Water features have become such a garden fashion accessory that it seems every other garden has at least one. Why do we place these features in our gardens? Many reasons, I suspect, but the main two would be (1) to add another dimension to the garden, and (2) to create a tranquil place in our gardens that encourages us to relax.

I’m all for both and would love to have more water than lawn in my garden, if I didn’t have children who needed somewhere to run and play.

So, if you’re thinking of setting up a water fountain or feature read on….

  • Power source not all water features require a pump with a power source but all fountains do. So if you’re planning to set one up, find a site that will be easy to get power to it. Some pumps require low-voltage power that can be hooked up through an outside power point while others may require conduit laid in the ground. Assess the costs and inconvenience before deciding on the perfect location.
  • Aesthetics every water feature or fountain needs to either blend or compliment the surrounding vegetation. Stick with the style your garden is and work with what you already have. It would look fairly ridiculous putting a formal roman fountain in an Australian native setting.
  • Safety If you have little kids or are likely to have young children visit your garden then you will need to protect them from your water features. A good solution is to support some steel mesh just below the surface of the water. These will slow down most children and is quite inexpensive and easy to instal.