize that it's too small to get any attention.

Basins and Pools

Water features can be constructed using a variety of materials. A simple water feature can be constructed using a ceramic pot and a bamboo spigot. Concrete or ceramic pots are one option. Formed concrete basins can be built for larger projects. These can be left unfinished, finished with ceramic tiles, or colored using stains. For natural-looking, pond and creek bed designs, you will need a flexible pond liner. Whatever material you choose, your pond needs to be as watertight as possible.

Water Volume and Pumps

Just like the pumps in a fish tank, the pump you use in your water feature will be submerged in water. Typically, the pump is located in the lowest basin of water. For example, if you create a basin with a tiered fountain, the pump will sit in the basin at the bottom and pump water up to the top tier. The water then falls down over the tiers simply through the force of gravity.
The pump for your water feature needs to be the appropriate size. Fountain pumps come in different sizes and usually have a small knob on the top or side that allows you to adjust the flow of water.

Planting Around Your Water Feature

Finally, depending on the style and location of your water feature, you may want to plant around the edges. This is especially important if you have constructed a natural, creek bed water feature. A water feature of this type should be planted with native plants from your area. In general, it is best to use plants that like moisture. Although you have done your best to make your water feature watertight, it will lose a bit of water every day from splashing and evaporation. Plant a combination of shrubs, trees, and perennials that will not be adversely affected by this additional water.

The sound of water in the garden can soothe the nerves and block unwanted neighbouring noises.

Whatever your reasons for constructing a great water feature, this should give you some ideas to get started.

Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record
email: rthyssen@rogers.com
web: www.thyssengroup.com