Water Features for Small Gardens: From Concept to Construction

by Keith Davitt

Celebrated designer Keith Davitt brings the delights of the water garden within reach of everyone in Water Features for Small Gardens. With a clear eye to design, construction, materials, and maintenance, Davitt offers alternatives for every style of garden and every budget. Detailed case studies depict actual gardens progressing from the planning stage to planting, and the author shows step by step how such features are created using only modest building skills. Types of water gardens discussed natural, formal, and informal pools; raised and in-ground formal fountains; wall fountains; streams and waterfalls; and bog and tub gardens. Heavily illustrated and packed with practical information, Water Features for Small Gardens is a must for any gardener seeking to bring his or her garden to the next level.

Genres: Gardening

176 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally read/skimmed (depending on the chapter) this book that had been sitting on my to-read shelf for a while, as well as the author's similar book 'Small Spaces, Beautiful Gardens.' There is some overlap between the two books, including a few of the same gardens (with the focus in this one being the gardens' water features, the other book being a more general look at the gardens' structures/designs), but I found them both helpful for the work I am doing in a landscaping class. The budget in my own classwork necessitates a container water garden instead of one of the fancier ones that most of the gardens in the book have, yet even the fancier water features help illustrate how to integrate a water garden into the overall design of a garden regardless of the type of water garden. I recommend both books for others looking for brief, picture-heavy overviews of garden design.

[Deodand · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the only one I've come across so far that discusses raised water features. It also had some good insight on how even the smallest water feature can bring balance to a garden's composition.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure trove of ideas.

I particularly liked the section on tub gardens.

A whiskey barrel with a liner is a very doable project.

Packed with gorgeous color photos.