• Gardening: Creating your own water feature

Gardening: Creating your own water feature

We all have a connection with water. 

Water soothes, revitalises, heals and brings us much pleasure. Maybe it’s the breath-taking waterfall, or the rain pelting on the roof of your house or gliding through the water at your local swimming pool, whatever the connection, it’s special.

Water is found in many Japanese gardens as it is a fundamental element in human existence. To have water in the garden certainly brings an up-lifting element to your outdoor space.

But water features can be expensive to buy, or mass produced with cheap materials.

If neither the costly or the cheaper option spin your wheels, with a little creativity and ingenuity you can make your own.

Water features can be expensive.

 

Self-confessed ‘Jack-of-Trades’ Tony Weber, bowed to pressure and created the following small garden water feature. This basic design can be altered to suit your individual needs. 

Steps to creating a water feature

This particular design uses a safe, out-door power source. If this is a problem, you can buy water pumps that are powered by solar.

There are many fabulous pots to choose from.

 

Go to your local hardware store and select a ceramic planter pot that will complement your garden design. There are many fabulous pots to choose from. You may have an abandoned pot somewhere in your garden that would be perfect!

Pipe work that connects the poly riser to the water pump.

 

Pipework to go through the centre of the pot to the top.

 

Ensure there is a drainage hole in the bottom.

While in the hardware store you will need to buy the water pipe and fittings necessary for the operation of the water feature.

Reservoir that your water feature and pump sit in.

 

You will also need a submersible water pump. For this water feature it was necessary to buy a 20- watt pump which had enough power to pump the water out of the top of the pot.

Go to the PVC pipe fittings aisle in the store. Ask for assistance if need be!

You will need a poly riser; this is how the water will travel to the top of the pot. You also need the fittings necessary that will seal the hole in the bottom of the pot (see image).

To connect the poly riser to the water pump you need a 20mm 90-degree Hansen waterpipe fitting, a couple of hose clips and a short length of Vinyl tube. Fit together as shown.

Connect the vinyl tube to the water pump.

To collect the overflow of water from the pot you will need a reservoir. This is what your water feature and submersible pump sit in.

Water feature in the reservoir.

 

Ensure that the reservoir is level in the ground. Use some old pavers or bricks to raise your pot off the bottom of the reservoir.

Fill the pot and reservoir with water. It is very important that the pump remains submerged when in use.

Switch on.

If all is well, a small jet of water should bubble from the pipe outlet. Give yourself a pat on the back!

Use stones and plants to dress-up the water feature and hide the reservoir.

 

As the pot fills to capacity the water will run down the sides of the pot. The glaze used on the pot, combined with the water will create very pretty effects.

Using stones and plants you can conceal the reservoir.

To further beautify your water feature you can use a water plant which will conceal the pipe and trail over the edge of the pot. Simply place some bricks/old pavers inside the pot and sit the plant at the correct level.

Water plants can be used to create interest and conceal the outlet pipe.

 

The water plant used in this design is Rotala Indica.

Sit back and enjoy!