Water in the garden
March 1st, 2010 | By: Dar Webb
What garden is truly complete without the sound and beauty of water? Think of the beautiful gardens you have visited: a water feature of some form is probably an integral component to many of your favorite garden spaces.
A formal stone fountain adds a focal point to the garden. Photo by: JK Lawrence Photography
Water features can take on many forms and characteristics, from a small bubbling stone or vase with the soothing sounds of trickling water to a large feature pumping several hundred gallons per minute, masking unwanted freeway noise. Even a simple basin of water, filled periodically by a rainstorm or irrigation over-spray reflects the sky above while providing a temporary bath for visiting birds. Water features can mask or drown out unwanted noise, provide the soothing sounds of moving or falling water, create wildlife habitat, provide visual beauty and drama, and provide a cooling effect during hot summer days. They can be natural or architectural, traditional or contemporary. When designed properly, they reinforce the design of the home and garden and integrate with other features of the garden to provide a soothing atmosphere.
Dramatic cascading water feature re-enforce the northwest contemporary feel of home. Architecture by Mosaic Architecture.
While few people argue the positive attributes of a beautiful water feature, many are apprehensive about adding water to the garden. Maintenance concerns always top the list: everyone has seen poorly designed features with green slimy water or experienced the difficulty of keeping water clear and free of unwanted algae. With the rise of West Nile disease, the fear of creating a mosquito habitat is a real concern. While no water feature is completely maintenance free, ongoing maintenance can be kept to a minimum with proper planning, design and construction. Budget is also a common concern: In terms of cost, water features can range from as little as a few hundred dollars for a high-quality prefabricated fountain that can be filled and plugged in, to several thousand dollars or more for a custom designed feature built to your exact requirements.
When adding a fountain or water feature to the garden, there are many things to consider. First, think about the design or character of the feature you want. Do you want a prefabricated stand alone fountain, or one that is custom designed and built? What type of sound are you looking for: a bubbling trickle or large torrent creating lots of white noise? What are the characteristics of the site: a small intimate courtyard or a large garden with open spaces? Is your garden natural or formal? What is your budget? Do you want to chemically treat the water to keep it clear, or establish a balanced ecosystem to keep the water clear naturally? All of these things should be carefully considered before deciding on a specific look or type of feature. Consulting with a landscape architect, garden designer, or landscape contractor who has experience with the type of feature you are looking for can help save time and money once you decide to move ahead.
Natural and formal stone elements add drama to this entry fountain.
While the design, cost, and characteristics of a water feature can span the full spectrum, if you are creating a custom-built fountain or feature and artificially moving and storing water, several basic components are critical. First and foremost is waterproofing. There are several different materials typically used for lining water features. The most cost effective is using a rubber or PVC liner. Liners come in rolls of varying lengths and can be custom cut to create any shape desired. For large features or ponds, sections of liner can be melded or spliced together. Once the hole is dug and the liner installed (typically over some kind of protection layer like old carpeting or felt), rock is typically added to create the finished look. Another option is to form the basin with steel-reinforced concrete or gunite (sprayed on concrete similar to how swimming pools are constructed), and then apply an elastic waterproofing material prior to adding stone or other aesthetic finishes. While rubber liners are cost effective and relatively easy to install by the “do-it-yourselfer,” I steer my clients away from this option in all but the smallest of features. No matter how carefully they are installed, liner systems will leak at some time down the road. Well-built concrete features are nearly bullet-proof and will provide decades of dependable service.
The next major component to take into consideration is how to keep the water clear: naturally or artificially. With a natural feature, the goal is to create a balanced miniature ecosystem. Aquatic plants, fish, frogs, and snails are all vital components to create a balanced system. Keeping the water oxygenated and shaded during hot spells, if possible, help keep unwanted algae blooms in check. Time and a certain amount of trial and error are usually required to create a balanced biology in your pond, but the efforts can be well worth it. Pets can freely drink from your feature, along with birds and other types of wildlife. You also get to enjoy the beauty of aquatic plants and fish in your pond.
A carved basalt column fountain creates a soothing focal point to the garden.
The alternate way to keep the water clear is to treat it chemically, and or with ultra-violet light. While many people are concerned with potentially harmful chemicals in the water for pets and wildlife, it is possible to keep the water clear with small amounts of bromine and an in-line ultraviolet filter. When designed and managed correctly, these can provide clear water that is safe for animals.
A well thought out and executed mechanical system is the final component to creating a properly functioning and easy to maintain system. Important considerations include pump size and type, a way to periodically drain the system for routine maintenance, auto-fill to keep the water level consistent, and filtration. There are two basic types of pumps, centrifugal and submersible. In most home garden features, the submersible pump is the best choice. The pump is submerged in the lowest point of the feature and pumps water back up to the water feature source. Historically, submersible pumps were often housed in the bottom of the pond, making routine maintenance difficult. Now, it’s much more typical to house the pump, filters, and auto-fill mechanism in a separate vault, making access for maintenance easy and convenient. A strainer and separate filter should always be placed at the intake pipe in front of the pump to make sure water entering the pump is free of debris and particulates. Housing the pump outside of the feature makes draining and cleaning your fountain much easier as well. To avoid standing water, which can create prime mosquito habitat, it’s best to run the feature constantly, so it’s important to make the system as energy efficient as possible. Choosing the correct type and size of pump and pipe is critical to creating the effect you want without wasting energy.
Water features can be simple or complex and can be created for just about any budget level. When properly designed and constructed, custom fountains or water features add visual beauty, drama, and the element of sound to your garden experience.
