Just weeks ago, weather forecasts for warm sunny days were about as reliable as a used lawn mower at a yard sale (and yet so full of promise). And now? The heat is on. If you’re interested in bringing a touch of coolness–real or imagined–to your garden regardless of its size, I have some suggestions.

This mini-waterfall is a mere metre high and wide, tucked into the corner of a small garden in metro Toronto. Water cascades from under a stone slab to a tiny pond filled with water plants.

Small gardens have their distinctive challenges, to be sure, but they usually come with the same must-have list as any large garden, including a dedicated place to chill. In the dog days of summer, the needs for ‘chill’ blossom exponentially. Where can you find both peace and coolness? A water feature is a great start.

Even the smallest water feature can:

COOL THE AIR – Any falling or pooling water will cool the air around it through evaporation. Mind you, we’re not talking a significant drop in temperature. If you dampen the earth, lawn or patio around the feature, you’ll add to the sense of coolness.

TRANSFORM NOISE POLLUTION – If masking traffic noise is your goal, a babbling water feature is a great option. Bubblers offer a lovely burbling sound. Water falling from a spout or ledge (see water feature immediately above and below) is even better. The longer the distance water falls from source to surface, the louder the splash.

SUPPORT WILDLIFE – From chickadees to chipmunks and every variety of insect, wildlife will love having a convenient and safe (see below) place to stop, drink or bathe.

CALM YOU – Studies have shown that being near water (much less being in water) can reduce stress. You don’t need to be by a lake or at the seaside, either. Fountains count, too.

A shady corner of a home in the countryside north of Toronto features a water fountain in the shape of a frog holding a lily pad umbrella. Water falls from the lily pad to a tiny pebble-filled pond at the base of the sculpture.

But before you jump on the water feature bandwagon, keep these things in mind:

SAFETY ISSUES – As I’m sure you’ve heard somebody say, even a teacup of water can drown a person. This is particularly important if you have ever curious toddlers. Place your water feature accordingly. And make sure there are pebbles wherever the water pools so that wildlife can access the water safely and get out if they fall in. This is particularly an issue for bees which, as we know, have a drinking problem.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE – Water features don’t have to be high maintenance but they do need to be cleaned regularly. All types of wildlife will take advantage of the water supply for bathing and drinking so you need to change the water regularly to avoid spreading disease. Also, if you’re enduring a long heat wave, the water can start going off and smelling pretty funky, too.

WINTER STORAGE – If you live in a region where the winters are harsh, you’ll need to drain and/or bring your water feature into a protected area such as a garden shed or your garage. Excess water that freezes inside your feature can crack surfaces, make pipes leak and break pumping mechanisms.

What’s your style?

You can just make out the water falling from the top of the tall sculpted metal tower (seen to the left of the centre of the photo) in this garden in metro Toronto.

This is where the really fun part comes in. Your water feature can be made out of just about anything. You can even use an old terracotta pot. All you have to do is paint a coat of sealer on the inside, place your pumping mechanism inside and string the cord through the conveniently already-existing hole at the bottom. For a great tutorial on how to DIY this, check out the easy to follow instructions at bhg.com.

You can really go to town with the ‘sculpture’ aspect of a water feature, too. I love the water feature shown in the photo immediately above. It’s made out of a stack of metal shapes creating a very narrow, very tall tower. It adds a really nice, very dramatic accent to the corner of the garden with (bonus!) next to no foot print taking up space.

Ready-made small fountains are terrific options and they’re available at just about any large garden supply centre as well as online. They tend to be easier to transport and place in the garden because of their tiny proportions and they’re also often made of plastic so they’re usually lighter for lifting. (Yes, once again I’m showing my age with this tidbit of info.)

Plastic water features that are already assembled are perfect for gardeners wanting a plug-and-play option.

Where to put it?

Water trickles down the sloped surface of a large rock in the centre of a patio in a garden in Toronto.

The beauty of extra small water features is that choosing a location is easier, of course. You can put them just about anywhere. Having said that, a corner that’s not completely in shade all the time is best. You’ll have a wider choice of plants to place around it. A feature with a sizeable pool of water in full sun can develop algae.

I loved the unexpected placement of the water feature in the photo immediately above. You’d think this is where a fire pit would go. But, instead, the home owners chose a water feature to accent the centre of a patio and placed all their seating around it.

If in doubt, you can always get inspired by feng shui which suggests an outdoor water feature promotes harmony and positivity in the garden. Who doesn’t need more of that? However, the water needs to appear to be flowing towards the house. And you can’t put it in the southern portion of your garden which, apparently, promotes contradicting energy. Get all the vital deets here.

This ready-made water feature is ideal for tiny gardens, offering maximum water fall volume with a relatively small foot print.

Or just fill up a pot and call it a day

This mini-pond, made from clippings placed in a tall, wide-mouthed bowl filled with water, was created by the talented garden staff at Chanticleer in Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

When I saw this gorgeous floral arrangement at Chanticleer I swear my heart skipped a beat. The whole thing is so pretty, so refreshing, so dimensional (the blooms of Queen Anne’s Lace are actually an inch or two under water). And so simple. Yes, the gardening staff at this world class garden has an extraordinary selection of cuttings to choose from but, at the end of the day, this lovely water feature is simply a large, wide-mouthed pot filled with flowers spaced apart so you can see lots of water surface as well. This you could do any time, any where. And then sit back and enjoy your small, sublime water feature.