Landscaping with water is one of the best ways to create relaxing retreats in and around your home. A micro water-feature is ideal for small gardens, as it needs a limited volume of water to achieve the maximum visual and audio effects.
Comprising a pump, an attractive accessory and a hidden sump container, a micro water-feature is not only waterwise, but requires the minimum of assembly and is easily portable. It is the closest you get to an “instant” water feature.
An added advantage is that micro water-features are a very easy, low-maintenance option. All planting is done around the feature and not in it, so a specialised knowledge of water plants or algae deterrents is not necessary.
At the simplest level, a millstone or an ornamental birdbath can be used to provide a water feature. These don’t require a pump system, which means they easily can be positioned anywhere in the garden, and simply topped up with water when necessary.
With a surrounding planting of mondo grass and a dwarf bamboo or iris, an Oriental look can be created. Alternatively, use brown stone pebbles and a traditional clay pot for an ethnic look.
Bubbling millstone ponds, waterfalls, multiple-tier water features and fountains require a pump (make sure that you choose the correct sized one), and therefore need to be connected to an electrical supply point. If the water feature is sited near the house, a hole drilled through a wall next to a plug point is all that is required. The experienced handyman will be able to set up an electricity supply point for water features further away from the house, but the inexperienced should employ an electrician.
There is a wide range of relatively inexpensive do-it-yourself micro water-features on the market. They come in a range of styles from natural rock types to classically sculpted features. By giving some thought to surrounding plantings and ornamentation, a highly individual look can be achieved, and your mini-oasis may end up as the star performer in your garden.
Water wise
Choosing a small waterfall or fountain requires more skill, particularly if you are a water wise gardener, as they are notorious for losing water to evaporation. The more water splashed, the more loss to evaporation there will be.
If you are in a garden centre and looking at fountains, keep in mind that a pond needs to be one-and-a-half times wider than the height of the fountain to prevent water splashing out of the pond.
To avoid water loss, choose fountains that produce course droplets rather than sprayers or fountains with a fine spray – the latter lose more water to evaporation than the former. In addition, avoid extravagant high-pressure movement in fountains and waterfalls as these have high evaporation rates.
Switching off the pump when you don’t need to see the fountain or waterfall is also a water-efficient approach – evaporation is greatest during the hot midday and afternoon hours.
While it is not feasible to have deep micro water-features, do be aware that a shallow pond will lose more water to evaporation than a deep pond. Also be aware that dark pigment colours on the inside of water features cause temperatures to rise and encourage evaporation.
Tips for success
l If you have very small children, buy a feature that doesn’t have open water – or fill the pond with pebbles for the time being.
l When buying your micro water-feature, make sure that there are no cracks in the units and that the rims of the ponds are not distorted. If the feature stands on a pedestal, make sure it is stable.
l If the feature you want includes moving bits such as a waterwheel, make sure it is well built and will withstand years of movement.
l Check that the pump works and has a guarantee.
l Look after your micro water-feature by always keeping it full of water and clean.
l Finally, if you have dogs that routinely wade through your pond and splash water all over, the water-efficient approach would be to restrict their access (which may also reduce your carpet-cleaning bills). - Saturday Star