Rain chains originate in Japan, where they have the name kusari doi, which literally means chain gutter. They provide a decorative way of getting rainwater from the guttering down to a drain or for collection in a storage container.
Originally, rain chains consisted of interlocking rings ranging from the very simple to intricate designs. While these are still popular, a new decorative style has emerged. These decorative rain chains usually consist of a series of metal cups with a hole in the bottom, chained together and come in a wide variety of designs. They come shaped like bells, bowls, baskets, umbrellas, acorns and flowers.
Rain chains are most frequently made from copper. Other materials are sometimes used including glass, aluminium, brass and plastic. Copper chains are widely regarded as being the most elegant, as in time they will weather and acquire a lovely verdigis patina.
In icy winters, copper rain chains can make beautiful ice sculptures, although care must be taken that the weight of the ice is not too heavy to be borne by the guttering. It is also very important to anchor your rain chain at the bottom, to prevent it from swinging in strong wind. Rain chains are not suitable for draining a height above 30 feet.
Whilst rain chains are not as efficient as traditional gutters with downspouts, especially in areas that suffer heavy downpours, they do provide the pleasure of an attractive outdoor water feature combined with the practical feature of collecting and either draining or reusing rain water.
If you have an outdoor water feature, such as a wall or a stand-alone fountain, you will need to drain it and remove the pump before the sharp frosts arrive. The pump will need to be cleaned and stored in a frost-free place over the winter. The fountain or feature should then be protected with a waterproof cover to prevent rainwater entering and freezing which could cause your outdoor water feature damage.
If your outdoor water feature includes a pond, then you will have rather more autumn maintenance tasks to complete.
Top priority will need to be given to covering your pond with a net to keep out falling leaves, as they will rot and pollute the water if allowed to get into the pond. A fine, nylon net should be used to cover the whole pond and kept taut by securing the edges with canes or bricks, so that birds cannot become entangled.
Dead and dying foliage will need to be removed from around the pond and any excess growth on submerged plants should be pruned. Prune overhanging branches to ensure that plenty of light reaches the pond which will allow submerged plants to continue to produce oxygen.
Before the cold weather sets in, check that your pond liner is in good condition and water tight and carry out any repair work.
Over the winter, the pond will need to be kept from freezing over completely as pressure exerted by ice can cause cracks in concrete pond walls. Methane gas can also be released by decaying vegetation beneath the water and, if not able to escape, can be lethal to fish. If your pond should freeze over, never smash the ice, as the shock waves can harm fish. The best way to melt it is with a hot saucepan.
Floating a tennis ball on the pond surface will ensure that it doesn’t freeze over completely. Alternatively, small electric pond heaters are available that will keep the pond at a temperature to prevent freezing.
Solar-powered water features allow you to place a water feature anywhere in your garden or yard or even on your balcony, as long as the solar panels can be positioned to catch the sunlight.
Most of these water features will use the power from the solar panels directly to power the pump, so when the sun goes in or it gets dark, the pump will not operate. These are not recommended if you want to have an illuminated feature that you can enjoy during the evening.
Some of the newer solar-powered water features will charge up a battery while the sun is shining so you can use the stored power when required. This is known as ‘solar power on demand’ and they will generally be more expensive than those powered directly from the solar panels.
There are also some solar-powered pumps that come with mains adaptors as well as the solar panels so that when there isn’t enough sunlight, they can be switched to run off mains power. Some of these pumps may also offer a battery backup that can also be charged via the mains power. These types are obviously less flexible in where they can be positioned as they need to be within reach of an electricity supply.
Instead of an electricity supply, solar powered water features use photo-voltaic panels to generate low-voltage electricity from the sun’s rays. The power generated should be enough to power a pump for a waterfall or a self-contained feature.
The solar panel can either be incorporated into the water feature itself or have a separate, remote panel which is connected by a wire and can be fastened to a wall or fence to allow for best positioning in the sunlight.
A solar-powered fountain in a bird bath is a great way to attract birds to your garden and gives them clean drinking water and a place to splash about though you will need to add fresh water regularly.
A useful safety feature to look out for is cut-off switch that will turn the pump off if all the water in the reservoir evaporates or escapes due to a leak.
Solar-powered water features are generally quick and easy to install and provide an environmentally friendly way improve your outdoor living space.
A wall water fountain is surprisingly easy to install and maintain and is quite simple in how it works. This type of outdoor water feature is suitable for almost any type and size of yard, patio or garden. The basic components are a reservoir to hold the water, a pump to circulate the water, a mask or plaque (that fixes to a wall or post) where the water tumbles from and a connecting tube or pipe to carry the water from the pump outlet to the mask. The pump will require either an electric socket to plug into or, if it is solar powered, a suitable sunny place to position the solar panels.
Some wall water fountains come pre-assembled with the mask and reservoir combined in one unit which means that all that’s required for installation is to connect the pump to the outlet pipe and the power supply, and to fix the whole unit to the wall.
Solar-powered wall water fountains are popular because of their lack of wires, but they do need a decent amount of sunlight to make them work. If your fountain is powered by household electricity, you will need to check that there is a suitable power outlet within a reasonable distance and that the wires can be hidden and protected.
An outdoor water feature can be a great asset to your garden, yard or even balcony. They range from a small table top fountain right through to large formal ponds with custom-built fountains. Somewhere there will be one that’s just right for you.
Fountains and ponds are the most popular water features, though you can choose to have a well, a stream or a waterfall too.
Some people choose to install their outdoor water feature in accordance with the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui. This involves positioning the water feature to allow the Chi (positive energy) to flow freely. Chi is found in all living things and if allowed to stagnate, illness and decay can follow.
Ponds come in a wide variety of sizes and can be built yourself or you can engage a professional to do it for you, especially if you are also installing a moving water feature such as a fountain or a stream.
Fountains come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from dozens of materials including stone, stainless steel, resin, fiberglass granite, slate and wood. They can be shaped as tubes, towers, barrels animals, jugs, vases and birdbaths. Wall water fountains are something else to consider where space is limited.
Solar powered fountains are also popular, especially where it is difficult to install a conventional power supply. A solar powered fountain is certainly much easier to install than one requiring electric cabling.
If your garden is large and you have the money, you could get your pond and/or fountain custom-built and engineered with features not normally found on a ready-made one, such as overflow valves, skimmers, lights and auto-chlorinators.
An outdoor water feature can be a great asset to your garden, yard or even balcony. They range from a small table top fountain right through to large formal ponds with custom-built fountains. Somewhere there will be one that’s just right for you.