Creating a garden water feature

Are you one of those people who’s always quite fancied the idea of creating a garden water feature? Is that what you’re drawn to at the garden centre rather than the compost or weed killer you’d actually gone for?

Well, you wouldn’t be alone in appreciating the positive effects of the sound of running water. After all, when 70% of our body weight is water, what could be more natural in restoring a sense of well-being and inner peace?

Creating a garden water feature such as a pond can provide an oasis of calm and tranquility. You might not have quite as grand a fountain as one of the stately homes, but nonetheless even a small water feature can do wonders for raising the spirits. You can transform your garden and make a real style statement!

So let’s assume you’ve given into your secret longing to always have a water feature… All may be wonderful in your garden idyll, with water gently trickling over some carefully chosen pebbles while you laze back in a hammock sipping a glass of something chilled. But as time goes by, you begin to notice your pond is full of algae and choked with weeds. Not quite the effect you’d been going for?

Controlling algae after creating a garden water feature

This is where it becomes crucial to keep the water in your water feature clean and looking good. As ‘Getting your pond ready for Spring’ explains, there are dyes available, like Dyofix, which interrupt the process of photosynthesis so that weeds and algae are prevented from growing. They are non-toxic and environmentally-friendly as they don’t contain biocides or herbicides, so do not pose a threat to humans, animals, fish or insects.

The dyes come in a choice of three colours; black, blue tint or shadow, so not only do they have the practical benefits of controlling the algae, or even covering unsightly pipework*, they’ll also make your water feature look much prettier too.

Dyofix Pond Black, while still inhibiting growth, is principally used in ornamental ponds for aesthetic purposes as it produces a stunning, mirror-like reflection. Gardener writer Anne Wareham, uses Dyofix Pond Black to enhance water features with stunning reflective results “Bringing the sky down into your garden is very special. As is the illusion which a reflecting pool offers – that you’re peering into the very depths of the earth.”

Dyofix SGP Blue has a very slight blue tint and is often used in domestic fish ponds and lakes while Dyofix SGP Shadow is colourless and gives a completely natural look for garden fish ponds and small lakes. Only a very small amount of each dye is needed per unit of water and they will last for months but we do recommend a monthly topping up to ensure algae control is at its most effectiveness.

So if you want to make sure your water feature is being shown off to its best advantage, why not explore what a difference a dye can make by getting in touch with us.

*SGP Blue and SGP Shadow require a much stronger concentration to hide pipes, etc and to control algae in ponds shallower than 1m. Dyofix Pond Black will cover pipework at a much shallower depth.

For more information please email our sales department or telephone sales by dialling 0113 256 4251.