Water features for garden landscapes: the garden pond

Children have been splashing and playing and dabbling in water since the year dot. So what water features for garden landscapes options are there if your kids want some water in your outdoor spaces at home?

"It's pretty much restricted only by your imagination," says Andrew of Lotus Water Gardens. "From tiny little water features that you can fit onto a table or desktop to the largest koi fishponds with creeks running into them or waterfalls or features incorporated into them; the sky's the limit really."

Where do you start?

"One of the first things you'd have to consider is how much space you've got," says Andrew, "and then consider the ages of your children, and that safety aspect. You can get steel wire mesh just beneath the surface of the water to stop them falling in, or you can raise ponds up on a bed so kids can see them but they can't get up into them."

Types of garden ponds

Garden ponds can be made from all sorts of materials. From fibreglass to rubber, cement to stone, stainless steel to copper - the choice is up to you. You can use natural materials such as rock, or you can purchase real-looking rocks made out of latex and epoxy resin. 

Costs

Prices vary according to the size of the pond, the materials used, and whether you install it yourself or employ professionals to do the work.

Water features for garden ponds

Fish are an option, of course. Water plants can add a beautiful element too, but it's important to choose the right plants for your pond and to get the balance right between them. Sometimes you'll need to thin them out if they're growing too fast and taking over the pond. And there are pump and filtration systems available these days that only need to be cleaned once every few months.

"Gone are the days when every week you had to jump into the pond and drag out a filthy old piece of foam from the front of the pump and clean it," says Andrew.

The benefits you'll get from having water in your garden will far outweigh any small amount of effort you have to put in to keep the pond in good, healthy shape.

"The sound of running or trickling water just adds that third dimension to a garden," says Andrew. "Ponds and water features just create a beautiful feeling of tranquillity."

Talk to a garden expert in your area to find out how a pond can bring your water features for garden landscapes to life: