DIY water feature: how to create your own

The mirror-perfect surface of a reflection bowl provides a calming water feature to meditate upon. It's a simple curved container filled to the brim with still water. The hottest look right now is for Corten steel. While some genuine Corten Steel water bowls are pricey, this Corten Steel Water Bowl by Adezz is at the affordable end of the market. Showcase its rich, rusted finish with pale gravel and a tapestry of tall grasses and quietly transform your outdoor space. With its superfine edge, the reflective surface seems to float like a sky mirror.

Customer review: "Great product at the best price on the internet- many others only use 2mm steel. I purchased the 1m bowl, and have installed a small fountain. There are cutouts on the foot so that you can pass an electric cable underneath easily."

Pop the SZMP Solar Fountain Bird Bath Fountain in a bird bath for an instant water feature. It's made of glass so it won't corrode and it converts sunlight to energy more efficiently. There are seven different nozzle styles to give a variety of fountain effects. As well as a bird bath, you could place it in a pond or a swimming pool for a bit of fun decoration. We think this is superb value and it's available in a range of colours. Also, there are versions with LED lights for a vibrant water and light show.

Customer review: "I am very impressed with this solar floating fountain. It works on bright but cloudy days. It doesn't need full sun. The variety of jets is nice and the added straws that you can add to stop it drifting to the sides is a great idea. It provides a nice relaxing sound in my garden. Would definitely but again if I need another."

The first thing you need to look at is the flow rate of any pump; this tells you how much water it can pump per hour. If you have a large water feature you're going to need a more powerful pump. The BARST 2000L/H Submersible Water Pump is a good option for a medium size water feature and there are pumps with a variety of flow rates that are available from this brand. This best-selling product on Amazon has an ultra-quiet design and comes with three nozzles so you can adjust the type of flow that you want. The water flow rate is also adjustable. For strong flow, versatility and a main-powered pump that doesn't consume too much energy Barst is our recommended pump specialist.

Customer review: "This pump was good because it comes with three different fittings so it will fit any existing pipes from your water feature. It also has different heights/power levels for a greater flow of water."

Gorgeous and delicate, this glass translucent round water feature features beautiful colour-changing lights to brighten up your garden and has an integrated control so you can switch between colours at any time. The Translucent Sphere Water Feature with Colour Changing LEDs by Ambienté also comes with a black reservoir, hose and fittings. This reflective sphere could form a part of a larger water feature or stand alone as decorative vignette. We think it would look fabulous in a sharp and chic urban courtyard.

The perfect budget solution to creating your own garden water feature. The sump serves as a reservoir for water features when paired with a lid/grid, available in plastic or galvanised options. Suitable for embedding in the ground, the DIY Water Feature Kit Solar, Reservoir Kit includes a 50cm diameter reservoir, a solar pump kit with battery backup for optional indoor charging. Use this kit to create your own solar-powered pebble pool with our step-by-step guide in the FAQs below.

Customer review: "Exactly what we ordered and super fast delivery."

A water blade is a sleek and elegant way to oxygenate the water in a pond or water rill. This simple stainless steel accessory creates a waterfall effect. Attach a water pump to it for continuous circulation of water and an infinite cascade. Add LED lights for a magical night-time water feature that would look amazing as the focal point of your water rill. The LONGRUN Pond Waterfall Cascade has two holes: on the rear and bottom, so you can choose how you want your connectors to fit.

Customer review: "Installed in Gabion Wall the waterfall worked perfectly running it off a 6500LPH pump with a three-way splitter. The longer blade on the waterfall creates a silky smooth stream of water clearing the gabion with no dribbling."

Build a pebble fountain with this simple water reservoir and create your own aquatic garden. Used in conjunction with a water pump, and covered with decorative pebbles, the Pisces Round Pebble Pool Fountain Reservoir allows you to build your own water feature. Dig and hole to contain the reservoir or install it in a watertight container – put a metal grid over the top if you're piling lots of heavy slate or stones on it. Whether you want to turn a mill stone into a water feature or create a bubbling arrangement of gazing spheres, there's no limit on the potential this reservoir offers.

Customer review: "I tried to make a water feature using a bucket etc., and gave up. Bought this and it's now running with a fountain coming up through stones, the plastic top is quite weak so i needed to put a strong grid on top to support the stones."

Algae thrive in strong sunlight and in addition to being unsightly, it can block pumps, pipes, and filters. That's bad news for the working life of any water pump. This envii Algae Klear Xtra treatment will keep the water clear and algae-free. A 500ml bottle treats 10,000 litres. It's a multipurpose formula that kills submerged algae, blanketweed and green water. The formula has a UV light filter that prevents algae from returning. Always use diluted and ensure pH is below 8.6 and it will not be toxic to fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Customer review: "Heavy blanket weed. Removed by hand all that had bubbled to the surface in mats at the end of day. Applied this product, diluted as instructed, early following morning. Noticed significant improvement within days. A week later, pond clear but could still see some blanket weed at bottom which was now dark and dead looking, and had a string like consistency, so applied second application. Pond now perfectly clear."

For crystal clear water in your fountain, opt for Hydra Fountain Clear Water Feature Cleaner. It's a hugely popular product on Amazon and can be applied to all types of water features, including stone, resin and metal. It's effective against limescale build-up as well as algae. Additionally, it sterilises the water, destroying bacteria that can cause Legionnaire's Disease. Safe to use around pets and animals.

Customer review: "My water feature had green staining and some red staining from use during the previous summer which I could not clean off. I used the shock dose when I refilled the water feature and now the staining (including the red staining) has gone. The water is crystal clear. Was shocked at the size of the bottle when it first arrived however upon reading the instructions only a very small amount it needed."

When it comes to protecting your water feature in winter, Fountain Care – Dual Pack De-Icer and Water Cleaner TWINPACK offers great value for money. Protect your water fountain or bird bath from potential freeze-thaw cracking with Fountain Frost Free. It prevents stone or resin from cracking and provides access to drinking water for birds during the coldest months of the year. Importantly, this product is safe for wildlife and to use around pets and children. Additionally, Fountain Safe protects your water feature from algae build-up.

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