The Calming Effects of Water
All water features above were created by Landform
The use of water can take a garden up to another level by really bringing in a sense of calm and tranquility. From natural rivers to sleek and contemporary, there are a number of different ways water can be used in your space and the reward can be well worth the effort.
They are not for the faint-hearted and require a lot of thought to link in with the overall balance of the garden. Each one is different, with its own challenges and restrictions and sometimes we go to great lengths to keep all the water in the system. They can end up being like detailed contraptions more than anything else. The calm is in their appearance, certainly not in the mind of the person building it.
Creating a naturally flowing river is to a Garden Designer what making an omelette is to a chef. A staple yet stylish classic to master before moving on to more detail and innovation. Making something look truly natural is not always as easy as it sounds.
Here are a few tips:
Consider splitting the water flow. A slow flow of water gently spilling over a top rock can give the appearance of a spring. Too great a flow will look really unnatural. In order to get a significant flow further on, a good trick is to secretly add more water into the river as it meanders its way down. This is simply mimicking what would happen in nature anyway and if done well, the extra water intro is not noticeable.
It is possible to build something without concrete and to purists, it’s the only way. Personally, I don’t have a problem with it as it can be a very handy way to direct the flow of water. However, be careful, generally, you only want to see Rocks, Plants and Water. If you use concrete, be sure to hide it.
If you choose to use a pond liner, make sure you buy the best one you can afford. Leaks to cheap pond liners are almost guaranteed and can require a lot of work to fix. When it comes to liners, never has the phrase ‘The paradox of thrift’ been so apt.
Oh … and perhaps allow plenty of some time for trial and error. Or simple minor tweaking if you are lucky.
Keep it green!
James