If you’re wondering how to add both aesthetic and monetary value to your property, then you’d might like to consider adding a water feature. Whether it’s a pond, a waterfall or simply a bubbling water ornament is entirely up to you, but whatever you choose it could increase the saleability of your property. A pond will certainly brighten up any space and create a peaceful haven for you and your family where you can watch the wildlife come and go at your leisure.
The first thing to consider is the available space. If you have a small garden, you won’t want to add a large pond as this could overpower the space. It may sound obvious, but this is something that often isn’t thought about until it’s too late and you’ve started to dig. By the same token, if you have a large garden, your pond shouldn’t be too small, but big enough to make an impact.
Adding a pond will not only give you somewhere to sit and contemplate, but it’ll attract wildlife such as newts, frogs and dragonflies. If you add the right plants too, then you’ll start to attract bees and butterflies, creating your very own garden ecosystem before you know it.
Creating your own pond doesn’t need to be an enormous job. Look at our article “how to build a wildlife pond” for more detailed information.
What plants should I use?
There are some beautiful native aquatic plants that will attract all kinds of wildlife. Consider using lilies in the pond itself like this iconic Nymphaea alba (White Water Lily), or Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife) around the outside and other bee friendly plants such as Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold) or Mentha aquatica (Water Mint).
Pond plants are relatively cheap and should grow easily, delivering visual impact and biodiversity in no time. The most important thing is to keep an eye out for any signs of disease or mould on the plants as one damaged plant can easily damage the whole stock leaving you with a bare pond.
Maintenance
Your pond doesn’t need to be high maintenance, but you certainly need to keep on top of it. If you look after your water feature well, potential buyers will be impressed and imagine themselves spending time by it. On the flip side, if it’s not well maintained it can quickly turn into a real eyesore and this will have the opposite effect as buyers could consider it a potential burden.
Benefits
The benefits of installing a water feature in your garden are well known. Not only do they look good, but they have a positive physical effect, helping increase calm and wellbeing. The sound of flowing water is proven to relax both mind and body, enabling us to unwind and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Not only this, but a water feature will add character and interest to your garden and make your property more attractive to potential buyers. You’ll also be doing your bit for the environment by contributing a refuge for amphibians and insects.
What should you put in your pond?
Again, this will depend on the size. If you’re going to add fish, the water should be aerated to allow them to breathe. Consider using a simple pump such as an ultraviolet pond filter. This will pass the water around the pond and kill any harmful bacteria as it circulates. Do your own research on the filters based on the size and content of your pond, as there are many available. Be careful if your pump needs connecting to an electrical source and use appropriate caution (and maybe a professional for this part).
How much to invest in your pond
An investment of as little as £400 on a home-built, DIY pond could directly increase the value of your house by up to four times the cost of the pond.
Although at Terraqua we specialise in very large ponds and lakes, we are great advocates of adding a water feature, no matter how small. Please contact us – you might be surprised at the ideas you come up with for your own garden.