Trickle treats

Cool and calm water features

WATER can be the soul of a garden, bringing a sense of peace and a splash of style.

There are many ways it can lift the mood. You can make a mini pond in a pot where pygmy water lilies will thrive. They love shallow water.

Other suitable plants are floating aquatics and aerators plus the slim-fit, stripy-leaved rush Zebrinus, corkscrew rush and mini bulrush, Typha minima.

Deer chaser features, which are a key element of Japanese meditation gardens, are also wonderful for giving a patio or corner an oriental feel.

They are made from bamboo tubes that move on a pivot to tip and spill water into a granite stone or basin.

The rhythmic clacking sound helps create a relaxed atmosphere.

Alternatively you could make a child-friendly bubble fountain. The basic design involves digging up a few paving slabs and placing a watertight container into a hole up to its rim.

Sparkle

A submergible pond pump can feeds a fountain spout through cobbles or a decorative pot. When the water flows down, it is circulated to create a lively decoration.

A raised pond with a wide and stable flat edge can also make additional seating.

Bring it to life with fish and aquatic plants. But adding a fountain will make it sparkle. It can be used to mist, spurt and spray – even to add music.

Coloured LED underwater lighting will create dramatic effects after dark. Or you can use floating solar lights for a softer, moonlight glow. For spooky effects, install a pond mister to bring a light fog over the surface.

Water can drown out the sound of traffic. A gushing wall spout is especially useful for a small garden. Traditionally, stone lion masks that spit into a stone trough framed by greenery are used. But there are loads of designs out there.

Those made from stainless steel are popular and perfect for small, contemporary gardens where the mirrored surface can create an appealing wall of refreshing water.

Reflective surfaces add a touch of magic – even a still garden pond has the power to bring the ever-changing sky down to earth.