An attractive water garden can be as simple as a ceramic pot. Choose a container that suits the style of your garden: Italian terracotta works well in a Mediterranean setting, while a contemporary Asian pot creates a calmer, more minimal mood.
If your pot has a drainage hole, plug it with a cork or seal it with a piece of plastic or metal and epoxy. In cold climates, empty the pot or bring it indoors during severe frost so expanding ice does not crack it.
Half barrels also make good water tanks. Add a pump, and you have a self-contained fountain. Place the pump at the bottom of the container, run a rigid tube upward until it breaks the surface, and control the height of the jet with a valve on the line.
If you prefer an easier route, buy a standalone fountain that is ready to install. Many are made from durable stone and include a pump sized for the fountain. Wall fountains are another simple, low-maintenance option: hang the unit on a fence or wall, add water, plug it in, and enjoy the sound.
Still water can become a breeding place for mosquitoes. Change the water regularly, use mosquito-control tablets designed for ponds, or keep small fish where suitable so they can eat mosquito larvae. In ornamental ponds, create hiding places for fish with stacked bricks or stones.
For a larger feature, an above-ground pool is easier to build than a dug pond. Timber edges can double as seating, while a rubber liner keeps the basin watertight. For a more classic look, ask a mason to build a stone basin of about four to five feet square, with a drain in the floor for easy cleaning.
A pondless water feature is another practical option. Water is pumped to the top of a container or rock arrangement, flows down through rounded stones or decorative gravel, and returns to a hidden basin. It gives the sound and movement of water without the upkeep of an open pond.
Start simple. You can always add more features as your time, budget, and interest grow.
Peter Dark
miranda_shida
Yolande A. Bow
Anna Lohan
Lincoln Matheson
