If you’re a gardener or at least watch DIY and home shows on TV, you’ve probably seen one or two water features. A water feature like a fountain or pond can transform a suburban or even city garden into a magical, soothing oasis. You might be under the impression that a water feature is not only expensive but also hard to maintain. Thankfully, this is not the case.
There are several reasons to consider installing a water feature in your garden. For one, they are not that difficult to maintain. Installing pond aerators will maintain your water features in perfect condition. You just have to clean them out on a regular basis so any decorative stones stay shiny, and so algae don’t build up. This isn’t any harder than regular gardening chores like fertilizing, composting, or weeding. Another reason to have water features is that they attract wildlife like birds, frogs, and butterflies, which are good for your plants and enhance the oasis quality of your garden. Water is also a great way to cool down your garden and make it a pleasant place to be, even when the weather is really hot.
The Benefits of Adding Water Features To A Garden
How do I install a water feature in my garden?
Most of the water features you’ve seen on TV or in magazines are large and embellished with expensive-looking tiles, rocks, and so on. However, you can create very simple, beautiful water features at home without spending much money or even time. The first is a fountain that you can build for under $200 using just two pots, a shallow bowl, a bucket, and a recirculating pump connected to a power source. Plastic tubing joins the two pots, which is where the water shoots through from the pump. The water then flows down the pot’s sides and through steel mesh on top of the bucket, which holds the pump. You can disguise the mesh with rocks.
Another attractive water feature you can add is a watering can fountain. You can even avoid messing with power cords by choosing a solar water pump. Because the pump doesn’t need to be super strong, you can find an affordable one. Hammer a hole in the bottom of a metal watering can, where you can run the tubing through so the water spouts from the can’s holes like when you water plants. Nail the handle of the can to a fence, and set up a tub where the water can go. Rocks and other decorative items can be placed in the tub.
