Have looked on a few websites Dove and as usual they have mixed reviews. Some are so daft thats one reason why I asked. Oh well perhaps a pond instead at sometime then
I have only a small patio garden 35 X 16 feet and wanted a water feature. I plumped for a fountain so dug out a small circle, lined it and bought a fountain water pump. Placed it in the water and placed on top a stone figure on supports. Run the cable through a plastic conduit to the window sill, drilled a hole for the cable which runs to a wall electric socket with a water safety breaker switch attached. It has worked well for years. My wife and I love the sound of the water as we sit out on the patio and it shows that you do not have to have a large garden to enjoy such things.
Can anyone help? My problem is not blanket weed but tiny little weed that looks as if the pond is covered in cress leaves! I think they came across when the wild ducks flew in but they have now overtaken the whole pond! My lillies and oxygenating plants are struggling to grow as it is literally covering the whole surface of the pond. I tried using barley straw but have been told this is the "wrong type of weed" for that! I don't want to use chemicals as I have lots of wildlife in and around my pond.
starlily we splashed out (excuse the pun) on a solar powered one last year and we love it. It is a bit big maybe -- I forget the exact dimensions - about two foot high and two and a half feet across. It's called Fairy in a Clam Shell. We couldn't have electric connection and I was apprehensive about trying it so it had to be solar power for me. It has worked really well but perhaps looks a bit naff and over the top to some people. It was much bigger than I expected even though the online ad gave dimensions.
The garden was covered in scaffolding and builders stuff for most of last summer and is a total mess and I'm only beginning to do a Spring tidy up and plan the garden out again. This photo was taken this month but she is in a temporary position until the real tidying is done. It's a very resilient feature. It was outdoors under a table all winter. I just took the little solar thing inside over winter and when I plugged it in this April it automatically started right away on a sunny day. Took 4 hours to charge up, comes with rechargeable batteries. She looks better in the summer in a permanent position with good foliage and plants around her. I even sometimes take the wings off which make her look a bit less flamboyant and a bit more classical! We love her and you can adjust the strength and type of fountain and it also comes with a little light thing which can be plugged in for under the water in the evening. She's certainly not to everyone' taste and is a bit big, but really easy to do and easily moved around.
Have not even botherd reading the replys so sorry if this has no bearing, but haveing worked in a shop that sells water features and marine life, I can tell you, just dont go there they are OK (Bearly) in full sunlight but they are just a waste of money IMO, id always advise a mains powerd one ware I could, its not as hard as you think to get power to your garden eather so might be worth looking into.
GoodLuck, water features are great things to have!!!
I used to design and make decorative fountains and have a bubble fountain operating on a solar panel that has been in the garden for nearly nine years without problems. I used to hear all sorts of complaints about SP pumps breaking down but these always turned out to be cheap Far Eastern imports.
Solar pumps are great if you choose the right one. The variation in flow as a result of changing light levels is fascinating but can cause problems if they are used in the wrong water feature eg a spouting mask may become a dribbling one when the sun goes behind a cloud. The water may well then just drp down the wall and empty the catch bowl. The opposite can also happen and strong light can cause a spouting fountain to spout too fiercely and ditto - an empty container.
If you do go for solar choose carefully, get expert advice and be prepared to buy the best. My old one is an Oase one and it has been brilliant.
Curlycarly, haven't heard of that make will google it.
Mike thank you, will look into that. Sorry can't pm you, as my pms never work, can't ever send or see them for some reason. Hope you're keeping well, best wishes.
Thank you everyone else will think about all your advice.
starlily let me know if you find one i want one too, though mine not for patio, i saw fairy in clam shell, it's pretty but bit big for us, i want more of a trickle than fountain
Rosemummy, just had a look on internet, there are 3 sizes of the fairy in a clam shell at ....Primrose. I am going to have another look after our meal. If I find any more will let you know.
Posts
Have looked on a few websites Dove and as usual they have mixed reviews. Some are so daft thats one reason why I asked. Oh well perhaps a pond instead at sometime then
I have only a small patio garden 35 X 16 feet and wanted a water feature. I plumped for a fountain so dug out a small circle, lined it and bought a fountain water pump. Placed it in the water and placed on top a stone figure on supports. Run the cable through a plastic conduit to the window sill, drilled a hole for the cable which runs to a wall electric socket with a water safety breaker switch attached. It has worked well for years. My wife and I love the sound of the water as we sit out on the patio and it shows that you do not have to have a large garden to enjoy such things.
See Photo.
Can anyone help? My problem is not blanket weed but tiny little weed that looks as if the pond is covered in cress leaves! I think they came across when the wild ducks flew in but they have now overtaken the whole pond! My lillies and oxygenating plants are struggling to grow as it is literally covering the whole surface of the pond. I tried using barley straw but have been told this is the "wrong type of weed" for that! I don't want to use chemicals as I have lots of wildlife in and around my pond.
Yes, get a pond skimmer http://www.swelluk.com/pond/pond-vacs-maintenance-58/fish-nets-299/swell-collapsible-pond-skimmer-net-1-8m-615000.html?ref=shopping&utm_source=product-search&utm_medium=googlebase&gclid=CMzu7cWmi74CFSQFwwod_BEA9g and just keep skimming - you never get rid of it totally, but it can be quite useful as it shades the water and helps regulate the temperature
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
starlily we splashed out (excuse the pun) on a solar powered one last year and we love it. It is a bit big maybe -- I forget the exact dimensions - about two foot high and two and a half feet across. It's called Fairy in a Clam Shell. We couldn't have electric connection and I was apprehensive about trying it so it had to be solar power for me. It has worked really well but perhaps looks a bit naff and over the top to some people. It was much bigger than I expected even though the online ad gave dimensions.
The garden was covered in scaffolding and builders stuff for most of last summer and is a total mess and I'm only beginning to do a Spring tidy up and plan the garden out again. This photo was taken this month but she is in a temporary position until the real tidying is done. It's a very resilient feature. It was outdoors under a table all winter. I just took the little solar thing inside over winter and when I plugged it in this April it automatically started right away on a sunny day. Took 4 hours to charge up, comes with rechargeable batteries. She looks better in the summer in a permanent position with good foliage and plants around her. I even sometimes take the wings off which make her look a bit less flamboyant and a bit more classical! We love her and you can adjust the strength and type of fountain and it also comes with a little light thing which can be plugged in for under the water in the evening. She's certainly not to everyone' taste and is a bit big, but really easy to do and easily moved around.
Have not even botherd reading the replys so sorry if this has no bearing, but haveing worked in a shop that sells water features and marine life, I can tell you, just dont go there they are OK (Bearly) in full sunlight but they are just a waste of money IMO, id always advise a mains powerd one ware I could, its not as hard as you think to get power to your garden eather so might be worth looking into.
GoodLuck, water features are great things to have!!!
I used to design and make decorative fountains and have a bubble fountain operating on a solar panel that has been in the garden for nearly nine years without problems. I used to hear all sorts of complaints about SP pumps breaking down but these always turned out to be cheap Far Eastern imports.
Solar pumps are great if you choose the right one. The variation in flow as a result of changing light levels is fascinating but can cause problems if they are used in the wrong water feature eg a spouting mask may become a dribbling one when the sun goes behind a cloud. The water may well then just drp down the wall and empty the catch bowl. The opposite can also happen and strong light can cause a spouting fountain to spout too fiercely and ditto - an empty container.
If you do go for solar choose carefully, get expert advice and be prepared to buy the best. My old one is an Oase one and it has been brilliant.
Thank you for all your replies.
Yarrow I think your solar fountain is lovely.
Curlycarly, haven't heard of that make will google it.
Mike thank you, will look into that. Sorry can't pm you, as my pms never work, can't ever send or see them for some reason. Hope you're keeping well, best wishes.
Thank you everyone else will think about all your advice.
starlily let me know if you find one i want one too, though mine not for patio, i saw fairy in clam shell, it's pretty but bit big for us, i want more of a trickle than fountain
Rosemummy, just had a look on internet, there are 3 sizes of the fairy in a clam shell at ....Primrose. I am going to have another look after our meal. If I find any more will let you know.