Designing a Low Maintenance Water Feature - Part 1

Hello Folks,

After a bit of an absence, I'm back again. After the success of the Art Deco
raised bed out the front, it was time to tackle a fair bit of the back garden.
The object of the exercise was have a largish water feature that would
cover a fair area.

The biggest problem with this project was that my back garden has a
gentle but continuous slope. So, a bit of ingenuity was required. I
happened upon a fibreglass cascade that was up for sale at a much more
reasonable cost than the real asking price as it had been used as a demo.
Seeing it in action sealed the deal for me.

The initial design of this project was sorted over 3 years ago and involved
dismantling and rebuilding my shed on the other side of the garden and
placing it on much better foundation blocks. The major works, digging out
an old eucalyptus tree root and the main pond came next. The cascade
was laid on temporary blocks and the catch pond dug. Then came laying
the path, which had a huge gap which was left to be bridged at some point.

More than three-quarters through, I'm abandoned by my builder. So for
3 years I've had a water feature that was only partially operative. I needed
to weigh down the cascade with heavy blocks to prevent it being lifted
skyward by the wind. The gap in the path got temporarily covered with a
sheet of marine plywood, which eventually rotted and became risky to use.

This year I've secured the services of another garden builder and the
cascade has finally been secured, a retaining wall built behind it in which
to place soil for edge-concealing plants, and the path relaid with no step
at the end and no bridge in the middle.

The following photos show where we are right now with nature left to take
its course and hide the odd hard-edges.

This photo shows the base of the cascade as it falls into the catch pond,
seen from the West side. What I like most is the grass through which it
is seen. The wind gives it movement too, which is a thrill to watch...


The path now bridging over the catch pond, with no dodgy gap...


Looking over the cascade base, from the East side...


Okay, some very hard edges to disguise here. Pittosporum as an evergreen
and in three different varieties potentially come to the rescue. The pad of
bare soil seen top right has been sown with wildflower seeds...


A Fatsia growing in the container, with the catch pond drain pipe carrying
water to the main pond. There's still some work to do here, with disguising
the pipe and providing a resting perch, from which to enjoy the sound of
the circulating water...


The pond weed here will need some thinning out. It presents a barrier to
allow creatures that don't like moving water to flourish, yet still receive
a source of refreshed water...


I'll let the remaining pictures speak for themselves...









Part 2 will have 10 more pictures...

Regards,
Steve

 

Designing a Low Maintenance Water Feature - Part 2

The choice of plants was fairly careful because I don't want to be fishing
out rotted leaves from the ponds. What I also wanted was a variety of
colour and some movement, particularly as the cascade only runs for
about 4 hours a day over an 8 hour period.

Hopefully, with the flowering plants, there will be something in blossom
at most times of the year





My rhubarb patch is vital! The root came from a neighbour now deceased.
He got it from his father over 50 years ago from roots that have been in
the family for probably over 120 years! I hope his son has been able to
perpetuate this into his family. It has the most strawberry taste of any
rhubarb I've eaten...


The dog's run is in the background. I've planted mile-a-minute and chocolate
vines to help disguise the wire mesh. The light is 12 volt LED...


These last 6 images give an idea of what the progress so far looks like
from indoors as I look out of my porch...












Regards,
Steve

 

That's a bit different to the raised bed Pete. May I suggest and is it feasible to grow a climber on the shed to hide the bareness?

 

Thanks. This project was a lot more difficult to achieve than the raised
bed! With the cascade now firmly in place I can place some soil along its
edge. I've been wondering about the shed; I could easily attach a trellis
and plant a climber. With it facing ENEast what would you suggest? I'd
like something that flowers for a month or two and has flowers dotted
about, rather than all just across the highest points...

Regards,
Steve

 

I'll have a think about climbers Pete, ENE is not the best situation but it can be done.

 

Hi @LowiePete your water feature looks really great and I bet it is lovely sitting in the area listening to the cascading water. I just love a plant that you have in your pictures which looks like a red tipped grass.... may I be as bold to ask what it is? I'm in the process of completing a pond myself and would just love to introduce that type of colouring

 

Hi, it's Japanese Blood Grass - bought as a huge great pot for 20quid and
divided into 4.

Regards,
Steve

 

Here's some climbers to have a look at Pete.

Clematis Alpina
Clematis Macropetala
Honeysuckle
Lapageria Rosea
Akebia
Tropaeolum Speciosum

 

Thank you for the info.... I'll have to look out for that one when I'm ready to get the plants for around my pond..... I just love how it adds character to the area. Not a bad price for such a stunning colour