Use of Rills as Garden Water Features

In the 'non landscaping world' a rill is a long straight channel eroded by water, in the 'landscaping world' they are a construction, an attractive water feature that allows water to move in a straight line through the garden or terrace.

Usually very shallow and narrow, rills can fit equally well into a garden area or a hard landscaped area. Used widely to 'lead the eye' to another feature in the garden hay are a very handy landscape design device or they can double as functional element and act as way of directing rain water to a garden pool or pond.

Rill at Hestercombe Gardens

Basic design ideas for water rills in the garden

Useful for providing strong line in the landscape rills are really a decorative feature rather than a way of moving water around for any particular reason, in fact most are built so that the water is simply allowed to flow down a gentle slope and is then pumped up to the top again. Solar pumps and Low Voltage Pumps are well suited for the low volume required.

A simple form can actually be a still shallow body of water, the trick is that it has straight lines to give the inherent architectural elements a sharp crisp look. Like all water features you will need to used a proper waterproof butyl liner.

As they can be used as a design feature to provide a strong architectural line through a garden or courtyard or as a device for dividing a garden or lawn from a paved area rills can be a very versatile addition to any landscape design.

Plants and rocks in rill design

Plants can be used to soften the edges although they are not often used in the rill itself due to the fact that plants in a shallow narrow watercourse tend to block the flow. It is also possible to have a series of pools joined, perhaps a small waterfall at the top.

Pebble or small rocks can be used to create a ripple effect and small drops can also be added to help overcome stepper slopes. Consider the material to be used for construction, stone, steel, rocks, concrete they all create a different feeling and require different plantings to make the most of the rill a most unique water feature.

Detail of the Rill at Hestercombe Gardens

The best known, probably the two at Hestercombe Gardens.

PART TWO of the ARTICLE
PART THREE of the ARTICLE

Resources

Japanese Garden Design
Garden Sculpture
Garden Design
Garden Shows and Plant Fairs
Garden Ponds
Koi Fish