Selecting the Right Water Feature for Your Garden

When contemplating a water feature for your garden it is important to reflect on the style of your landscaping and draw from this to select the right style of water feature to suit the surroundings. The wrong choice could result in your water feature looking out of place. Consider a contemporary minimalist garden with a Whisky Barrel Kit as the water feature!

Below we have prepared a list of common garden styles and some suggestions for incorporating water features into these gardens. This list is by no means exhaustive. Also, take into account that many gardens are a fusion of two or three garden styles.

Contemporary Garden

This style of garden is usually characterised by attention to detail such as the use of a single specimen plant. Simplicity, form and the clever use of light and space are fundamental to this style. Colours are used minimally to produce dramatic effects.

Suitable Water Features

Stainless Steel Features

Water Walls Clad (with Contemporary materials)

Canals and Rills (made from Contemporary materials)

Reflection Pools

Architectural Granite Features (Aquifer Columns or spheres)

Cottage Garden

Arguably the most enduring of all garden styles, this garden is characterised by mass planting of colourful flowers and herbs in well designed garden beds. Although the plant design is carefully structured it is designed to look natural and free-flowing. This style often incorporates places of interest to visit such as bench seats, arbours, and gazebos.

Suitable Water Features

Bird Baths

Wishing Wells

Natural Ponds

Statuary Features

Formal Ponds

Fountains

Formal Garden

A formal look in a landscape is typically achieved by placing plants to conform strictly to a geometric design theme. This style relies on the use of symmetry to draw the eye to focal points such as water features or sculpture. The use of hedging plants and topiaries is essential to achieve the formal look.

Suitable Water Features

Stone Fountains

Bird Baths

Reflection Pools

Spilling Urns / Pots

Fountain Sprayers

Geometric Ponds

Tuscan Garden

The rustic Italian garden seems to assimilate very well into the Australian landscape. Aged, muted colors intrinsic to Italian gardens are echoed in our landscape. A focus on Al Fresco dining and entertaining is essential to this style. Planting is often semi-formal – formal and includes topiaries and hedges.

Suitable Water Features

Spilling Urns

Wall Fountains

Stone Fountains

Classical Statuary

Tiled/Stone Water Walls

Wall Spitters

Japanese Garden

The Japanese garden has its emphasis in simplicity, control and thoughtful design. This garden must incorporate the careful use water as a focal point. Well placed, gracefully formed plants such as bamboos, grasses and flowering shrubs provide balance which is essential to this style. These gardens also use stone and sand to imitate the natural landscape. The Japanese garden is the ultimate meditation and relaxation.

Suitable Water Features

Deer Scarer (Shi Shi Odoshi)

Japanese Spill Basin (Tsukabi)

Large Containers with Fish and Water Lilies

Rock Geysers

Fish Ponds

Natural Ponds with Rock Waterfalls and Cascades

Xeriscape Garden

Xeriscape is a term derived from the Greek word 'xeros' meaning dry and from the word landscape, to form a new term for water conserving gardens. This style is increasing in popularity due to our dry climate. This garden often features both native and exotic species and is landscaped to minimise water use and to channel water to plants that have a higher requirement. Xeriscaping often draws from Cottage and Contemporary styles.

Suitable Water Features

Dry Creek Bed

Mill Stone Features (re-circulating)

Rock Geyser (re-circulating)

Granite Features

Natural Ponds (to provide an oasis for wildlife)

Tropical Gardens

The tropical garden is one for the plant lovers, these gardens are gaining in popularity due to the range of plant species now available to Australian gardeners. Tropical plants, densely planted, look their best in summer when we typically use our gardens. Characterised by the use of bold, lush and colourful foliage with spectacular flowers. This style provides a cooling oasis in the warmer months.

Suitable Water Features

Natural Ponds

Waterfalls

Creeks / Streams

Reflection Ponds

Spilling Pots/Urns

Contemporary Statuary

Water Walls

Australian Native Garden

This style of garden draws on the unique characteristics of Australian materials and the natural colours of Australia. Often rustic in style, the use of timber, stone and corrugated iron can be incorporated into the Australian garden. Modern Australian native plantings are often designed similar to a traditional cottage garden with the focus on the colour palette.

Suitable Water Features

Whisky/Wine Barrels

Wishing Wells

Mill Stone Features

Cobbled Creeks

Natural Ponds

Concrete Sinks/Troughs

Rock Geysers

Danielle Dickinson is an avid water feature enthusiast. She is a regular contributor to Gardening Magazines. Visit her website http://www.waterfeaturesonline.com.au for more information on building and maintaining any type of Water Feature as well as a huge range of water gardening products.

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