August 2011

Water features can be a fantastic addition to any garden in order to enhance the general look feel, however they are also widely used across the globe to enhance much larger areas to create a visual spectacle where people are genuinely excited about the feature and will travel hundreds if not thousands of miles to see. 

Plans are currently under way in Dubai where they plan on building the worlds largest water fountain. The fountains, will be built in order to produce a remarkable spectacle where the water will shoot over 150 metres into the air and stretch over 275 metres. Estimated cost for this sensational project will be around $218 million. Spending such a large amount of money to build such a feature that is 25 percent larger than the iconic fountains at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas actually has its perks. The Fountains will include an integral light and sound show and will certainly become one of Dubai's major tourist attractions drawing in well over 10 millions visitors every year. One thing for sure, this water feature is going to need some very large fountain pumps. 

Dubai really seems like a brilliant place to visit and spot some truly remarkable water features. Even while you are out shopping at the Dubai Mall there is a stunning water fountain inside the shopping center. The Waterfall comprises two cylindrical structures, 30 metres in diameter and 24 metres high, with an overhead reservoir feeding the recycled water. Well-lit in the night and reflecting sunlight by day. A choice of coffee shops and retail kiosks overlook The Waterfall, giving visitors a relaxing ambience to meet. Several palm trees are also set up to replicate the ambience of a desert oasis, and various in-mall activities will be held around The Waterfall to sustain visitor interest.

There is a stunning water feature that is a must see for anyone who plans a trip top Dubai, situated under the worlds tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. The dancing fountains run daily every 30 minutes from 7pm and are set on a 30 acre manmade lake. Illuminated by 6,600 lights and 25 coloured projectors, it is 275 m (902 ft) long and shoots water 150 m (490 ft) into the air (equivalent to a 50-story building), accompanied by a range of classical to contemporary Arabic and world music. It cost over £180 million to build! 

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features. 

As the summer starts to fade away and we move swiftly into the fall season we start getting less daylight we also start getting cooler evenings. Yet the fall weather we are still keen on spending as much time outdoors as possible we tend to stay closer to the comfort of our homes. Even in the the UK it is possible to enjoy the cooler nights on a fall evening by sitting out side on your deck or patio area. A key point to remember during this time is to be able to keep enjoying your gardens you should begin to  put your potted plants and flowers close to your patio are and bring the lighting closer. Sitting outside during the fall season is quite popular so if you have solar garden lights bring them closer into your patio or sitting area this way you will be able to benefit from outdoor lighting. 

If throughout the summer you invested in a birdbath for your garden then the fall season is a perfect time for you to embrace the sight and sounds of your feathered friends enjoying their new bird baths as the birds are preparing for the winter season. Enhance your water falls or water fountains  in your garden by simply adding a solar spotlight under it to bring the feature to life at night. You will be surprised how relaxing it can be sitting in your garden during the fall season. We all know that the temperatures will drop during the fall season so if you are planning on sitting outdoor then it may be wise to invest in a small patio heater or garden firepit to keep you toasty while you sit back and relax. Many of the patio heaters that are on sale are now eco-friendly and are available as ether gas or electric.

A quick note, towards the end of fall and when winter does draw closer be sure to remove any motorised parts from your bird baths or water falls so as not to damage them by any frost or below freezing weather if you are not using a heating system in them. A full guide on how to prepare your water features for the winter season will be posted close to the time. In the mean time, sit back and enjoy the rest of the summer in your gardens and take pleasure from all the hard work that you have put in over the season. 

With summer coming to an end, the fall season will shortly be sweeeping in so what better time to run one of the biggest competitions of the summer. The prizes will surly be flying out of the UK Water Features warehouse for the next 12 days, we will be giving away 12 prizes. Yes, that right 12 days 12 prizes!

Here is how you can take part in this fantastic opportunity to bag yourself an amazing prize. 

For Facebook entries please head to our page, click the like button at the top and follow the instructions on the following page. If you are already one of our 2000 loyal Facebook fans then all you need to do is keep your eye out for the picture of the day that is uploaded to our wall. When you see the picture all you need to do is "like" it. Simple as that. A winner will be chosen at the end of the day. 

*Due to Facebooks new limitations on tagging please do not tag yourself in any pictures.

To enter on Twitter is even easier, all you need to do is 'follow us' and keep an eye out for updates. We will be giving out prizes for every 100 followers. Simple as that. 

There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs that are sure to bring your garden to life. Over the past few months we have been some brilliant competitions where some of our lucky fans and followers have walked away with some of our best selling water features such as the 50cm Stainless Steel Sphere, the Greek Jugs and Jars, Chiminea Burner ad the Kelkay Friendship Fountain from the Kelkay Easy Fountain range. So who knows what's in store this time around. 

Having a water feature in your garden is a fantastic way to bring tranquility to your very own outdoor living area and bring together an area where you can sit back relax and enjoy the sound of free flowing water trickling in the background. What better way to achieve this that winning one. We encourage our fans and followers to share their gardening experiences, tip and tricks, photos and general gardening ideas with us all. We love hearing from you all. 

Everyone knows that the best time of the year to host an outdoor party or family get together is in the summer. Well with summer rapidly coming to an end now would be a great time to get one or two together and what better way to have an outdoor party than in a peaceful, tranquil and relaxing atmosphere in your garden. 

To ensure that you host the best possible party for your friends and family then follow these simple tips to success. 

No matter what everyone likes to feel special. You can create a unique layout to your gathering by adding personal seating cards for all of your outdoor guests. Purchase card-stock at any local stationary store and use your printer or write each persons name on a card or hand write the names for that completely custom and personal look. Fold each card in half with names out and place one at every seat. 

Make sure you have some comfortable outdoor seating. You don't want your guests shuffling around all night trying to get comfy. There are many out door garden and patio furniture sets that are available that are both beautiful and affordable. 

With almost all outdoor entertaining there will be some unwanted guests in the form of pesky bugs. Keep your outdoor area pest-free with several bug repellant candles. Place the candles in strategic areas to boost the repellant and keep your party bug free. These candles not only repel bug they will also give your party a relaxing candle lit atmosphere and your guests will love the ambience while enjoying the party. Citronella candles come in a variety of shapes, sizes and different, decorative holders. You can group regular candles in different areas of the outdoors with the citronella candles to create candle light for your entire party lighting solutions.

Lighting up your garden is not only suitable for outdoor entertaining. Yes it certainly does help to have your garden lit for your guests however throughout the year lighting up your garden with some simple garden lights really adds to the effect of your garden. Even if you are simply trying to highlight a garden feature or water feature on display. Some simple ideas are to drape the lights all around your outdoor area and throughout any trees, plants or shrubs, even overhead. Exterior light strands and rope lighting have become very popular as well as affordable. 

Music is always a welcome addition to any outdoor gathering. Play it low as just a background enhancement. You don’t want guests to have to talk over the music or have the neighbours complaining. 

Keep plenty of ice on hand for drinks and for dishes that need to be kept chilled. Put a large serving dish full of ice out and sit the smaller dish with food on top of the ice. This keeps food cooler for longer.

If you are planning on having a BBQ with your guests, plan ahead. You don't want to have to make your guests sit around half an hour between courses while the food cooks. Make sure you know what is cooking, when it needs to be cooked and how long it will take to cook to ensure that you have all the prepared food ready to go on the BBQ. A gas barbecue will cook the food a little quicker than a charcoal bbq or even a masonry bbq. However, if you are wanting your food to have the traditional charcoal taste, then extra preparation will be needed as the food may take a little longer to cook. 

Keeping a storage box handy with your outdoor entertaining in mind is a simple solution. This box can hold all of your BBQ grill accessories and your outdoor dishes. Plastic dinnerware and glasses can be chosen to match any décor or theme and are much more personal than paper. This cuts down on garbage and keeps you from damaging the good china from chipping and breaking. Just wash and store for next time. 

Just follow some or all of these simple tips for successful outdoor entertaining. Remember the extra planning and preparation that you put in is crucial in order to create a fabulous, outdoor party that your guests will remember for a long time to come.

With the recent hot weather and dry conditions it’s always advisable to check your garden water features and ponds to make sure they have plenty of water. Water from water features can quickly evaporate on a hot day.

If the pump is starting to make a noise then it’s likely the water level is low and the feature will need topping up. Water features can be topped up with a watering can or hosepipe. Ideally you can add a bit of water to the feature when watering plants at night.

To prevent the build-up of slime and grime (algae) we currently have two products that can be added to the water feature. Kelkay’s Fountain Algae Stopper is a powder additive which is added every couple of weeks into the feature. Smart Solar offer a more pet and wildlife friendly version (Fountain Fresh) which is produced using barley straw extract.

Solar powered garden features can be a very simple yet very cost effective enhancement to your garden. Many people are wanting to enhance the look and general appearance of their outdoor living area, especially now that the weather is finally picking up this summer and we are expected to have a nice few weeks this August. If you have not had a chance to get out in your garden so far this summer and give it some TLC then there are some simple solutions that can drastically improve your garden within a few hours.

The addition of Solar Outdoor Decking Lights can bring your drab, winter worn deck back to life. If you are looking for a sophisticated and professional look then solar decking lights would be a simple way to lighten up your deck or patio area at night. With the warmer summer nights sweeping in, we are all wanting to get out there as much as possible. So when the sun does go down, we can still sit outdoors and enjoy the lovely weather. Maybe invite the neighbors round for a small BBQ. Our most popular set of decking is the Solar LED Deck Lights (White). With no wiring required, these four white solar deck lights are easy to install and perfect to illuminate decking, pathways and borders.

The benefits of installing deck lights is that they are solar, meaning that no wiring is needed! Through the day, your solar deck lights are charged by direct day light once the sun goes down the lights will then use the generated solar power to illuminate your pathway, patio or decking area. Not only are solar lights GREEN, they will also help reduce your electrical expenses as they require no electricity, amazing.

solar water features are designed to operate in climates that do not always have a continuous amounts of direct sunlight. There is nothing greener than allowing Mother Nature to power your garden water feature.

Purchasing a solar water feature with a removable solar panel allows the owner to place the solar panel in an area that receives significant direct sunlight even if the water feature itself does not receive adequate direct sunlight. This allows the owner more choice in where to locate the solar water feature within the garden.

By recalculating water, solar water features conserve water while also saving money. Gathering the energy of the sun to power the water feature allows the owner to constantly recalculate the water at absolutely no cost. By keeping the water moving, the solar water feature reduces algae growth and thus reduces the need for algae removal products. In summary, solar water features create a lovely and tranquil oasis while still being an entirely green choice for eco-conscious gardeners.

When installing any solar garden feature a small amount of planning needs to be put in place prior to installing any of the features. When installing a solar powered garden light It is a good idea to place the lights in an area where you know you get a good amount of day light. As they do not need constant daylight it is recommended to give the panels as much as possible to provide them with as much power as possible. For them to charge, they need light so it would not be recommended to place them in a known dark area throughout the day. Even though the lights will charge in a partially shaded area, they will shine brighter at night if they have received good contact with direct daylight throughout the day. Installation and maintenance efforts will also be significantly reduced as they require no wiring.