Technical
Water features
It seems the fashion for stand-alone water features, used as focal points within gardens, remains undiminished and including one in every garden is still the norm. We know that water has always been used to good effect in gardens of all shapes and sizes. A good water feature acts like a magnet or a fi replace in a room, drawing people to it by: ● creating a sense of tranquillity, coolness and calm in a garden
● presenting an opportunity to affect the senses in different ways;
● on a practical level, masking undesirable noises such as traffi c.
Over the last 20 years, tastes have evolved; where previously the choice was limited to traditional stone wall-fountains and lead urns, the options are now seemingly limitless. Materials like stone, bronze, copper, stainless steel, resin and concrete can be used to fulfi l your client’s wishes whether that’s a bubbling pebble fountain, an overfl owing urn, a drilled monolith, a copper or bronze centrepiece or a stainless steel water cascade. The reality is that it doesn’t really matter what the water feature looks like “on the top” because, from a contractor’s point of view, the beauty is that largely speaking, they are all the same beneath the skin. So, once you’ve built one, you have a successful blueprint to build more and more, scaling up or down as necessary. So what do you need to consider?
Reservoir
The simplest way to contain the water is in a buried reservoir covered with a steel grid. Firstly, make sure your reservoir is large enough, because water is lost through evaporation and you don’t want to be topping it up too often. Secondly buy a proper reservoir with a galvanised grid and maintenance access so that you can be sure it will be strong enough to hold whatever you choose to put on top, it won’t rust away and you’ll always be able to access the
pump for maintenance purposes. Pump
You will be pumping water vertically upwards and in some cases, like large water cascades, you’ll be pumping a lot more water than you might imagine. So, for that reason, it is important to select the correct pump (with a fl ow regulator) for the effect you’re intending to create and then ensure you have the right sized pipework and fi ttings to transport the water. If in doubt, ask your supplier.
Filtration
Your customer won’t thank you if they see green water spouting from their lovely water feature so for crystal clear water, use a pressurised “plug and play” fi lter with an ultra-violet lamp.
Power
You’ll need power to operate your pump and fi lter, so don’t forget to run an armoured cable to a point nearby and make sure you have it connected by a qualifi ed electrician.
www.prolandscapermagazine.com
Installation advice from Simon Sales of Landscapeplus
Switching
Like garden lighting, you have a number of options for switching your water feature on and off. The simplest method is to use a remote control handset or more commonly now, to use the Light Symphony iPhone app. Remote
control switching eliminates the disruption and cost associated with “chasing” cables back into your clients house. If you have a separate fi ltration system, then use a 24-hour timer for the fi lter.
Lighting
If you’ve gone to the trouble of choosing and installing a water feature then make sure you illuminate it so that your client can enjoy it throughout those long summer evenings and if you intend to submerse the light fi ttings to light the water feature then ensure the fi tting has an IP68 rating.
So in conclusion, by building a water feature you give your clients what they want, you add value and further develop your relationship with that client and best of all, you grow your business – so what’s stopping you?
Landscapeplus hosts a series of FREE to attend, Skills Workshops throughout the year at which you can develop the practical skills to design and install lighting, irrigation and pond products in your gardens. For more information call 01666 577577 or email
help@landscapeplus.com.
Unit 1 Kemble Business Park, Crudwell, Nr Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9SH Tel: 01666 577577 Web:
www.landscapeplus.com Email:
help@landscapeplus.com
August 2013 27
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