How To Make A Watering Can Garden Feature

Before you invest in a garden water feature for your outdoor space, there are a lot of logistics to consider, from the supply of water to the general maintenance. Here are 10 things you should consider first.

1. You probably don't need a water supply. Of-the-shelf water features are self-contained, they just need topping up occasionally.

2. But if the feature has moving water, unless it's solar powered, you will probably need an electricity supply to drive the pump.

3. Pretty much all water features work the same way. There's a reservoir of water (or sump), which has a pump which moves water up a pipe. Gravity then brings the water back down to the reservoir. Whether this mechanism is surrounded by stainless steel, granite or a sculpture, the principle is the same.

4. Listen to the water feature – do you like the sound? This is almost more important than what it looks like. If it sounds like a bath filling it won't be relaxing, if it's a barely-there trickle, it might just be annoying.

Tranquil Fountain with Green Palm Fronds

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5. Think about cleaning it. Water will get slimy, especially during the winter, so you'll need to know how to drain it, dismantle it and clear out the sump.

6. When you are finding a place for your feature, think about what's above it. If it's under a tree, for instance, it's likely to get lots of leaves in it, which will mean even more maintenance.

7. It's much easier to get a water feature, or any feature, to look good if it's placed in amongst planting rather than at the centre of a space. Nestled among the plants, it doesn't matter if it's a bit too big or small.

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8. Interestingly, modern features – stainless steel, glass etc – will work in either a modern garden or a traditional one, but older styles, like cherubs, millstones and the like, look really out of place in modern gardens.

9. Think about lighting the water, often the features come with an option of an inbuilt light. If you're going to have it in sight of the house this will look really good all through the year.

10. If you have children consider their safety first. Small children can drown in tiny amounts of water, so it's advisable to buy a feature with no exposed water.

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BUT WHAT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY ONE? YOU CAN MAKE ONE...

You can actually make a water feature in a bowl for your outdoor space and it's not too difficult. 'Water makes a lovely focal point in any garden but isn't always the easiest to install. A running water feature needs a pump and a reservoir, which can involve digging a large hole and hooking electrics up to the mains,' says DIY expert, Jo Behari.

The simplest way to introduce water, especially on a patio area, would be to install a small bowl pond, which doesn't need a pump and reservoir. Any shallow bowl or pot can be converted into a pond – just ensure that you seal holes and coat the surface with a varnish or a waterproof sealer.

Deciding on a location is crucial as this will be difficult to move once set up. If you can, use rainwater to fill the pond as tap water contains minerals that encourage algae. Place plants in it for a decorative effect. These will need to be in aquatic baskets (buy here) so the water can flow in and out. Your local garden centre will be able to advise on the best ones. And don't forget to use aquatic compost (buy here) and top with gravel so they don't float away.

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