Mar 07 2009
Planning Your Outdoor Garden Railroad - Part 14 - Water
Planning Your Outdoor Garden Railroad - Part 14 - Water
When you are planning your outdoor garden railroad most people consider a water feature. Here’s what you should be planning on -
Outdoor garden railroads are ideal settings for water features. Consider these questions and alternatives as part of your garden railroad plan:
Where is your water going to come from? Are you going to fill the water feature once in a while with water from the hose or a use dedicated water supply pipe? Plan on an installation that can handle weather changes throughout the year. If you are in a region that experiences frost and frozen temperatures, you will need to plan on having a frost-free supply pipe.
What is the water going to do while on your railroad? Outdoor water attracts birds, bugs, and animals. Plan on keeping it moving so that it does not become a breeding area for mosquitoes and other bugs. Plan on having a dark colored net nearby to prevent birds and animals from falling in at night. You can drape the well-fastened netting over the water feature at night time and when the railroad is not being used. Include a water pump, water filter and aeration device or bubbler to add oxygen to the water. This will slow down the growth of algae and keep the water fresh smelling. You may want an automatic filter and skimmer to remove items from the water.
Where’s the water going next? Plan on having to drain the water feature from time-to-time for maintenance or repairs. Plan on building in a drain system with a screen to filter out large items like leaves. It’s very time consuming to siphon or pump water out by hand. TIP: A proper drainage arrangement will increase your eperience with water on the railroad tremendously.
Have fun!
Trainguy
