Having an attractive and enjoyable garden involves more than just planting flowers and vegetables. You need to landscape and add decorations. Things like mirror balls, cast iron trellises and garden sculptures will add interest to the space for anyone coming through. You also need to think about features such as rock walls. One of the most desirable things to have in a garden space is a water feature. This is something like a small pond or pool of water containing koi fish. Water features are dynamic and seem alive. They can create gentle sounds and reflect the sunlight in unexpected ways when done correctly.
The problem is that adding a water feature to a property is sometimes a massive task. The traditional ways of doing this involve hiring a large number of contractors or renting expensive equipment for excavation. A large pond requires developing an entire infrastructure to support the water and keep it from destroying the property. This is impractical for most homeowners. Not all properties can supports something like a full-sized pond. There is an alternative. A woman from The Garden Glove blog has come up with a simple answer. This do-it-yourself project is inexpensive and can be completed in just a few hours at most.
You want to start by picking out a small area in your yard where the water feature will go. You want to pick a spot that is not blocking a major walkway. The area should get a good amount of direct sunlight during the day to help maintain the purity of the water. You need to check to make certain that the area is not above sewer or gas lines since that could cause major problems. You also want an area where you will be able to enjoy the water feature without having to stand in an awkward location.
You want to get a very large plastic bin or container. This is going to become the bed for your water feature. It can be any color although black or white are the best options. Measure out the size of the container on the ground and dig up the area. You might want to throw some gravel underneath just for drainage. Fit the container into the hole and fill in around the sides until it is firmly in place. Make the top edges of the container flush with the ground.
You now want to get a few small and moderate sized rocks. Place them into the container. The rocks serve two main purposes. The first is to provide a little extra stability so that rain and changes to the ground do not start lifting the container up above the soil surface. The second function is to act as an anchor for the pump and any other devices you put into the water. Try to pick attractive rocks since you will be able to see them through the water.
You now want to get a few flat concrete pavers. Line the pavers up along the edges of the container so that they just barely cover the lip. The pavers help to hide the container and provide an attractive border. Fill the container up with water. You should now get a solar pond pump and drop it into the water.
This will keep the water clean and aerated so that algae blooms do not form. You might also want to occasionally put mosquito dunks into the water to kill any larvae or eggs during the warm weather. Your garden water feature is now complete. Just remember to empty out the water and clean it at least once or twice a year.