Quiet splashing, water surfaces glittering in the sunlight or a gently rushing stream transform the garden into a picturesque reflection of nature. Are you still missing the wet design element in your green kingdom? Dive into the colorful world of creative ideas for small and large water worlds in the garden.
What water elements are there for the garden?
Water in the garden can be designed through natural ponds, swimming ponds, streams, formal ponds and water features such as fountains or waterfalls. These elements create a lively environment, promote nature and provide relaxation for the whole family.
Natural pond – decorative biotope full of life
If you create a natural garden, water should not be missing as a design element. In order for the colorful diversity of life to unfold in, on and next to the water, important criteria are important. These attributes characterize a natural pond:
- Minimum size: 9 sqm
- Different water depths between 60 and 120 cm
- Varied flora from water lilies in the water to swamp irises and clown flowers on the shore
- A footbridge or seating area paved with natural stone for observing the flora and fauna
Where space allows, instead of one large pond, create several small water worlds, connected by streams or stone overflows. Pay special attention to the bank design, because this is the retreat for a variety of pond inhabitants. Small piles of rocks or weathered roots provide welcome hiding places for frogs. Dragonflies feel safe from predators in the dense bank greenery.
Swimming pond – fun for the whole family
Once the children in the family household are out of the woods and have learned to swim, a swimming pond moves to the top of the garden design wish list. If a sufficiently large area is available, the swimming pond works with a natural cleaning system made from plants. The water in smaller swimming ponds uses pumps and filters. Important details are summarized in the following overview:
- Division of the water area for natural purification: regeneration area 60 percent - swimming area 40 percent
- Recommended layout: 90 sqm for plants and clarification – 60 sqm for swimming
- Swimming pond with combination of plants and filter: minimum size 45 sqm with 32 sqm swimming area
- Non-slip wooden floorboards as an access walkway and rest area
You can add the finishing touches to your swimming pond when a roaring waterfall provides additional bathing pleasure. With a little skill and a good amount of muscle power, you can build a decorative waterfall in your garden yourself.
Stream – fascinating eye-catcher for the hillside garden
Gardens on a hillside are predestined for an idyllic stream. Where nature does not provide for a slope, the flat surface is modeled accordingly. The excavation that occurs when building a pond system is well suited for this purpose. There are no limits to your creative ideas when it comes to the specific design. The multi-faceted options range from curved to dead straight lines, with stone or lushly planted banks.
Even a gradient of 2 percent is enough to model a quietly rushing stream. From a gradient of 5 percent, the water rushes powerfully through the garden. Ideally, the picturesque river flows into a pond in style and thus contributes to the important oxygen supply for fish and plants.
Formal pond exudes modern flair
If you want to emulate the high priests of Japanese garden art, a formal pond fits harmoniously into the garden design. Landlords and gardeners with a penchant for modern style like to opt for a water world with geometric shapes, based on Asian garden philosophy. The following properties characterize water in the modern garden:
- A clear border in a geometric shape, such as a rectangle, square, circle or oval
- Designing the pond bottom with gravel or stones to create a mirror effect
- Spartan planting with grasses and other delicate aquatic plants
Boulders and boulders on the bank look authentic, combined with garden bonsais, bamboo and rhododendrons. Stepping stones act as bridges that require walking slowly and thus encourage visitors to take a closer look at the water world. It is a testament to stylish taste when the building materials can be found near the water in other locations in the garden and on the house.
Water features – symbiosis of art and water
Their splashing is music to our ears. We can't get enough of her shapely silhouette. Artful water features are the icing on the cake in creative garden design. We have put together some nice ideas for popular styles for you below:
- Wall fountain made of natural stone with mythical creatures as gargoyles for the Mediterranean garden
- Multi-tiered rock fountain with lighting for the natural garden
- Stainless steel figures with fiberglass collecting basin for the modern garden
- Waterfall fountain with stainless steel lip for a water curtain for the rock garden
You can easily make colorful water features for your colorful cottage garden yourself. Drill holes into the bottoms of self-painted ceramic pots with a masonry drill. The water bubbles up through these holes via a small pump. The water runs over the outer walls of the pot into a second vessel, from where it is picked up by the pump so that the cycle begins again.
Tip
Modern gardeners install a separate water connection in the garden. Specialist retailers offer plastic pipes for this purpose. In contrast to copper and galvanized steel pipes, you can lay plastic water pipes yourself without expert knowledge.
