Wading into Water Garden

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Wildlife pools. These provide a constant source of interest, even in the winter months when the foliage dies back and the water surface lures bathing birds to the shallow edges. Providing these shallow bathing edges at a point that can be seen from the house is an important part of the planning process. A beach-like edge is not only important for bathing birds but also provides the vital means of entry and departure for amphibians. If the background to the garden is rural, wildlife pools help blend the countryside into
the garden.

Canals. These also are suitable for formal settings. They use running water to form shallow, narrow streams which can include changes in heights if the garden is sloping. On a level site, the canal forms a long, slender formal pool, generally without plants, which in addition to making a strong visual statement in a balanced garden design introduces a fine thread of reflected light.

Fountain pools. Fountains contribute the delightful sparkle of light and the sound of moving water to pools. They can be used in both formal and informal pools but are most appropriate for formal ones.

Fountains display the full beauty of the light spectrum, making them the ideal centerpiece for formally designed gardens, particularly when there is also an ample clear water surface that reflects the symmetry of the surrounding garden and emphasize its parallel lines.

Fountain spouts also can add interest to walls, where a variety of self-contained or tiered fountains spilling into a base pool can be introduced.

Streams and waterfalls. A slow, meandering stream will add enormous interest to a garden with the most modest of slopes and will allow an expanse of lawn to be broken by movement and lush planting. Where there is sufficient slope, a faster-moving stream bordered by rocks offers the opportunity to plant alpines near the stream edge. Creative gardeners are in their element here, building small rock pools and fashioning babbling sounds as water tumbles down rills.

Self-contained water features. Half barrels, old sinks and sandstone troughs are just a few of the containers that can bring water gardening into small spaces. In addition, there are an increasing number of self-contained kits that use tiny pumps to recirculate water through containers such as urns and cast-iron hand pumps. They easily can be incorporated into any style of garden, introducing sound and movement at the touch of a switch.

Siting

Before taking the final step of choosing a site for the pond, you’ll want to consider some guidelines relating to its size, relative dimensions and profile.

Size. The general rule is the bigger, the better. This is because the larger the pool, the easier it is to manage as time goes on. In addition, most pool owners will admit to wishing they had built a larger pool because they do not have enough room to introduce new plants and/or their fish have outgrown the pool.

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