Water containers

If you want to add extra dimensions to your garden, you have to keep embellishing, and one of the best ingredients is water. You do not need huge swimming pools, ponds, or lakes – small containers dotted around the garden are simple and effective. There are a surprising number of ways to introduce water, even into small urban gardens, and containers make versatile and unusual features.

Wall fountains are easily installed, and traditionally involve a ready-made stone mask with water pouring out of the mouth into a ground-level basin, filled with large round pebbles, before being promptly recirculated. Modern versions may pour into a brightly colored watering can, nailed to a wall, then pour into another beneath, and one beneath that, in zigzagging descending layers, before being pumped back up to the start again. Alternatively, install a Japanese shishi odoshi, where water pours into and out of a hinged, hollow tube of cane, which makes a clacking sound as it rhythmically strikes a stone.

Mini ponds are available as ready-made fiberglass units, but you can use wooden or plastic containers for the same effect. Create a circle of small ponds surrounding one large one in the center. For greater effect, cover the surrounding ground with pebbles and stones. They can be permanently fixed in place by being set in concrete. To jazz up the area further, use brightly colored broken china and tiles. Note that unless the containers are about 18 in (45 cm) deep, adding fish is inadvisable because they will become trapped in ice when the temperature drops. You will almost certainly get plenty of frogs, though.

Plants for standing in ponds usually come ready-planted in small plastic baskets. Make sure that the soil surface is covered with stones to help weigh them down and stop the soil from drifting away. Check that the plants added will grow to the right size for the area as some are furious spreaders – floating plants should cover only one – third of the water surface. Oxygenating plants, such as water starwort, Canadian waterweed, and water milfoil, will help to keep the water clean. Place the containers in bright sun, away from overhanging braches and the problem of falling leaves. Children should never be left unattended near water.

WATER ECHOES

LEFT: A circular pond is embellished by the addition of a small raised water container packed with large stones. The adjacent euphorbia, sedum, sage, and iris add lush green foliage.

THE RUSTIC LOOK

RIGHT: This barrel with an old-fashioned water pump makes an ideal ornamental feature for a small garden. The striped grasses highlight the scene.

TUBS OF WATER

LEFT: Ponds, whether large or small, are often best as magical sudden surprises, found half hidden behind tall wispy plants. These sunken tubs are surrounded by moisture-loving plants and ferns.

GLAZED OVER

RIGHT: Simple and highly effective: a glazed pot becomes a mini pond, complete with its own white water lily.

Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus)

THE OLD AND THE NEW

LEFT: Bright, decorated pots can be used to enhance existing garden features. Here striped pots and plants frame an old wall mask. The yellow pots contain grape hyacinths, and the blue pot clipped box.

BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL

RIGHT: The best way to combat semi-shade is with plenty of bright colors. Silvery galvanized pots catch the light and highlight the cut flowers of orange gerberas and purple-blue larkspurs.