Using water

Using Water

When thinking about garden design there are a few more crucial things to pay attention to, and the first of those is water.

If you can extend your water pipes into the garden, then position them in sensible places. If you have a long garden, ideally you should have taps at both ends as this will avoid you having to drag a hose down to the bottom of your space, potentially damaging plants in the process.

Installing water pipes and ducting is one of the first things you want to do when designing your garden. These pipes will need to run to the bottom of your garden under your hard standing, so you need to think about them right at the beginning of your project. This is also the time to put in any electricity supplies for lighting and plug sockets that you may want to have at the bottom of your garden too.

If you are away regularly, then consider putting in an irrigation system too. If you have lots of pots, then consider getting microfeeds that will run to these as well.

Water Features

If you have the space for a water feature then go for it. Not only are they great for wildlife, but they also make a wonderful sound that will add an extra layer of interest to your garden and will dull down the sound of traffic in urban settings.

If you don't have room for a water feature, then consider installing a water bowl. You can plant aquatic plants here and if you're lucky you may attract frogs, toads and birds to bathe in it.

Bigger Budget Water Features

If you're looking for something bigger then I have a number of antique troughs in my garden which I sourced from an antique dealer. These had to be craned into my garden because of their size and weight so bear that in mind if you are thinking of installing one. Placed under a tap and next to a mirrored trellis, these add a bit of sparkle to a garden and are a great way of bringing more water into your space.

If going to the lengths of hiring a crane isn't for you, then consider having a lead cistern built for your garden. This can be welded together on site so it's a great way of getting a bigger water feature into your garden without having to go to the trouble of lifting it in.