April 2011

We all know that it is possible to dramatically enhance your gardens appearance with the addition of water features. For many people. the thought of adding a fountain or a waterfall to their garden in order to bring tranquillity and mellow ambiance  to their very own garden. However when trying to decide on which feature is more suitable, cost is usually their biggest deterrent in deciding if they should or should not add a water feature. 

As crazy as it sounds, it is possible for you to save money on running a water feature. Solar water features or solar fountains are a great alternative to regular water features that require a connection to a mains outlet. With a solar water feature there is no need for a mains, simply place your feature and enjoy. Besides saving on the cost of electricity the addition of solar powered water features will be environmentally friendly too.

Solar water features, after the initial cost to install, will save you money over the many months to come. That is because these solar features have solar panels installed that draw energy from the sun. You simply place the water feature where you know there is good amount of daylight. The solar panels will then cause the water feature to run like normal. Throughout the day, the solar panels will store energy to be used once the sun has set. Causing your water feature to run long into the night. The best feature is it won’t cost you anything to have beautiful and stress-relieving water features in your garden.

Just making this small difference in choosing solar over electric can go a long way toward an environmentally friendly gesture. This is one small way you can make a difference in both your garden and in wallet! 

UK Water Features stocks a wide range of solar water features including an exceptional range from one of the UK's leading solar water feature manufactures, Smart Solar. 

Pre-formed pond liners are a brilliant way to create a small wildlife habitat in your garden. All you need is a small amount of space, a spade, and a strong back (or at least know where to find one).

Pre-formed pond liners are usually made of plastic or fibreglass, are lightweight, and easy to install. Easy to follow directions come with the liner, or there are many landscapers available who are familiar with the installation of pre-formed ponds in private gardens. You can make your garden pond look natural by surrounding it with stones, bedding material, or anything else that disguises the top edge. 

Once your pre-formed pond has been created, it won’t take long for wildlife in your area to begin to frequent your garden. From birds, to amphibians, to small or (even large) mammals, you should soon see a wide variety of wildlife visit your garden oasis for water, food, or shelter. Depending on your location and the type of wildlife you want to attract, you can surround your pond with the plants and other habitat enhancements that certain wildlife favour. You can feel good that you have done your small part to make life more enjoyable for our animal friends, while you get to enjoy viewing them in their natural habitat. Creating a wetland area in your garden is a brilliant solution to dealing with waterlogged soil. Instead of abandoning these boggy areas of your garden, plant a wetland are and enjoy the many beautifully coloured birds and butterflies that it attracts. Many plants thrive in wetland conditions, including grasses, hostas, marsh marigolds, petunias, irises and lillies. It is advisable to use a diverse selection of plants in order to attract the widest variety of wildlife to your wetland garden. So long as the plants have similar flooding needs they may be planted together in a wetland area.

If you desire a wetland garden but have no naturally boggy areas, you can create such a garden by digging a wide, sloping, shallow hole and lining it with a pond liner, alternatively use a preformed pond. Punch holes in the plastic to prevent stagnation, and then refill with the dirt removed when you dug the hole. Saturate the dirt with water and maintain saturation by using soaking hoses. You may then plant your wetland garden as you wish, using plants with similar flooding requirements.

It is also possible to maintain a wetland garden without constant flooding if you select plants such as cardinal flower, bulrushes, jewelweed, as these plants require alternating wet and dry periods to thrive. In summary, a wetland area is a simple and lovely addition to any garden.

UK Water features offer a range of pond pumps, liners and accessories

Garden Gazebos are becoming more popular amongst the UK public. Gazebos tend to be a free-standing structure that is either attached to the building or an individual feature set apart from the building. They are perfect for open areas such as parks and gardens. Today, you can enjoy a garden gazebo in your garden for a very reasonable cost.

A high quality garden gazebo is usually made from pressure treated timber in order to ensure the gazebo lasts for a longer period of time. The quality of the timber used for constructing a garden gazebo is a key element in determining it's quality. 

With the weather warming up, gazebos are great for providing you with a perfect amount of shade in those warm spring afternoons. They also provide a brilliant platform for entertaining your guest this spring as well as providing your garden with an eye catching focal point. 

A note to remember when selecting a gazebo in the garden is to be sure to consider the weather in your particular area. For example, if you live in hot climates, very little rain it is not necessary to stress yourself out trying to find a gazebo that resistant to the snow and rain. However, here in the UK you probably will need one that is resistant to rain.

Regardless of the type of gazebo you choose, hexagon, octagon etc. you can rest a sure that is going to be extremely versatile. Dig into you creative side and to decide how you want to enhance your garden.

Well with the long weekend upon us, there is some great news that will certainly put a smile on your face today. This Friday sees the first day of the bank holiday/Easter weekend, and guess what? It is time to break out the sun tan lotion in April. Yes, you heard it right it's going to be a warm one.

According to the Met Office, temperatures could rise to a scorching 23C this Thursday in the South of England. Unbelievably, this is warmer than Mediterranean hotspots such as Corfu, where their high is 19C and Athens at 18C and to be honest not that far off from Tenerife where their high is at 24C.

The unusually hot weather is set to continue throughout the weekend which sets it up to be a brilliant weekend in the sun. The average temperatures in the UK in mid April hover around the 10C-15C, so this surprising warms weather is certainly well above average.

With the long weekend set to be a warm one, the smell of sizzling food on a BBQ in the air is a certainty. When the weather is nice, there is nothing better than the smell of food cooking over charcoal lingering in the air. It is a great sign that summer is near. If Barbequing is not your thing, then you can definitely look forward to a relaxing weekend in the sun in the comfort of your own back garden, deck or patio area or even a lovely weekend away. Either way, the weather looks like it is going to be here till around the Royal wedding so let's take advantage of it. Don't forget your sunscreen! 

Garden ornaments are a perfect addition to any garden in order to enhance the overall outdoor space. With the range of garden ornaments so wide, there is certainly one or two out there that are suitable for all types of gardens whether your garden is a modern and contemporary design or a more traditional and quaint, there are little features that will certainly add to the overall space. All in all enhancing your garden and creating a unique outdoor living space.

If you are sat in your garden one afternoon and are thinking that there is just something missing but you can not quite put your finger on it, then it may be worth considering the addition of a garden ornament. A simple, cost effective garden feature.

Over the years one of the more popular garden ornaments that people have turned to are bird baths. The addition of a bird bath to a garden is so simple and extremely versatile. It not only provides a great platform for your feathered friends to bask in the rays of the sun it is also a great ornament in your garden. With many of the bird baths especially designed to look very attractive in your garden. Bird baths are certainly suitable to be uncovered in your garden all year round with many of them being made from cast iron; they make a perfect weatherproof garden ornament.

The simplicity of creating or enhancing your outdoor living space is so easy with the addition of a garden ornament. Simply placing a set of stainless steel spheres in a corner of your garden or patio area will not only add a real attractive feature to your garden but a real focal point to an area that you are wanting to enhance. As mentioned in a previous blog post, the overwhelming popularity of the garden gnome is certainly not slowing down. Garden gnomes may not be everyone’s cup of tea, however it is safe to say that they do provide a creative and imaginative element to your garden. Perfect for children as many garden ornaments are themed. Especially with the success of the hit film Gnomeo & Juliet children are definitely taking a great interest in garden gnomes.

Simple features such as garden mirrors, wall art and garden clocks require minimal installation yet provide a great focal point to any garden, patio or decking area.

Synthetic resins are materials with a property of interest that is similar to natural plant resins: they are viscous liquids that are capable of hardening permanently.

So, how does this tie into a water feature. Well this is what is used to create the ever so popular resin water features. This particular type of water feature adds a certain natural look to any garden, however are most suited for traditional themed gardens where they can blend with their natural surroundings.

Resin is a lighter easier to maneuver water feature compared to stainless steel, solid rock or even slate water features. making this a perfect addition to anyones garden who frequently likes a change. Essentially this resin, or pollyresin can be molded to create almost any shape or design. With the durability of the material, detail of the water features is so precise a very realistic water feature can be created such as our most popular resin water feature is the affection fountain or the Medium Granite Three Bowl.

A thing to consider if you are thinking of purchasing a resin water feature or even if you already have one is getting yourself a protective cover. Especially during the cold winter months it is essential that your resin water feature is drained and covered to protect it from these cold winters.

Unfortunately, a large part of caring for our gardens means taking care of pests. Many pests can be very destructive or even fatal towards your plants. There are also pests which we consider to be a menace such as ants, cats, squirrels and moles. No matter which they tend to hinder our overall enjoyment of our gardens.  It is necessary to take the appropriate action as soon as possible to reduce the amount of damage that these pests may have caused, or prepare a head of time to prevent any damage being initially done.

Where possible the most economically friendly way of disposing of pests is the natural way or any chemical free agent.  Every pest has a predator of sort. For example there are always smaller insect who have a larger predator to control your pest problems. So a good idea would be to welcome wildlife into your garden help fend off those pesky plant munching insects.  If you do happen to notice any slugs, snails or caterpillars then a good pest control would simply be to remove them and dispose of them in an appropriate manor.

There are several non-chemical methods to reduce or eliminate your pest control problems. Slug pellets that are formulated with non-toxic ingredients that will essentially cause he least harm to other creatures are always a popular option. Traps, sticky traps are a great way to catch the pesky wasps and whiteflies.  They are easy to set up, simply hang them in a greenhouse for example next to the plants which tend to be suspect to pest invasions, such as fruit plants. A strange, yet not new technique to reduce the pest issues are the use of egg shells. It may be new concept for some, basically the scratchy surfaces slow down the slugs and snails. Further methods include Nematodes, pesticides, companion planting and barrier methods which consist of laying horticultural fencing over the crops that are susceptible to pests.

There are further methods to reduce or prevent unwanted pest activity in your garden. By simply adding animal chasers you will be able to alarm unwanted animals from your garden. Bird spikes are a popular option. You have probably frequently seen bird spikes in use around town or city centres above CCTV cameras. What they do is prevent the birds from landing and perching on an area you wish to preserve.  Solar security lights are also a great addition to any garden wishing to reduce unwanted animals from their gardens and provide that little added security to your home. By startling an animal with motion activated lights they will be less likely to stick around. 

All in all there are many options available to help prevent unwanted animals and pests from your garden. It is important to take note of this tip, identify your perpetrators as early as possible and take the appropriate action to prevent any damage to your garden. Once things are in place, sit back and enjoy with the peace of mind that everything is safe. 

UK Water Features has a wide range of indoor water features, outdoor water features, solar water features, pond pumps, aggregates, garden lighting, pest control and garden ornaments.  

First off, a big congratulations to Collette for winning the Small Column and Sphere Stainless Steel Water Feature. It's on it's way.

With the overwhelming success of the first competition, we are at it again!!  This time the prize is even bigger so if you would like to win a beautiful water feature for your garden this spring then guess what? You can!!

Simply log on to our Facebook fan page and tag yourself in the competition feature picture and add us,  or log on to our Twitter page and “retweet” the competition link  that is floating around and follow us in order to be automatically entered to the drawing.

Please note, both requirements need to be met in order to be entered.

Facebook: Tag and Add

Twitter: Retweet and Follow

The Cascade Stainless Steel Water Feature is what that we are awarding the winner and it is truly a beautiful feature. We decided that there was not much point in hiding the prize till the end of the competition simply because it is an amazing prize and you really need to take a look at what you could win. 

Good luck to everyone, Entries accepted till 30/04/2011 and the winner will be announced on Monday 01/05/2011

Don’t forget to tell your friends!

The sound of flowing water can be a very relaxing and mellow sound for many. For some people the sound of flowing water can trigger a childhood memory or a favourite sound from the past. When we sit there and relax to the sound of flowing water, we can think back to sitting on a beach listening to the ocean, or sat relaxing in the countryside by a slow flowing stream. It is possible to re-create these sounds with water features that are simple plug and admire features or straight from the box. However, with the advances in modern technology, we can now re-create a much more realistic and personal water feature experience with custom built water features.

The beauty of a custom built water feature in your garden is that it is suitable for all budgets. It is possible to have a magnificent looking custom built water feature even on a smaller budget. When all said and done, the idea of a custom water feature is to be completely unique and personal. You basically can create a water feature the way you want it. Custom built water features are also perfect for garden designs, restaurants, office space and building projects.

When starting from scratch is a good rule of thumb to determine our overall budget for the project. Weigh up the list of items that you are going to be needing to create your water feature. For example, you will need a good quality water pump, basin materials such as plastic tubs, buckets, stoneware or the whole kit which includes the statuary and pump. It may also be worth considering a pump with adjustable water flow. As you can see there is a wide range of choice and it all depends on your overall budget and what it is that you want your water feature to do.

For a lot of people, the simple out of the box water features is exactly what they are looking for. After all these water features are simple to install, require minimal time and effort you are able to visually see the water feature prior to installing it. However, there are some people who prefer to be unique. They prefer to have a water feature that holds a personal touch or personal connection. Purchasing the parts one by one to create that unique water feature can be a fun and fulfilling experience. To see the final outcome of their perfect water feature will certainly provide them with a great sense of achievement.

Once your water feature is up and running you may want to consider decorating around the feature to hide any sort of working parts from the human eye. Adding a few garden ornaments or statuary to hide working parts is a simple yet very effective tip. Then you can just sit back and enjoy your new custom built focal point in your garden.

Garden arbours and garden swing sets are a great little addition to your garden a place where you can sit and relax, while creating your own little tranquil atmosphere. With the amazing weather we had over the last week, and you were unfortunately tied into cutting the grass or pulling weeds all weekend then what better way than to sit and relax after all that hard work and admire a job well done than in a beautiful hand crafted garden arbour or swing set. When picking the perfect garden arbour it is essential that you look at what you are actually getting.

We all love sitting in our garden throughout the day, and now that the nights are certainly getting longer (and warmer) what better way to sit there and unwind after a long day.

The individually hand crafted in the United Kingdom the unique Scandinavian timber that is used in garden arbours and garden swing sets are a proven sign that you are getting a quality heavy duty feature. With each garden arbour being individually hand crafted in the UK, is also a good sign that when these products were being made to the highest possible standards as none of the garden arbours or swing sets are imported or assembled on a line in batches.  A large range of colours are available so you are able to tie the new garden feature perfectly with your garden. As garden arbours and garden swing sets are all fairly large features, they can sometimes be a hassle to assemble. So if you are looking for an arbour or swing set, you may be interested in ones that are flat packed. This makes them easy to assemble and short assembly time, so you can get them up and ready in no time.

Those small last touches are sometimes the key to creating a fabulous looking garden. Garden bridges are great as they can actually be used for decoration purposes as well or to get you over a small stream. Garden bridges have recently become more popular with gardens that have a more oriental feel.

Every year, millions of us cook up a feast on the barbeque. As soon as the sun comes out we immediately dust off the shorts, grab some flip flops and start thinking about having a good old barbeque. With the weather set be lovely all weekend across the UK now would be a perfect time start planning your own.

What is the difference between barbequing and grilling? Many of us may believe that they are the same. Well in fact, there is actually a difference. Even though they are very similar there are actually a few differences that distinguish these special cooking techniques.

Grilling is a quicker way of cooking on a barbeque. Generally you grill at a higher heat, which essentially cooks your food a little quicker. Preparation for grilling is usually shorter as not much is really needed. Nutrition wise, grilling has a list of benefits compared to traditional barbequing techniques. For example, a grilled chicken breast can be grilled on impulse with a little seasoning for taste whie the fats from the meat automatically drip off. So this is a great option for those who are conscious about what they eat. Barbequed chicken breast would require more time to prepare, the inclusion of condiments and oils to keep the meat moist and stop it from drying out in the barbeque.

When grilling your food there are three widley used techniques.  Technique number one is probably the most common and is probably the one that we are most familiar with. It basically consists of using a form of under heat grilling. Under heat grilling involves the food being placed on a grill rack over either a charcoal or gas grill. This form of grilling is perfect for enhancing the flavours in your foods. It is however important to take note that in this form of grilling it is essential to preheat your BBQ to 260 degrees Celsius or 500 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure safe cooking.

The third most common technique is broiling. This is technique is different from grilling as it is done in an over-head cooking oven. As with using a grill rack, again it is essential for the over to be preheated to the recommended temperature.

The second form of grilling is a technique called 'pan grilling'. This technique is usually used for tender cuts of meat. Generally the chef would use a cast-iron pan in order to cook the food. Obvious steps need to be taken in order to prevent the meat from sticking to the pan such as seasoning or oiling.  

Barbequing requires a little more time and preparation to achieve the authentic "barbeque taste" as the food is required to be cooked at much lower temperatures causing creating a need for it to be cooked for a longer period of time. Barbequed food is much different to grilled food as it tends to be cooked to produce a Smokey taste. Oh, and it tends to be covered in sauces...which is what we all love!

Barbequing is a great family event, where you can enjoy ample food while sitting outside in this lovely weather. There are barbeques available for sized gardens and patio areas. The most popular gas BBQ is the Flat Bed Three Burner with Roasting Hood as this tensd to fit in with most peoples gardens. So with the lovely weather sweeping the nation, and those prized Bank Holidays coming up this month now would be the perfect time to start putting one together.

What is a water feature?
Well according to the World Wide Web a water feature is in landscaping, architecture and garden design terms, is one or more items from a range of fountains, pools, ponds, cascades, waterfalls, and streams. However in more simple terms a water feature is a decorative element using flowing water such as fountain or waterfall. However, to us a water feature is or should be the centre piece of your garden.

Water features can be a visual beauty and provide a calm, peaceful and relaxing ambiance from the slow flow of the water. Many of us enjoy sitting in our gardens on a warm spring afternoon relaxing to the peaceful sound of nature and the slow trickling water.  Our senses are trained to acknowledge these sounds and trigger an emotion. For example, when we hear flowing water we can associate that with a relaxing atmosphere and memory.

Recently there has been a notable  increase in the development of ‘Sensory Gardens’. ‘Sensory Gardens’ are designed to provide both disabled and non-disabled individuals with an opportunity to  experience an up close and personal sensory experience

Sensory Gardens across the UK to help provide both disabled and non-disabled individuals with an opportunity to  experience up close and personal  a sensory opportunity that they may not normally experience.

Sensory gardens are becoming more and more popular amongst the population. The gardens may contain various features that are accessible to all individuals such as: scented and edible plants, sculptures and sculpted handrails, water features designed to make sound and play over the hands, textured touch-pads, magnifying-glass screens, braille and audio induction loop descriptions. Depending on the user group, other provisions may integrate sound and music more centrally to combine the play needs of younger users with their sensory needs.

Many sensory gardens pride themselves to providing a unique experience for multiple senses. For example, those specialising in scent are sometimes called scented gardens. Those specialising in sound are called sound gardens where the equipment doubles up to provide an enhanced opportunity for strategic developmental, learning and educational outcomes.

Sensory Gardens usually have an enhanced infrastructure to allow easy wheelchair access as well as meeting all other accessibility concerns; the design and layout provides a stimulating journey through the senses, heightening awareness, and bringing positive learning experiences for everyone.

It has to be said that is really is nice to see the increase in development of sensory gardens throughout the UK and believe that it is of great importance that we take the time to say thank you to those individuals who take the time and the effort to make this happen for all those individuals who can now experience a unique encounter with something that we may take for granted.

If you are looking at adding a sensory garden or are adding to one, then some recommended features to provide a great experience that will tie into all senses are the 50cm stainless sphere, tapered column and sphere, 100cm stainless steel sphere and the large tubes water features all provide great reflections through the flowing water. All these features are touchable allowing you to feel the water flowing through your fingers to provide the perfect and safe experience for everyone.

There are not many of us that know much about Cretan Pots, where they came from or how they first originated however what we do know is that they look simply beautiful in our gardens. The add a very stylsih and unique focal point to any garden design.

So, where do they originally come from?
Their heritage dates back to the infamous Greek civilization of the Minoans over 4000 years ago. Traditional techniques are still be used today by the potters from the Thrapasano region of Crete. The use of the traditional techniques are emphasized to make pots and pithoi (Pithos (plural pithoi) originally referred to a large storage jar of a characteristic shape. The word was at one point used by western classical archaeologists to mean the jars uncovered by excavation in Crete and Greece; it has now been taken into the American English language as a general word for a storage jar from any culture).

The creators take exceptional amount of pride when they create these wonderful pieces. A genuine 100% authentic Cretan Pot will be completely handmade, making each pot very unique. Essentially the pots are all made from local clay which is carefully sourced from various surrounding mountain areas and then hand thrown on the wheels which are then heated in a special kernel at over 1150c. Even 4000 years ago they were thinking about economically friendly ways as the kernels all use the islands olive harvest to fuel the blazing fires. Because of the ridiculously high temperatures that the kernels it helps guarantee exceptional quality, durability. Back in the day, these large pithoi pots were used for storing olive oil, wine and honey etc whilst the smaller pots stored olives, pickles, cheese and salt and so on.

Well, there is a little history lesson for all of you who were really wondering where these magnificent pots originated.

Many Cretan Pots are now available as a water feature for your garden, so they add that extra wow factor. Our most popular Cretan Pot is the Demeter Cretan Pot which is a stunning water feature that is 100% hand thrown and frost proof terracotta cretan self contained water feature made to the highest quality.

It truly is amazing that after all these years; we are still including them in our gardens today. 100% handmade Cretan pots are a brilliant and stunning addition to any garden design whether they are a contemporary or traditional designed garden a Cretan pot will add a brilliant focal point. Oh, and now after reading this blog you will be able to sit in your garden and show off your knowledge about Cretan pots next time you have people over for a glass of wine or two now that these lighter and warmer spring nights are sweeping in.

UK Water Features

Gardeners have a fair old amount of elements to consider when it comes to planting their vegetables. After a long hard and certainly cold winter, where you have had plenty of time to think about what you are wanting to plant this spring, now is the time to start putting those prized plans into action.

As we all know, the climate here in the UK is certainly not the same as the south of France. It would be nice, but unfortunately it isn’t.  So we have to take into considerable consideration the variable UK climate when it comes to the right time to start preparing your garden for the planting season.

There are many types of Greenhouse Heaters, Planters and other Greenhouse Accessories you can buy to improve the growing conditions for your plants, fruit and vegetables. However they can all be very susceptible to fluctuating temperatures, humidity and lighting conditions so it’s important that you are prepared for this and that you have the necessary garden accessories incorporated into your greenhouse setup and design.

When choosing a greenhouse it is very important to choose one that matches the overall design of you garden as well as the general year round climate. For example you wouldn’t want to choose a flat roofed greenhouse if you expect a lot of snowfall throughout several months of the year. It would be much more realistic and certainly more beneficial to you to use one of the more popular, slopped roofed greenhouses where the snow and heavy rain can easily slide off eliminating any unnecessary damage.

With the overwhelming popularity of the organic food market in today’s health crazed society across the country and the increase in cost to buy an organic carrot compared to a non-organic carrot more and more people are turning to “grow your own” products.  If you have the space to grow your own fruits and vegetables then why not invest a little to save a lot. If you enjoy eating organically grown vegetables with your Sunday dinner however are not much of a fan for paying the through the roof prices that the supermarket chains are slapping on them then now might be a good time to consider growing your own. Your Sunday dinner will taste even better knowing that you have put the hard work in to grow the food which is on your plate.  Incredibly several statistics have shown that the average price is roughly 35%-45% higher on Organic products across the UK.  When you look at in those terms, it seems silly not grow your own and save some of that hard earned money on the weekly shop.

If you are considering growing your then there are many choices of planters that will suit the needs from the beginner gardener to the up most experienced. Growing your own vegetables can be both fun and rewarding. Get your children involved in the process; we all know how kids love to be in the garden helping mum and dad which all in all is helping them maintain a good healthy and balanced diet, and you never know having your kids help grow their vegetables may make them want to eat them.

It's April already! Spring is in the air and we have a couple of things to celebrate this month, first of all as we mentioned in a previous post is the closure of our showroom which has seen thousands of customers through its doors since opening in May 2008. With the growth of our mail order business and plans for the future we made the decision last year to close the showroom and continue to expand our warehouse and distribution facility. So, big congratulations for everyone involved at UK Water Features, and not to forget an even bigger thank you to all our loyal customers who without them we would not have been able to progress and expand the way we have.

On another exciting note, this month is Easter! So to celebrate the fun chocolate egg giving tradition we are going to be awarding all our customers a FREE bag of Cadburys Mini Cream Eggs with every online purchase from today till April 26^th. Oh, and by the way this isn’t an April fool’s joke everyone. FREE Cadbury’s Mini Eggs up for grabs!

Easter eggstravaganza!