Water Garden, What Is It? Why Should I Try It?
By: Oddrun Saeterbo

Water garden or pond is either natural or man-made. Obviously, we are interested in man-made water gardens in our backyards.

A water garden can be raised in a large container, disused large vessel, or any other make shift vessel/ contraption or preferably, if you have space and resources, in the open yard. These days people make water gardens anywhere between a few feet in diameter to several dozens of square yards.

A water garden is not an aquarium to raise beautiful fish. It should be developed into a mini ecosystem with water plants, a few kinds of fish, water snails

Soon, if you have space and trees to provide suitable habitat, water birds, frogs, water insects, worms, (even sometimes snakes to feed on them, if you happen to live in a rural/ semi-urban area with large vegetation) would grace your pond. It's a delight to watch the nature at work.

Moreover, you can invest obscene sums on it! Though these days, commercial firms build hi-tech water gardens at economic prices, do it just for the immense benefit it can bring to you.

It relaxes you, away from the hustle bustle of daily life. It gives you a place to engage entire family in some activity, helping the precious family interaction. Nothing can be more inviting to read your favorite books at. Even, the little work it requires, less than an hour each week, is inspiring for not being mundane.

Water gardens can be any of the following types each with a distinct impression of it's own:

· Still pond - Its surreal to watch the reflection of sky or vegetation on its placid surface. The ripples caused by soft breeze or its aquatic inhabitants were a treat for eyes.

· Pond with a stream - the water flowing through the stream gets filtered, make it more beautiful with a soft gurgle and helps enticing more creatures, besides humans, to visit your garden.

· Pond with a waterfall or cataract - needless to say the dynamism it brings to the garden, for a few bucks more, of course, is enchanting. These can be operated intermittently, recycling the pond water through a pump.

· Pond with rapids - like waterfall, it adds dynamism but the froth over rocks has a look of its own.

· Pond with fountains and statues - with a right integrated statue and fountain combination, you get a classic ambience to your garden. It becomes part of memories of your visitors.

So, why hesitate! Create a water garden to suit your resources, either with a do-it-yourself kit or commercially on turnkey basis. Grab your yellow pages now or just Google the net!

About the Author:
Oddrun Saeterbo is a landscape gardener, and makes articles about landscape and gardening. She also writes articles about other subjects. For more information, view this website: http://www.waterfall-gardenlive.com/ Also look at http://www.garden-waterfountain.com/

Source: Isnare

Waterfall Construction Basics
By Steve Buchanan

If you wish to incorporate a waterfall into your garden you should make careful planning the word of the day. Not only will you need to study and understand design aspects and sheer physics, you should also make the effort to learn about what is needed in order to support the plant and animal life you wish to incorporate into your waterfall and garden and/or fish pond.

There are many different water features that can be added to a garden in order to make it more tranquil, relaxing, and appealing. One feature that is growing in popularity is the waterfall. This is a great way to include exotic plants and ornamental fish with a little touch of beauty in your garden area.

When making your plans take careful note of whether you can do all the necessary labor that is needed yourself or if you will need an extra set of hands or possibly some skilled labor--depending on your own skill sets--for the task. You should also take note that there are several options available to you one of which is a pre-formed fiberglass unit for the pond and in many cases the waterfall as well. If your budget allows and you are concerned about your skills being up to the task of creating a waterfall, this may by far be the best route to take. No matter the decision, the labor typically begins with digging.

You should also take careful stock of the circumstances of your waterfall and select a pump that will meet your needs. If you do not have an adequate pump, your waterfall and all of your efforts will prove far too soon to be wasted effort. In addition to a pump you should also check on a good filtration system for your waterfall and pond. This is particularly important if you plan to keep fish in your pond. A good filter is essential at keeping the water clean and clear and the animals beneath the surface happy and healthy. Also they are difficult to see and appreciate if the water is murky.

When you are in the building process for your waterfall let creativity dictate the placement of rocks when possible but keep in mind the practicalities involved. You will be amazed at the beautiful affect you have created for your garden area when all is said and done, up and running.

The final process of construction is typically the installation of the hose, pump, filter, and electrical supply. This is an important step, as your waterfall will not function without it. Take great caution during this step and be ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy your new and improved garden.

Steve Buchanan writes article on many topics including Honda Lawn Mowers, Honda Generators and Snow Blower

Source: Free-Articles-Zone

Where To Put Your Water Garden
By: Christopher Smith

Like so many things in life, the location is one of the most important aspects to consider when making any changes. Here are a couple of things to consider when you build your dream water garden:

1. Call Before You Dig
While this one seems obvious, its surprising the number of people who forget to call the appropriate utility companies about phone,gas and power lines, only to accidently cut them. One simple phone call avoids all sorts of problems, ensuring that you wont have to worry about delays to your project and iritate your neighbours when their phone or electricity no longer works.

2. Made In the Shade
Consider the pattern of the sun and its impacts on shadows in your yard. Also, remember that the direction the sun crosses the sky will change between spring and fall. The angle of the sun will dictate what type of shade you need to create, and where to place your trees and water pond. Many plants require 6 hours of direct sunlight.

3. Regional Considerations
What type of weather and soil conditions can you expect in the area you live in? You may find that the type of soil will dictate the types of plants and trees you can use to create your backyard paradise.

4. Existing Structures
Keep in mind existing structures such as trees, fences and patios. Will your plan mean removing trees? Will the design of your artificial water garden compliment your existing back yard, or will further changes have to be made? These considerations may add to the cost of your project. Keep your neighbours informed of your plans. You may find that they are willing to share in the cost of removing that tree or help in rebuilding the new fence.

5. Hows It Flowin?
Spend time tracking the direction and intensity of water flows that plants need and intensity of that water flow. You may find that some parts of your yard recieve more water than others based on the flow of the water in your yard. You may find that there is a sloping effect in your yard. This will impact your vegetation. Also check for pools of water that gather in certain spots. Raising the level of parts of your yard will ensure that all of your yard recieves the same amount of water.

6. Drawing the line
Remember to respect property codes for your city and wishes of your neighbours. Having an envious neighbour is one thing, violating their rights is another. When in doubt, check it out.

7. Whats the Plan?
Keep the focus of your site in mind throughout all aspects of your yard. Are you building a barrier, an escape from the rest of the city or just looking to make your yard look better for the next owners? This should weight in on all of your decisions.

Before you build your back yard retreat, plan, plan, plan. Remember, there are several factors to consider and the above lucky 7 tips should help you make the perfect water garden yours.

About the Author:
Anyone who has seen the magic of an artificial water garden is immediately taken by its beauty and peacefulness. We feature several tips and ideas to transform your yard. http://www.magicalwatergardens.com

Source: Isnare

About Water Garden
By: Daniel Roshard

Once you have decided that you want to build a water garden in your garden or back yard you will need to make bigger and crucial decisions about how the whole thing is going to look, how are you going to make sure that each element you want in your water garden will be successful and help the entire water garden environment flourish.

As everyone knows there are many different water gardens, and from my experience most people already have some idea about the general look and theme they look for, but sometimes people are not educated enough to make the choices, some times home owners discover other, unknown water gardens after they that invested a lot of their energy, efforts and money into their existing water garden.

The basic idea in planning and even designing your own water garden is to have a lot of information before you even start imagining how its going to look and how much time you will spend in your new garden. Surf the internet and look for things you like, and things that you dislike. As you start seeing more and more internet sites, articles and photos start also paying attention to costs and maintenance costs and details as well. If you do your research correctly if will be very easy for you to make the right decision once the moment for that has come.

Two very different and always gorgeous basic concepts are the western water garden which can be mostly found in Europe and consists mainly of the water pond features and a matching garden on the same space, and the oriental, meaning mostly Japanese water garden which places a lot of importance of the whole look and harmony created between the space nature and men.

Although a lot of people have a very clear idea what they want and stick with their basic feelings, sometime one is fascinated by something completely different and changes his mind, the problem in that case is that if this person did not do his research he is going to need to recalculate the costs and start looking at the space differently, this is very significant in moving from a western European approach, which basically can match itself fairly easy to the average style of building, than to switch from the oriental approach to the European one.

Both of these popular water garden designing styles are beautiful and would make anyone feel great sitting in his or hers water garden to relax and reflect on things, read a book or take a nap, meditate or spend time with the family. It is clear that people have different needs and different passions, some want a fish free garden as others are mainly interested in fish, it is obvious that it is these needs that will dictate all that follows, costs and maintenance and the level of dedication to be involved in maintaining or even enlarging your water garden.

As with all other things a research will set you on your feet before you start shopping, like that you will also start a better chance of discovering different sales techniques and you will not be easy to convince going a different direction, this research will only do good things to your future water garden.

About the Author:
Daniel Roshard is an interior designer fascinated by outdoor architecture, he is currently studying public parks and outdoor design. Daniel is writing articles about home improvement and Water Gardens. You can read his latest work on Water Garden here.

Source: Isnare

Pondless Waterfalls
by: Alice J Scott

Pondless waterfalls are the newest idea in water features. They're so practical and we do love practical. Exactly what is a pondless waterfall - just what it sounds like. It is a water feature with a waterfall, but no pond.

The waterfall disappears into a tub at the bottom of the falls and recirculates through a piece of tubing back to the top of the falls. It gives the illusion of the water just falling down the hill and disappearing back into the rocks.

You get most of the benefits of having a pond: the sound of the running water and the natural setting. And you get much more. Gone is the liability of a pond. If you have small children around, this may be important. A pondless waterfall can be installed in a front yard or an area where a pond could be a liability.

A pondless waterfall can be installed in a very small area compared to a pond. This makes the installation much easier and less expensive. The maintenance is drastically cut over the maintenance necessary with a pond.

The expense of a pondless waterfall is much less than building a pond. There is no large hole to dig and you need only a small piece of pond liner. The pondless waterfall also uses very little water.

Pondless Waterfall kits are available at a reasonable cost or you can purchase the necessary components individually, too. You can build it yourself if you like and there are services that specialize in installing the new pondless waterfalls.

We're in the process of building one ourselves and you can view the photos of our progress at our website. It's been a very interesting and enjoyable project and it has really improved an area of our yard that we didn't really use before. Now it's become our favorite sitting spot. The sound of the running water is very relaxing.

If you've always wanted a water feature in your yard, this may be the answer.

Source: Article City

Adding a Water Feature to Your Yard
by: Cynthia Bates

If you feel that your backyard is lacking a certain something, a water feature might be just the thing to bring new life to your outdoors. There are many different types of water features to consider, such as a pond or a waterfall. Flowing or still water has a peaceful relaxing quality to it, and water features allow you to bring this natural beauty right into your own yard. You may be thinking that the care and upkeep of a water feature may not be worth the hassle, but they are much less labor intensive as you may think. By following a few simple guidelines and understanding how your water feature lives and breathes, you can enjoy this natural work of art for as long as you own your home.

Water fountains are considerably easier to deal with then a water garden. Fountains must be regularly cleaned, but really require little upkeep. If you want a successful water garden you will probably need to invest a little more time, especially when you're first trying to get it established. When creating a water garden, it is vital that you understand the relationships between the plants and animals coexisting in this environment. If you want your water garden to thrive, you'll need to take special care to choose the right fauna and flora.

Many new pond owners have problem with algae. If you don't want to be cleaning out your pond every few weeks, adding a few fish can greatly help as can floating plants which help to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the algae. Ensure you don't have an excessive amount of chlorine in your water, especially if you have fish. You may want to install a pump and/or a filter along with regularly checking the pH level of water (should be between six and eight).

If you're having your pond installed for you, ask the professionals for advice on getting started. If you are still unsure about where to start you can also buy one of several books which can guide you step-by-step through the process of creating your own water garden. Once your pond is established you will likely find the upkeep to be quite minimal.

Many people find that adding a water feature to their yard can literally transform their entire surroundings. Ponds, fountains, and waterfalls add a natural beauty and serenity to any outdoor area, no matter how small or modest.

Source: Article City

Garden Water Feature - The Fish Dish
By: Maisy Day

Want to be the envy of all the neighbours in the avenue then a water feature has to be placed into the garden. What ever fancy garden ornamentation that is to be - is entirely up to your own choosing. Because of the many designs and fixtures you may come up against problems in trying to decide what water garden feature to have.

The pond is a water feature found in most gardens today in all shapes and sizes and enhanced to the full with added extras to set the scene. Water lilies - bull rushes and reeds are just a few to mention. But it is the under water life that makes the pond more attractive (fish). Remember when adding a water feature to the garden - take extra precautions in the safety measures where children are concerned.

Water garden features like the pond and the fish also need care and attention. Ponds have to be cleaned regular and fish need to be fed. Questions that crop up from many water garden owners is how to feed the fish - what type of feed should be used - how much and how often. Well the answer to that is there is no real fixed amount of fish food to give.

Of course there are some important issues on what to feed the fish. You have to take into account the fish`s size its appetite and their delicate digestive system which can differ due to water temperature changes.

Beginning from early spring to late autumn you will find the fish very energetic so it will do no harm to feed them every day. If the fish are prepared to take more then so be it. Remember you are not force feeding them so if the fish don`t want to bite then they wont. However, towards the colder months lessen the frequency of feed intake. Sometimes due to the fishs stillness at winter time then no feed is necessary

Try not to instigate problems for your fish`s well being by denying them the right food.

While the fish are in the mood to dine it is best to serve up a dish that will help them to stay active and healthy. Nourishing fish food is highly recommended. Bread/biscuit meal and ants eggs are less nutritional and can cause problems to the digestive system. Floating pellets filled with high-protein are very nutritious. By feeding the fish this way you get to see more of them as they surface for feeding.

Once the garden is the way you have always dreamed of full of foliage -shrubs and sweet scented flowers and of course your water garden feature - then remember that all the surrounding plant growth will attract insects so feeding the fish at this time is not necessary. Natural food supply should start to continue again with pellets in the autumn, this will help perk the fish up in their preparation to face the winter. Repeat pellet feeding in spring it will help the fish recover more rapidly ready for breeding.

Water features and creatures go hand in hand in adding beauty to the garden. Expect toads - newts and frogs to hang out in the pond area. Your water garden has not only given you a garden ornament that the neighbours would die for - it is the thought of giving a home to natures aquatic water life.

About the Author:
Need time out to relax http://www.benidormbeaches.com Beautiful gardens make beautiful people http://www.spotthepimple.com

Source: Isnare

Adding A Water Feature To Your Backyard
By: James Carlson

We live stressful lives these days and the only sanctuary most people have is their home. Because of this you want to make your home as relaxing as possible. One way to do that is to create an extraordinary backyard that is both beautiful and relaxing. One way to accomplish this is by adding a water feature. Read this short article for some information on the different types of water features you could add to your home.

Perhaps the most popular type of water feature is the fountain. It is also one of the easiest to create since all you typically have to do is buy the fountain, bring it home, add water and plug it in. They are available at just about any home improvement store and come in a variety of different designs and sizes. If you are really handy you could even make your own with a water pump and some pots. If you want an easy project that adds to your backyard enjoyment a fountain is probably for you.

The next type of water feature to consider is a pond. Ponds are more complex than water features but are worth the extra effort. Just like fountains, ponds are available in kit form from many home improvement store but they are much more difficult to install. They will involve excavating a large hole in your yard as well as setting up a small ecosystem. They are not for amateurs so if you would like a pond but do not have the experience you should consider calling a professional.

The last type of water feature I will talk about is a waterfall. Waterfalls are a very dramatic feature and will add much to an existing pond feature. They are even more complex than ponds and require tedious setup and attention to detail. This is a job for the pros but if you want a backyard that will blow visitors away, a waterfall is for you.

As you can see there are many different types of water features available. Choose the one that best suits you and your needs and you are sure to enjoy it. Good luck

About the Author:
Learn more about landscaping at The Landscaper List , a website about landscaping pros.

Source: Isnare

A Water Feature For Your Patio - The Types Available And How They Work
By Adrian Kinley

A water feature will bring tranquillity to your patio and is an ideal substitute for a pond if you have neither the time nor the inclination to maintain one. They are also much safer than a pond where young children are concerned.

The larger water features require a reservoir to feed them their water. These pebble pool reservoirs vary in size (the larger the feature, the larger the reservoir required) but the average is around 2 ft wide.

You simply bury the reservoir and sit your chosen water feature on top. Place some rocks and pebbles around the base, add water and switch on.

Unlike a pond, all of the water is continually recycled and because there is no plant or fish life you can use special water feature clarifying solutions to keep it crystal clear.

Water features big enough to require a reservoir should only be used on a large patio area or set up some distance from it. Remember, you are trying to create a tranquil effect with the sound of trickling water and not recreate the sights and sounds of Niagara Falls. While some of these big features may look spectacular they can be over powering.

For the small to average size patio there are lots of options. Many free standing water features are solar powered which means when you rearrange your patio furniture you can also move the feature to a new spot. Being solar powered also means there are no cables to bury and they cost nothing to run. The downside of course is that they require direct sunlight to function where as a feature that is powered from the mains can be used after sunset.

Another option is a wall fountain. These consist of a small trough with an outlet a foot or two above in the design of a lion's mouth, dolphin, flower etc. The trough acts as the reservoir and a small pump hidden in the back feeds the water up to the outlet.

Wall fountains are ideal if your patio butts up to the back of your home. Positioning the fountain directly behind an internal power supply means an electrician can easily get a mains supply to the feature without any cables being visible.

For more patio tips and ideas please visit http://www.build-a-patio.com

Source: Ezine Articles

Incorporate A Water Feature In Your Landscaping
By Bill Prudehome

A water feature placed strategically in a landscape or garden provides a dynamic element to what is usually a static design. Water elements provide tranquility and a sense of calm. The sound and visual effects provided by flowing water are known for their soothing and stress relieving qualities. As a side benefit water features have been known to increase property values by as much as 10%.

Water features can be as simplistic as a statue acting as a fountain to highly complex designs that mimic natural features with multiple terraces and water cascading over a rock bed. Water flow can be slow or swift, with the feature used as a background or as the predominant design element. Only your imagination and budget control the final appearance.

Attract wildlife, from an abundance of birds to squirrels and chipmunks and depending on the location of your property larger animals such as deer. Depending on your climate adding fish to ponds and streams enhances the overall water feature.

The addition of a water feature allows you to dramatically expand the types of plants and flora that can be incorporated into your landscaping.

Many individuals hesitate when considering adding a water feature because of they feel that they are complex to install and require a great deal of maintenance. The complexity of the installation is relative to how dramatic the water feature is and the level of maintenance is relative to the initial investment in the quality of the pumping, aeration and filtration equipment installed.

In the past it was necessary to buy numerous components for your water feature and hope that all the different pieces of equipment were compatible with one another. Now many manufactures are supplying complete kits that contain all of the necessary pumps, filters, aerators, piping and connectors to ensure that all of the pieces of hardware work in conjunction with one another.

Once you have determined that you are going to install a water feature within your landscaping check with your municipal building department for any special requirements and if a permit is required. Remember that water features are difficult to relocate and usually expensive to modify. Planning is the key to success.

For additional information on landscaping your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Source: Ezine Articles

Water Features
By David E. Edwards

In landscaping and garden design, water features comprise the full range of fountains, pools, ponds, cascades, waterfalls, and streams. Water features are relaxing and soothing; they stimulate both visual and audio senses. Up-to-date research indicates that they are the number one item a home owner would like to add to their property.

These days you are only limited by the imagination, with new materials and modern technology helping to control water in virtually any form. They are the hottest trend in landscaping today and are very popular as an addition to any garden. Water features are often suggested by landscapers worldwide as garden additions to help increase the enjoyment owners get from their property.

Since the eighteenth century the majority of water features have been powered by pumps. Modern pump engineering allows for virtually any size or shape of water characteristic to be constructed. Outdoor Water Fountains are remarkably effective at creating a good sense of natural tranquility in any garden. The harmony and cool, watery atmosphere water features offer are no doubt behind the increasing fascination homeowners have toward constructing and installing water into the garden.

You could make your own water features, though it might be a good idea to seek expert advice from water garden landscapers first, especially if your project is fairly ambitious in nature. A water feature set strategically in a garden provides a dynamic element to what is usually a very static design. Landscape gardening around water can be simple and a lot of fun if you plan in advance. The addition of water allows you to dramatically expand the types of plants and flora that can be incorporated into your garden.

If you are uncertain what to do, seek advice from experts or your local water garden centre. In landscaping, there is a rule: People should be able to hear the sound of their water feature. Many people enjoy the sound of running or flowing water in their gardens, which is why landscaping companies receive so many orders for adding water into gardens year round.

A water feature is always a place of refreshment.They are remarkably efficient at creating a sense of natural tranquility in any garden. The soothing sound of water transforms the environment in which they are placed, into one of calm and relaxation.

With the additions of coloured jumping jets, natural swimming ponds and water displays controlled from your own PC you can be assured that landscape gardeners will soon have to re-educate themselves and become water technicians of the future.

David 'Goldie' Edwards is managing director of a Water Features company based in the UK. His Pond Supplies webpage gives clients the opportunity to further enhance their Aquatic knowledge and skills

Source: Ezine Articles

Tips On How To Pick The Perfect Water Feature For Your Garden
By Penny Day

Whether you choose a traditional sunken pool to enhance your garden, or want to relax to the gentle sound of a water fountain at the end a stressful day, we've got some great ideas and buys to suit every outdoor space.

What you need to know
Choose the best position

If you install a feature with running water, such as a fountain, stream or waterfall, you might need a reservoir tank, so bear this in mind when choosing the best spot. Fountains and running water also need access to electricity to operate a pump, unless they are solar powered.

If you want to install a pond, it will need to be in a spot that gets at least five hours of natural light a day- preferably sunshine - for the water to remain clear for fish and plants. Avoid overhanging trees and shrubs, as fallen leaves can choke a pond and poison the water.

Take care of your feature

Ponds and water features will benefit from an annual clean. The best time to do this is in spring, which will give aquatic plants time to re-establish themselves before summer.

A word of caution Safety is important, especially if you have young children, in which case it would be best to postpone a water feature until they are older. Use a qualified electrician to instal cabling. Look in Yellow PAges for registered NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) electrician, or call 020 7564 2323.

Electrically-powered water features
Transform a terracotta pot

Nestling a beautiful pot or urn among your border palnts and then using it as a water feature will give your garden a restful feel. You can buy complete kits, such as the terracotta urn water feature, £449 from Crocus, or create something similar to the one pictured for yourself. Simply choose a suitable pot or urn from your local garden centre, find the perfect place for it in your garden and then ask a qualified electrician to install the cabling to run a water pump.

Make a focal point with a wall feature

For a timeless look to your patio, install a traditional wall fountain. You'll need an electrician to connect a water pump (from £20 at DIY stores) to the electricity mains indoors, which will feed water from a water reservoir through a pipe behind the wall to the mouth of the fountain. For a selection of wall fountains, try Arcadian.

Create a two-tier cascade

Give your garden an informal look by using recycled materials, such as old stone tubs and troughs - your best source will be local architectural salvage yards (check out www.salvo.co.uk for your nearest). Expect prices to start from around £40. To create this tiered water feature the water is pumped up through a hidden pipe from the reservoir trough to the tub at the top. The water then overflows naturally back down into the reservoir. Get a qualified electrician to install the cabling needed to run the pump.

Be different with a pebble design

If you would like something a little unusual, a pebble fountain is ideal. You'll need to install a small water reservoir under the pebbles and a pump, which will require electricity, to circulate the water. Use a qualified electrician to do the electrical work. Buy a bag of pebbles from somewhere like B&Q and let the water spill over them.

Solar-powered water features
Go solar for easy installation

A charming copper Solar Cascade fountain, from Greenfingers, is powered entirely by solar energy, so it's a lot more simple to install as there's no electrical work required. Either place it in a large pond or in a smaller water feature to make an attractive focal point. For similar solar features, have a look on Greenfingers' website.

Try a floating fountain

Add interest to your pond with a solar pond island fountain. It simply floats on the surface of the water to create a solar-powered water feature that operates in direct sunlight, so there's no installation or running costs.

Add interest to a sunny spot

A tiered solar cascade fountain is the perfect feature for a sunny spot on a patio. As long as it's in direct sunlight, the water will gently trickle from one tier to another. A mains adapter is included in the price, so you could move it indoors for winter.

Ponds
Build a kit-form raised pond

If you'd like a garden pond, but don't want to go to the trouble of digging a hole, you can buy a charming raised pond in kit form, complete with liner and pump. Try Garden Oasis for a range of pond options.

Turn a tub into a pool

For a small space, tubs and half-barrels (available from DIY shops and garden centres) are ideal for a creating a mini pond. Ready-to-use water-tight barrels cost around £20, but you can recycle an old one by lining it with pond liner, which sells for around £3 per sq m. Secure the liner in place with a flexible metal strip from Screwfix - an 81cm length costs £1.99.

How to create a traditional pond

Ensure that the site for your pond is level and then mark out its shape on the ground. So wildlife can hop in and out safely, choose a design that has ledges at the edges of the pond, no more than 15cm deep.

If you are using a flexible liner, dig a hole the size and shape you want or if you have chosen a preformed, rigid liner dig a hole to match its shape. No matter how tough your pond liner appears to be, it will need to be protected from sharp stones underneath, so add a layer of damp builder's sand before positioning the liner.

For a flexible liner, allow an overlap of arounf 15cm all round and hold the edges in place with bricks. For a rigid liner, place in the hole and check it is level, and then weigh it down with 5cm of water. Fill up any holes between the edge of the liner and ground with a builder's sand or crumbly soil.

Fill your pond with water - smooth out wrinkles in a flexible liner as the the water runs in. Trim away any surplus flexible liner from the edges, leaving sufficient to secure underneath your chosen edging material: use paving stones or pebbles, for a natural look.

Six easy-to-grow aquatic plants

Introduce plants between April and September - waiting a few days after filling a new pond with tap water to allow time for the chlorine to disperse. Put your plants in lined plastic planting baskets, using a special pond compost such as Westland Aquatic Compost, which costs around £2.49 for 10ltr from garden centres. Top with pea gravel to weight the basket down and to stop the compost washing into the water. Place the basket in the pond to the required depth after reading the growers' instructions on the labels attached to the plants.

• Canna lilies: Few plants can match the spectacular appearance of canna lilies, which have gladiola-like blooms from mid-summer to early autumn, and can grow up to 1.8m in a season. Canna thrive in full sun and rich soil and are ideal plants for the edge of your pond.

• Rushes: To make the most of space in a tiny pond, plant tall slender plants such as slim soft rushes.

• Water lettuce: Water lettuce, which prefers sun with some shade, will add an exotic feel to your pond. It has fine feathery roots that turn from white to purple, and then black.

• Water lilies: These are a must for any pond - we like the pygmy water lily, which has tiny, star-shaped, yellow flowers, and the many different mildly scented varieties.

• Taro: Known for its large, heart-shaped leaves, Taro can be grown at the edges of a pond. It likes sun or partial shade and prefers rich moist soil. Larger varieties can grow up to 1.8m tall.

• Flame or painted nettle: Painted nettle will add intense, hot colour to the edges of a pond and is ideal for partially shady spots. It can grow up to 90cm tall, and its highly coloured nettle-like leaves come in a range of shades, from lime green and yellow, to bright red and aubergine

You can find more information on garden advice and garden design ideas at house to home, helping you create a look you'll love

Source: Ezine Articles