Beware of garden threats to your pets

Some home owners are adding the chemicals to their water features to prevent the water from freezing during the winter months. Water expands when frozen and can create cracks in plastic, stone or ceramic water features.

A spate of deaths has prompted the RSPCA to urge anyone that has put anti-freeze into their water feature or fountain to drain the water as soon as possible. The chemicals are terribly detrimental to the internal organs of a dog or cat, especially to their liver and kidneys, and can quickly kill any small animal.

Unfortunately, the garden hosts many hidden threats to pets. So we have tried to round up the regular culprits to help protect your furry friends.

Slug bait is very poisonous

Snail and slug bait is very poisonous to all pets and can cause death in as little as three hours. There are other options to keep the slugs at bay. Instead of pellets try placing copper rings around pots or planters. Scattering broken egg shells around your plants is another popular slug deterrent.

Cocoa mulch can be potentially deadly

Many varieties of this mulch contain cocoa beans. Cocoa contains theobromine and caffeine, both can be potentially deadly to dogs and cats. It is much safer for pet owners to use mulch manufactured with cedar or other products as these are not poisonous to pets.

Ragwort the toxic weed

This is a common yellow flowered weed found in rough pastures. It is highly toxic to many animals, especially to cattle and horses. It can cause kidney failure and liver damage in cats and dogs, even minute doses can be fatal.

Keep pets away from fertilisers

Pets walking or playing on grassy areas treated with fertilisers can develop skin irritation and rashes. The common symptoms of pesticide or fertilizer poisoning in pets are increased heart rate, unsteady gait, foaming of the mouth, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, seizures and collapse.

Threat from foxes

Foxes are a threat to smaller animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs but they have also been known to attack cats and dogs. They typically enter our gardens through gates and under or over fences, so we can prevent this by securing our gardens. At night always remember to secure small pets safely in their hutches and never leave them unsupervised while out of their cages.

Beware of stinging insects

Wasps, bees and hornets can give your pet a nasty sting. Dogs and cats sometimes eat these stinging insects, and can occasionally be stung in inside their mouth or throat. If you suspect there is a nest in your garden then contact your local council or an independent firm to have it removed.

Toads secrete poison when threatened

When certain species of toad are threatened they can secrete an irritant poison that will hurt a curious pet’s tongue or skin. If cases like this, rinse the affected area with lots of water and phone the vet as soon as possible.

Herbicides harmful when swallowed

Some herbicides and weed killers can harm pets if accidentally swallowed. Pets may absorb the chemicals through the skin, either directly through spillages or indirectly from a walk through treated plants.

Prevention is the key to protecting your pets from any dangers in the garden. Make sure your garden is safe and secure and keep your pets well away from chemicals or poisonous plants.

Kelkay - add tranquility and magic to your garden

Kelkay also offer a range of paving and decorative stones to compliment your water feature or help create the perfect patio.

Their range of fountains are self contained and easy to install. With the pump built in to the water feature, there’s no digging holes or lining pools. You just unpack the fountain, plug it in and add water.

The creatures fountain range adds the magic of wildlife to your natural water feature. The features range include traditional urns and contemporary curves that will soak your home with the tranquil sound of trickling water. Lights are included in some water features allowing you to enjoy the fountain at night and adding a mystical glow to the running water.

Every style and budget is catered for in the Kelkay water features range. From the cute and cuddly squirrel fountain at £69.99 to the contemporary arched column bowls water feature at £259.99.

Kelkay also offer a range of paving stones and decorative slates, cobbles and pebbles. Perfect for building a garden patio or enhancing your water feature. Kelkay offer a range of plans and designs that will help you create a paving masterpiece and are free to download here.

Sharing your water feature frolics.

No matter whether you have a little bird bath, a lake filled with koi carp, or a twenty foot garden waterfall; we love sharing your water feature frolics.

So why don’t you swim through our Water Feature Blogs We Love and see what you can find.

The Garden Pond Blog – This great blog is all about wildlife in garden ponds. It helps you make them, tells you how to look after them and talks of the wildlife that may inhabit your garden oasis. A good recent post ‘Eeek – don’t believe everything you read’ is a humorous look at the misconceptions of having a pond.

Garden Water Features – A breadth of topics discussed here such as ‘keeping garden features clean – the natural way’, ‘how to build a waterfall’ and ‘how to turn your water feature into a night time highlight’. A varied and solid blog with lots of helpful advice.

Water Garden Blog – All kinds of industry leaders, explorers, adventuresome hobbyists, and novices provide information for this site, which is hosted by keen pond man Zac. Loads of facts and info on a vast array of subjects will ensure that you bookmark this blog and come back time and time again.

Tim’s Blog – As a “watershape designer”, Tim understands and appreciates the importance of water in backyard environments. In his stylish and unique blog Tim shares his creative thoughts on all features great and small. Check out ‘The “Modern”, Art with Water’ post for some innovative ideas.

Water Fountains Blog – This great blog provides you with accurate reviews on water fountains including wall fountains, tabletop fountains, custom fountains and outdoor fountains. You will see their love for fountains in all that you read. They include information about maintaining and cleaning water features, guides on how to use them and the benefits the fountains provide. There is a must read post on ‘Water Fountains: Benefits and Placement’.

Table Top Fountain Stall – Here we have a blog of table top fountains, which incorporates garden fountains. There are solar powered water features here, and tips on feng-shui for your fountains. There are a few helpful posts such as the ‘Top 5 Water Fountain Applications For Winter’.

Swimming Pool to Pond – This documents the turning of a normal backyard swimming pool into a fully functioning garden pond which includes lots of tips and advice of how to achieve this feat. The blog offers complete drawings of walk throughs for various building projects making it a valuable asset, and making the procedure feasible.

Luxe Water Fountains – A wide selection of both indoor and outdoor fountains are discussed in this regularly updated blog and interesting blog. There is plenty of advice on wall fountains here and a great maintenance guide.

Frog Blog Manchester – This is the personal blog of Herpetologist and Amphibian Conservationist Andrew Gray. Lots to see here about all manner of creatures and critters and tips on keeping a healthy pond and some great photography. If you want to keep animals in your pond then this is the place to go for advice.

Waterfalls are the most spectacular natural water features in the world. The tallest and largest waterfalls are often contested but Angel Falls in Venezuela at 1,054m is generally regarded as the worlds tallest. The largest waterfall is claimed by Victoria Falls as it boasts 1,708m in width and a height of 108m, forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world.

Angel Falls, Venezuela.
Photo by Da Vinzy

Victoria Falls, Zambia.
Photo by Joachim Huber

Yosemite Falls, California.
Photo by Chris Streeter

Iguazu Falls, Brazil and Argentina.
Photo by Jimmy Harris

Niagara Falls, Ontario and New York.
Photo by Williams JT

Websters Falls, Ontario.
Photo by Dexxus

Jog Falls, India.
Photo by Bharath Achuta Bhat

Pearl Shoal Waterfall, China.
Photo by Ashley Wang

Godafoss Falls, Iceland.
Photo by Raymond Bosma

Jagala Waterfall, Estonia.
Photo by Fireramsey

Download the Dobbies.com Water Feature Guide

Garden fountains can add charm to any garden, large or small. The sight and sound of running water pleases the senses and calms the nerves.

For the traditional touch of distinction a tiered classical fountain never fails to impress. If you prefer the modern look then a contemporary water feature with sculpted clean lines will make an impressive artistic centrepiece.

Garden waterfalls provide the tranquil and soothing sound of gently flowing water that will was away the stresses of your day. A waterfall is often added to a pond but freestanding waterfalls with built in pumps provide an excellent and flexible alternative.

If you’re looking for a fabulous focal point in your garden, then a water feature is hard to beat.

Click here to download the Dobbies.com Water Feature Guide (PDF)

Outdoor Water Features - add a touch of distinction

The term ‘water feature’ encompasses a variety of installations that enhance your garden with the natural beauty of water.

Planning and preparation

While installing an outdoor water feature is not a minor undertaking, it’s not always as difficult as it might seem at first. A lot of trouble can be avoided through thoughtful research and planning, and consultation with experts when necessary.

Water features do require maintenance to keep the water clean and clear, and you’ll have to be prepared for extra work during the winter when the temperature could dip below freezing.

Perfect ponds

The most basic form of water feature is the simple garden pond, which can stand on its own or serve as a home for fish and water plants. Today’s synthetic pond liners are easy to cut and handle, which means you can dig a pond in almost any shape and size you like to fit your garden’s dimensions. You can make a pond even more elaborate and attractive by adding a waterfall.

Fantastic fountains

A fountain can also be a beautiful addition to a garden and does not require a huge amount of space. A small fountain can serve as a centrepiece for any size of garden, and a wall-mounted version is especially economical with space.

Fountains are available in a wide variety of styles, from classical and quaint to more sleek, modern designs, so you can be certain of finding one that matches the theme of your garden and your taste.

Contemporary Water Features - sleek and chic

Sleek and chic

Contemporary water features are distinguished by a sleek and clean style, featuring such materials as cast stone, slate, granite, copper, stainless steel or glass. They tend to be low-flow, emphasising the natural beauty of the wet stone and the ever-changing ripples as the water flows across. Although less ‘showy’ than traditional fountains, they can be just as striking.

A good example of a contemporary water feature is Henri Studios’ Astor Fountain, with its smooth cast stone finish and sharply defined geometric angles, and a touch of naturalism in the rough edges of the fountain column. Its oriental style draws the eye and contrasts with the soft, constant flow of water over the starkly outlined stone.

Modern twist

Contemporary style does not have to mean severe. Henri Studios’ Birds of a Feather design offers a new spin on the traditional birdbath, with rounded, almost organic shapes and gently flowing water for a calm, peaceful look. The simplicity of the design is counterpointed by the little sculpted birds round the edge of the basin.

Stylish spiral

Another example of an unusual, yet still contemporary, water feature is Henri Studios’ Spiral Fountain. Its whirling shapes raise the eye upward to watch as the water overflows from the top basin and runs down to the bottom. It can serve as an eye-catching centrepiece for a small modern-style garden.

No matter what your requirements, you should be able to find a contemporary water feature to match them. Take the time to do your research, consider your garden’s overall look, and you’ll be sure to find a water feature to complement your style.

Garden waterfalls - enjoy the sparkle and splash of falling water

Elegant and practical

The sparkle and splash of falling water adds a lively note and natural beauty to any garden. A garden waterfall also has practical use – it can help aerate a water feature, which is beneficial for fish and also helps prevent the growth of algae.

To find the pump and waterfall size best suited to your water feature or pond, go online and search for a waterfall weir chart, which will tell you how large a waterfall you should consider based on your water feature’s volume.

Build your own

You can build your own waterfall. Dig out either a straight course or a series of linked basins or pools, as you see fit, and line it with clay, concrete, or pond liner over a layer of padding. Install projecting flat stones at points along the course or at the outlet of each basin, in order to create the waterfall effect.

Then sink a pump into the deepest part of the pond, and run a supply hose up from the pump to the highest part of the course. Once you start the pump, you will likely find it necessary to adjust the flat stones until you achieve the effect you desire.

Wonderful water

However you arrange your waterfall, once it’s complete and in operation you’ll be able to enjoy the sight and sound of running water in your own garden, and take pleasure in a unique achievement and addition to your garden.

Garden fountains - a charm to any garden

A fountain can add charm to any garden, large or small. The sight and sound of running water pleases the senses and calms the nerves.

In cities, a fountain can help shut out the noises of people and traffic, and fountains tend to attract birds, further adding to the pleasures of your garden.

All shapes and styles

The word ‘fountain’ may conjure images of massive stone installations suitable only for wealthy homes, with heroic statues and jets of water spraying everywhere, but fountains come in all kinds of shapes and sizes to fit any garden. If space is tight, you can get an attractive wall fountain, or even one that fits on a tabletop. And your fountain doesn’t have to look like something plucked out of a Roman ruin. Whether your taste runs to sleek and geometric, organic and natural, Asian style or unusual and eye-catching, you can now find a fountain to match.

Garden fountains come in many different materials and styles that will match any existing themes. Stone or concrete are of course traditional for fountains, but you have other options. Fibreglass can be almost indistinguishable from stone to the eye, and much cheaper and easier to handle. Copper fountains can look stunning, especially as they weather.

Location advice

Locating a fountain does require some study and research before you proceed. Look round your garden and see if you can find a spot that gets some sunshine (but not too much), is not directly beneath a tree (no one wants a fountain clogged with leaves), and has level ground (or at least ground you can make level with added soil and sand). And of course you want a spot where the fountain will be easily seen and will help enhance the look of your garden.

Installation

You might need to seek professional help if your fountain is not self-contained and requires an outside water supply, or if you need to install a new power line to run its pump. However, a fountain with a recirculating water supply and an integrated pump can be extremely simple to install – you need only put the fountain in place, make sure it is stable, connect the pump to the power and fill it with water to begin enjoying it.

The pump is the heart of any water feature

Get the power right

Your water feature pump should be powerful enough to recirculate all the water in your feature at least once every two hours, and preferably once an hour. So for instance, if you have a 1500 litre pond, the absolute minimum you should consider is a 750 litre-per-hour pump. If your feature needs to move water upwards, as with a fountain or waterfall, you will need an even stronger pump to be able to counteract the effects of gravity. Waterfalls in particular need strong pumps, because of the large volume of water required to keep the falls moving.

If you’re in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of too much power, since you can always turn down the pump once you have it installed. If your feature is a fountain that includes jets of water, be sure your pump is not too powerful. If the jet goes too high, you’ll lose a lot of water to the wind.

Call the professionals

Most pumps require a connection to mains power. This will often mean running a power line out to the location where you want to place the feature. This is NOT a DIY project – get a professional electrician to do it for you! Although some newer pumps do utilise lower-voltage power, which is safer for a non-electrician to handle, it’s better to engage professional help if in any doubt.