As in other parts of the garden, the overall concept and make-up of a pond can be split into the elements of hard and soft landscape. The method of construction and certain features will fall under the former while the planting, fish, insect and other life will follow on as a natural second stage to complement the size, position, materials and style chosen for the pool.

I have already mentioned the differences between concrete and liner construction, emphasizing the advantages of the latter being made from material that is better suited to prolonged contact with water. Read the rest of this entry »

Ponds can come in all shapes, sizes andcontainers, and need not necessarily be confined by conventional criteria. Having said that, the smaller the pool the more difficult it will be to maintain a balanced combination of plants and fish. Maintenance is often higher, particularly if fish are omitted, as unchecked weed and algal growth will need removing from time to time. It is worth remembering that even pools like this should not be completely emptied on a regular basis. What you should do is drain off about a quarter of the water each year, which will remove a percentage of the toxins, and replace with fresh. Lose any more than that and you will upset the ecological balance that has built up. Read the rest of this entry »

Birdbaths and fountains provide the finishing touches to your garden, the final details that put charisma into the composition. As well as being ecologically sound, allowing not just birds but many other wild creatures to drink, birdbaths act as pretty focal points, drawing the eye in a particular direction.

Shapes and styles of birdbath vary enormously, from a basic wooden bowl set on the edge of a raised bed or wall to elaborate affairs cast in metal or hewn from stone. I believe that in all areas of design the simplest things work best and any feature should take its style from the area that surrounds it. The simplest birdbath might be a crevice set within a large rock, exactly right in an informal setting. The most complicated could be an ornate pattern in wrought-iron, perfectly at home in the formal setting of a crisp town garden while still fulfilling its function of attracting the local birdlife. Read the rest of this entry »