In the formal water garden, the art of gardening is at its zenith. Even so, basic scientific principles must be observed to ensure that the water remains clear and brightly reflective, whether this be achieved by planting or through the use of chemicals.
As a picture, however, the formal water garden is contrived art, combining the best of man’s innovative and constructional skills with the great beauty of nature.
The size of a formal water feature will determine its success. Although it is possible to create a pool that is too large and out of keeping with its surroundings, for the most part, the maxim should be the bigger, the, better. Water can create wonderful illusions, and even the tiniest courtyard will benefit and appear larger through its carefully planned presence. Its reflective qualities are the key to its success.
Obviously, budgetary constraints will come into play when deciding upon the size of a pool, but there are aesthetic and practical reasons for making it as large as possible. The greater the area of water, the more opportunities there will be for wonderful reflections and also for creating a stable balance of pond life. A large body of water experiences slow temperature changes which, in turn, affect the appearance of water discolouring algae. If water clarity can be maintained by virtue of scale and natural means, so much the better, for clarity is vital to a formal pool’s success.
When deciding on the pool’s size, bear in mind that by extending its surface area, you will not necessarily increase the financial outlay in direct proportion. Much of the cost involved in pool construction is absorbed by the initial laying out and the materials. By doubling the surface area, you will only increase the perimeter by half; turning a planned rectangular pool into a square one, by lengthening the narrow sides, can be very cost effective.
From the visual point of view, the greatest difficulty arises when working with the small garden, especially if it is a courtyard. Quite often, such gardens have restricted access, while it is virtually impossible to achieve the correct proportions if constrained by an existing lawn. On a larger plot, a lawn can provide a pleasing surround to a pool, but in a confined area, it can look silly. Moreover, a small lawn running up to the pool is likely to become worn, and if a fountain is installed, the grass may become wet and muddy. It is far better to remove the lawn completely and lay paving.
The variety of paving materials is so diverse that even the most unimaginative gardener can create a pleasing pool surround. Use a variety of textures and colours to contrast with -and complement the pool, laying out patterns that will accentuate its shape and size. This will integrate the pool into the garden, rather than making it look out of place, as is often the case when surrounded by a tiny patch of turf.
Interest can be added with potted plants, perhaps evergreens like camellias or neatly trimmed conifers. Containers can be a great help when attempting to give the pool a sense of scale and perspective. These aspects do not have to depend merely upon the shape and size of the pool.
Scale and perspective can be greatly altered by changing levels. These are quite critical in the small enclosed garden. In such cases, emphasize different levels in the design, with steps and walls, constructed in materials that link with other garden structures and the house itself. A more extensive design will offer a greater opportunity to provide contrasts, but whatever you decide to do, regard changing levels as an asset, rather than a hindrance.
The larger scheme offers many advantages when it comes to deceiving the eye. This is particularly so when planning a flat body of water. A long narrow garden can be made to appear wider by a pool that runs across it, rather than down its length. Conversely, an illusion of greater distance can be created by making a rectangular pool narrower towards its far end. The great designer Sir Edwin Lutyens was a master of this effect, creating canal-like pools that looked symmetrical, but which were narrow at the far end.
When considering scale, do not forget moving water, especially fountains. The entire appearance of a formal water feature can be altered by a fountain. It must be in proportion with the open body of water, not just visually, but also practically. Its fall should remain within the confines of the pool, even when there is a gentle breeze. A fountain is a vertical water feature that should be regarded in a similar manner as an open body of water. Remember, however, that while the pool is dark, placid and still, the fountain is transparent and widely variable in effect, depending upon the light and its position.
Essentially, a formal water garden should be designed around regular shapes. Squares, oblongs, circles and semi-circles can all play a part in the configuration of a pool and should be tied in with other features in the garden landscape. These should be looked at in broad outline as shapes or combinations of shapes, for the pool must either complement them or contrast quite radically. Without an over-view of the features’ outlines, this will not be easy to achieve.
Straight paths and walls suggest oblong or square bodies of water in close proximity, although it is quite acceptable for a semicircular pool to abut a wall. Straight-sided pools are very suitable for raised water gardens, too. Not only are they visually pleasing, but they are also much easier for the enthusiastic do-it-yourself gardener to construct than semi-circular or circular features.
Square and oblong pools look more pleasing in paved areas as well. Again, construction is simpler, while a satisfactory finish is easier to achieve, as the lines of the paving and edging can be used to enhance the effect of the pool. Laying paving around a circular pool can lead to a messy overall appearance unless considerable care is taken in its design.
Interlinking pools is also more practical with square and oblong shapes, working well in paved areas. With careful preplanning, the shapes of the paving slabs, which need not necessarily be of uniform size, can be linked to the shapes of open water. These can be linked directly with a small straight cascade, or be on the same level and offset in relation to each other, so that although they give the appearance of separate pools, in fact the body of water is one entity. This will be an invaluable aid to its successful management.
The interlinking of pools of uniform size has two main practical purposes: to spread water evenly and attractively across a narrow or awkwardly shaped site; and to allow a water feature to be enjoyed throughout a site of changing levels. Integrated into such a design can be square pockets of waterside planting that will soften the appearance of the feature, yet not detract from the overall defined shape. This method also permits the plant enthusiast to indulge his or her passion, for formal water gardens do not provide the best facilities for growing aquatic plants.
If there is anything worse than the formal design for the plant grower, it is the formal pool with a fountain, for not only does the water feature depend upon its shape and plant-free open water for its attractiveness, but the constant movement of water from a fountain also precludes plant cultivation. In this aspect of water gardening, the use of water becomes an art form, which does not cater for the practicalities of horticulture. Consequently, chemicals must be used to maintain water clarity.
Semi-circular and circular pools are the most popular for use with fountains. Indeed, a fountain looks much more appropriate in a circular pool than in a square or oblong one. This may be because of the shape of the spray, which mostly takes a rounded or arching configuration. Certainly, only small fountains or white-water geysers really associate well with square and oblong water features.
As circular pools are quite difficult to fit into hard surfaced areas, they should be considered for use in open sites, perhaps surrounded by grass. It is possible to buy edging stones and slabs that are cut specially so that they make a neat circle, but these generally look much better when used to produce a clean edge in a lawn, rather than being combined with the square slabs of a patio.
Circular ponds tend to have to stand alone as focal points, especially if their central features are fountains. A semicircular pool, as mentioned above, will associate happily with the straight lines of a wall. It also makes an ideal feature for the base of a wall, especially where space is limited. This not only allows water to be satisfactorily accommodated visually, but also provides an opportunity for the introduction of a water spout or mask. This is attached to the wall and discharges into the pool. Such a feature offers the enjoyment of moving water in a restricted space, and because of its position and the minimal water turbulence it creates, provides the greatest opportunity for the successful cultivation of marginal and deep-water aquatics in a formal setting.
Of course, a formal water garden need not be restricted to one shape or a series of the same shapes. Provided the outline is balanced, semi-circles can be added to oblongs or squares, and both triangles and hexagons introduced. The secret of success lies in assessing the surrounding landscape, then incorporating shapes that are complementary or contrasting in both size and proportion.
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