Advice on how to make the most of a water feature

Alison Patel writes: Water features may look good, but to get the most of them, they need to carefully maintained.

That is the advice from Bunny Guinness in the Telegraph, who has offered various tips for keeping water sparkling and maximising the impact of ponds.

Ms Guinness has said that she attempted to keep her water clear the "natural" way with aquatic plants and submerged oxygenators but found that it took a long time.

As an alternative, she suggests using a submersible filter that will clean, clarify and keep fish happy.

Ultra-violet light, sponges, gravel and a live bacteria system for filtering fish waste will all help to keep things clear, Guinness says.

Dyes, she says, are good for those who are after a quick fix and will quickly "add depth" and create a highly reflective look to the water's surface.

Those concerned about algal growth should get coloured dyes that reduce it by reflecting ultra-violet light.

Duck weed can be dealt with by using a floating skimmer and Ms Guinness suggests gardeners use a synthesised enzyme to get rid of blanket weed.

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