Party people often benefit from above ground pools too. The subdued outdoor lighting that’s often a feature of al fresco evening social gatherings can pose the danger of poolside guests falling in. With an above ground pond, this is one less worry for over-stressed hosts or hostesses.

Above ground ponds are faster to construct. Using a wooden surround with a polythene liner, it’s possible to build an above ground pond within a day. However, the wood used must be carefully treated in order to avoid rot, and aiming for speed of construction now may well set you up for extra work in maintaining your pond later on down the line. For a sturdier pond which will give you less to worry about in the way of future maintenance, you’ll need to use bricks or concrete breeze blocks.

If you should decide that your pond was a mistake or it no longer fits in after a change in your lifestyle, you’ll find it much easier to get rid of. Eliminating the act of digging a hole neatly eliminates any necessity to fill it in, and after a few hours work and perhaps a little turf, you’d never know that your pond had been there.

While above ground pools tend to look more unnatural than their ground level counterparts, they definitely have their advantages. Building a pond is often about speed and convenience, and should always be about safety, and an above ground pond can help you meet all of your requirements in these areas.

All ponds will attract wildlife to some degree, even if it’s only the odd water-beetle. However, if you want your pond to offer a haven to frogs, toads, dragonflies and other water creatures, you’ll need to be building a pond fairly far away from the house if you’re to see any chance of success.

You’ll also need room to accommodate a little marshy ground beside the pond, as well as some space to cultivate wild flowers.

Obviously, if those idyllic evenings are to take place you’ll need to position your pond close to the deck or to build one beside it. As the light begins to fade, darkness draws in and the line between deck and water begins to blur in places, you may be glad you opted for a raised pond. Being closer to eye-level, it’s also easier to see what’s going on beneath the water during the day.

Raised ponds are marginally safer for children than ground level ponds, since they can’t just walk straight into them, but can be every bit as deadly and just as much caution should be exercised around them.

Ponds aimed at providing the focal point for barbecues and parties should be sited reasonably close to the kitchen to make catering easier. Again, a raised pond might be worth considering, particularly if you or your guests are prone to over-indulging in the alcohol!

Whatever the style of pond, if you’re going to include a garden water fountain or waterfall, you’re going to need to think about where to run the electric cable too.

Clearly, there could be many reasons why you’re thinking of building a pond, with different considerations for each. Ascertain your needs at the planning stage and you’re half-way to success before work has even begun on digging the hole in the ground.

Homes with waterfront views and accents are admired by many. This is because being around water offers a feeling of beauty, allure, and serenity. Putting up your own water accent in your backyard, such as a fish pond, will also add that visual appeal. Make your yard alive with the soothing sounds of water in motion. Make your fish pond the focal point of your backyard.

However, there are some considerations before constructing one:

Climate

Consider the climate of your area. If your weather experiences winter times, then it is best if you make you fish pond deeper since the fish tend to hibernate at the bottom of the pond and naturally stop eating when the water temperature goes below 45 degrees.

If you live in a location where the pond will completely freeze over, it is imperative that a hole be created in the ice to help the fish remain alive. In this case, aquatic plants should be removed and placed indoors since they may not survive the cold temperature.

Filter

Consider the filtration system of your pond. There is what you call natural filtration where it is provided by the action of the moving water. If this is the case, considering the design of your system and the climate of your area, then you do not need a filter for the pond.

However, to know what is best for your pond, consult a pond professional concerning filtration. There are cartridge filters and biological filters available from shops that provide pond supplies.

Now, to get your backyard pond started:

First step. Make intelligent decisions by educating yourself.

Do not push through water gardening or pond building without knowing the essentials about it. Know what equipment are needed to be used. Find out if your yard is appropriate to hold such an accent. Is the climate compatible with your pond? Are you up for the regular maintenance it needs? Take into consideration the availability of supplies such as electricity, filtration, and water. Decide what type of pond are you willing to make, is it a small one? Or a large one?

Second step. Decide on the location of your pond.

Locate your pond in an area where the sun will be able to shine on it. Do not place it under the trees since it will cause a cleaning nightmare due to the falling leaves. Do not place your pond where runoff water tends to overflow. These will accumulate in your pond making it dirty and murky.

Determine the depth of your pond. The average depth of a back yard pond is between 18″ to 24″ usually. Make the outline of your pond and start digging it. Make steps in order to provide easy access to the pond during cleaning. These steps will also be perfect for holding potted plants just above the water. Make sure that the bottom is leveled as you dig.

Third step. Get hold of an appropriate sized pond liner.

In order to get the right pond liner size, take the width of your pond and add twice the depth of the pond, and then add 24 more inches. Measuring the length will be done using the similar formula. Now, drape the liner over the pond. Arrange it and place stones around the edges. Fourth step. Fill it up with water.

Start filling the pond with water. Fold large creases neatly and remove wrinkles as you fill the pond with water to make it les noticeable.

Fifth step. Install the needed equipment.

After filling it up with water, place filters, pumps, and lightings to the pond. Connect it to the electrical supply. Then add your fish and plants, and you are ready to go!

Enjoy!

By: Nicholas Tan

Author

Five Reasons Why Solar Power is Right for Your Water Fountain

A solar water fountain could become the highlight of your entire landscape. Some people plant bedding flowers and flowering shrubs and perennials to beautify their gardens. A solar fountain will make an interesting feature to your garden or patio décor simply, easily and inexpensively.

If you have hesitated about buying a garden water fountain before, the benefits of solar power will quickly change your mind.

•    There are no running costs – No mains electricity or batteries to buy

•    No installation costs – Are easy to install for all skill levels

•    Eco-friendly – do not use non-renewable fossil fuels

•    Can be placed anywhere – user-friendly and easy to set up

•    Inexpensive and last for years

When you purchase your solar water fountain, it will be a self-contained unit. You may buy a direct power kit but you will probably want to go with the power pack. The power pack has the advantage of absorbing the suns rays then storing that energy for continued usage, day or night. You can take advantage of the fountain even when the sun goes down for those evening garden parties or poolside parties.

Because you are not using mains power, you are not contributing to the depletion of the Earth’s resources. There are no holes to dig, no electric cables to install and no dry cell batteries to buy. You do not have to worry about hooking them up to a power source to make them run. Solar fountains and solar water pumps require no power source and so can be installed anywhere. Find a nice spot in your garden where your fountain will have maximum impact

Setting up a solar water fountain is an easy project even for the most novice DIY person and you will have your fountain up and running in no time. Just add water.

Solar powered water fountains are comparatively inexpensive and will last for years. Even when you redesign your landscape, the fountain can be incorporated in a different area of the garden and continue to run effortlessly.

Solar water fountains will enhance the beauty of your garden or patio.

Solar fountains run off the energy of the sun and are quickly becoming very popular.

Solar fountains are extremely friendly to the environment. They don’t require any external power source so they don’t increase the demand for electricity from polluting coal or natural gas electric plants. Solar fountains are the organic way to enhance the ambience of your garden. Few sounds are as pleasing as the slow murmur of cascading water.

Outdoor water fountains come in all sorts of designs, from those with cascading waterfalls to those that include a birdbath pool, to those that spout jets of water into the air, to decorative wall fountains. serenityhealth.com has a great selection of solar water fountains available in many different styles for use landscapes and in ponds.

There is a large range to choose from, depending on the style you’re after for your garden’s new image. Make the solar fountain the centerpiece of your garden or simply use them as accents, to increase your gardens overall beauty.

Solar fountains are a great addition to a water feature. Take advantage of their benefits.

By: Ian Patterson

Author

Garden Water Fountains Provide Impressive Outdoor Features

One of the best ways to improve the environment is to think about adding a water feature into the garden, there is a whole range of benefits that come with doing this and it will without doubt bring a totally new dimension to your garden.

There are lots of ways to add a water feature into your existing garden layout and if you are short on space then it is important to not let this put you off. One of the best ways is to add a garden water fountain; these are extremely decorative pieces that can fit into any part of the garden whether it is on a patio, decking area or in the main area. As there are so many different designs and sizes as mentioned before it does not matter how large your space is, there will be one that is ideal for you. The beauty of garden water fountains is they are extremely easy to install into position and they are completely mobile, so unlike a pond you can transfer your fountain to a new position if required. Likewise if you already have a water feature within your garden the garden water fountain can easily be integrated into your existing layout.

The fountains are self contained units and the water pump is integrated within the feature and with easy maintenance they can pretty much be left to run with out any hassle and are ideal for you to enjoy any time of the year. There are lots of different varieties of materials used from traditional stones right through to more contemporary metals and it really comes down to personal preference to which style will look best within your garden. The modern designs are really superb and make use of shape and design combined together to form stunning looking pieces, but if you are into something a little more rustic then you may like the more traditional looking garden water fountains ranging from the bird bath styles right through to the regal and gothic looking pieces.

If you are planning on rejuvenating your garden and are looking for a cost effective solution to adding a water feature into your outside space then a garden water fountain really makes sense. There are so many positive reasons to adding one and by doing so you will be ensuring your garden has a soothing and calming influence and you get a stunning decorative feature as well. A modern, contemporary and stylish finish are just some of the words which can be used to describe the difference a garden water fountain could make to your homes patio, decking or garden space.

By: Chris Courtis

Author

DIY – Child-safe Water Feature Increases Home Value

One way to catch a prospective buyer’s attention to your listing is to mention the water feature that is installed in your back yard. We all love them, especially when they are already set up and running. There are many reasons why a water feature draws everyone’s attention, including the hypnotic effect of watching the never ending motion of water; it is said that the sound of running water is relaxing.

Many people are hesitant to install a pond into their yard. Often they, or their children, have young tots that could fall into the pond and drown. However, there is another solution, if you can forego the goldfish, which is safe even for young children.

The sound of running water and the idea of a water feature in your yard can be satisfied by assembling a pebble fountain in your back yard. This will take a simple reservoir, a small pump which comes with container and lid (or find your own) and pebbles! The quickest way to go about this is to buy a DIY water feature pack and you will have everything you need.

If you want to gather everything together yourself, you will need a pump, tubing, a power adapter, electricity supply, and some kind of lining or container. The container can be anything waterproof and large enough: an old sink, a garden pot (no holes in the bottom), a metal bucket or a trough etc. If you have doubts about the container retaining its waterproof qualities, you can line it with plastic.

The size of the pump you choose will dictate the height that the fountain will reach; for this you may need to consult a sales consultant at the store.

However, the easiest way to do this is to buy a self circulating fountain that you can put in a pot, cover the top with wire mesh that you can pile pebbles onto and sort of build large and small boulders around your water pot. You will need to hide the wire with some of these boulders, and you may wish to ’sink’ the waterproof container into the garden.

Assuming that you have a spot already dug out for your pebble feature, you can position the pot/vessel and set the pump down in the bottom of it. (You can keep the feature above ground, but it may be more difficult to keep it looking natural.)

Trail the cord out of the pot and connect it to the power supply. This wire will dictate your design of pebbles to some extent, as you will need to keep it ‘hidden’. If you drill a hole to let the wire go through, make sure it is above the water line and also completely sealed. If you have to do this it is safer to consult an electrician.

If you are an adamant DIY person, then ‘glue’ a quirky shaped pebble over the top of the pot to hide the wire. You can build all the pebbles up afterwards, and make this look more natural.

Pebbles can be bought, though you may find it a relaxing pasttime to collect some of your own from the beach or riverside. If the pebbles do not look clean, they will have to be washed, to avoid too much sediment getting near your pump.

You could consider whether to put a plastic liner around the pot that slopes downwards into the pot, to drain rebellious water into your pot, as the wind can blow the water too far away from the reservoir. This means that you can run out of water – or at least run out of the water in your reservoir. Since the pump needs this water to work, it is imperative that you keep it well supplied.

The addition of some plants (potted or otherwise) will enhance your water feature and expand the area of it. You can then use the extra area to add seating with a couple of tall potted shrubs behind the chairs, and you have a charming ambience in your back yard. Just make sure you switch on the pump if prospective buyers visit the house.

By: Branden Schroeder

Author

Wall Water Features and Their Benefits

When you want to have an indoor water fountain you can choose the very elegant fountains that look like a wall of water. The wall water features that you can choose from are those mounted on a wall or ones that are freestanding.

In indoor settings the main focus is the design and the structure of the fountain with the water cascading over a wall inside the structure. As outdoor landscape elements, such large fountains (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=118) have the flowing water as the main focus of the display.

The water in wall water features actually plays a secondary role to the framework and is used to enhance the animation of the piece. Such displays are pieces of art in themselves with the gentle sounds of the water intended to bring a sense of peace. They are generally sculptured pieces intended to enhance the beauty of the interior or exterior of your home.

When you think of wall water features you have to think of the benefits of having one of these fountains inside your home. They help to create a soothing environment, which is why you will usually find them in living rooms or sunrooms where the residents spend most of their time and so want to be surrounded by a relaxing ambiance. It is also an elegant way to greet your guests and can become a conversation piece that is guaranteed to break the ice. Kitchens and foyers are also other areas of the home where you may find a wall water fountain.

Most people do not realize that one of the interesting wall water features is that it does reduce the amount of noise you hear from other rooms of the home or from the outside. Not only does the sound of the running water help to cover the sounds of the vehicles going up and down the street or the sound of music blasting in a teenager’s bedroom, but it is also beneficial in reducing the effects that such noise pollution can have on listeners.

You can also benefit from using your wall water fountain (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=3249) as a humidifier. As the water cascades over the wall, some of it evaporates into the air and helps to provide the moisture you need in your home for your skin, hair and nails as well as your breathing. You do not need to have a noisy fan going on a humidifier when you have one of these fountains. They also provide the added benefit in that this kind of humidifier does not promote the growth of mold and bacteria which is possible when you use a standard humidifier.

When you talk to experts on wall water features and benefits, you will learn about negative ions from falling water. Moving water releases these ions into the air of your home helping to purify it. These ions attach themselves to pollutants in the air of your home and reduce the need for large air purifiers. Having a wall water fountain is a very healthy option and one that is environmentally friendly.

Feng Shui makes use of wall water features in bringing balance to the forces of nature at work inside your home. An indoor waterfall is an excellent way of boosting positive chi and creating an ambiance of harmony. It is a way of bringing the beauty of the outdoors into your indoor living space.

By: Sarah Martin

Author