The soft babbling of water running quietly or the peaceful surface of a lake, fountain, pond, basin or simple fish bowls give incomparable charm and character to any garden or balcony. Many solutions exist to create this sort of decoration for any budget, desire and skill level!

The procedure

Basins and other ponds, as long as they aren't meant for swimming and they have a surface area under one hectare, require no building permit. That said, for basins dug into the ground, you'll need to file a declaration of construction with your town. For this, make sure there are no special rules in your town. Also find out about any risks that may be formed, especially for young children, and inform your insurance. These procedures obviously don't apply to simple fish bowls or birdbaths.

The solutions

Of course, the choice of your basin will depend on your taste, but also on a certain number of constraints, such as the surface area you have available. A basin cannot be dug into a very sloping surface. It must not be located in full sunlight because this promotes the growth of green algae as well as temperature variations that may harm the well-being of aquatic plants and fish. Also avoid placing it at the bottom of a slope, because it'll overflow every time it rains! Finally, don't choose a solution that is too troublesome in terms of maintenance if you know that you don't have the time.

Create your basin on dry ground

It is completely possible to create your basin in the ground without hiring a professional. Garden centers offer the equipment you'll need such as geotextiles, which will form the bottom of your pond. Then, you can choose an automatic filtering system or plan on an assortment of aquatic plants that will oxygenate the water. No matter which solution you choose, once you start digging, you'll have to plan for space for pots containing your plants or for the pump. If you want to have fish, like beautiful Koi carp, verify beforehand the pH and hardness of your water and plan on a wait time between putting the water in and introducing your fish. Also limit their number to avoid an excess of organic material in the water.

Minimalist solutions

It is not necessary to have lots of land to enjoy the unique atmosphere created by a small pond or fountain. Indeed, even on a balcony or terrace, it is possible to set up a birdbath or a stylish bowl. In garden centers, you can find fountains with various technical and aesthetic characteristics that will meet most of your expectations. For small ponds, there are also bowls designed for this purpose, but you can also create your own decoration using a half-barrel or a concrete bowl. To bring your mini-basin to life, many plants are ideal, such as water lilies. They help to oxygenate small quantities of water. Finally, if you want birds to come and drink and bathe themselves, avoid placing it too close to your home.

The presence of water to your property or a balcony gives a unique charme to your outdoor space. Lots of solutions exist, so find your own!