The decorative ditch, a protagonist element in any garden

Not long ago we spoke in this space about irrigation ditches as bioclimatic elements of our vernacular architecture. These constructions that have accompanied us for more than twenty-seven centuries are a fascinating element that is as functional today as it was at the dawn of civilization. But, in addition to transporting water and contributing to the fight against droughts and floods, it has a third application that we are going to explore: the decorative irrigation ditch. 

Any patio, garden or open space with a decorative irrigation ditch will automatically become the star of the house. It is a discreet but tremendously powerful resource that brings freshness, elegance and distinction to any type of space (if it is a Mediterranean patio it gives extra points).

An ditch opened towards the sky

The only requirement for an irrigation ditch to be considered as such is that it be an open-air ditch through which water is channeled, so there can be ditches of all sizes and materials. 

We recommend that these materials be ceramic materials for obvious reasons, although it seems to us that a ditch lined with terracotta bricks is objectively one of the most beautiful things that someone could put in his garden. 

Clay bricks make it easier for us to coexist with nature. They allow water absorption but slow it down, which is perfect for domestic environments. They contribute to the optimal thermal regulation of the soil, which allows vegetation to thrive around them. It is also a material that supports and promotes the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms, animals such as fish and small amphibians, plants such as water lilies and anubias, etc. Not to mention that, in case there are other terrestrial animals living on the land, the ditch provides them with water to drink and refresh themselves. 

Famous examples of decorative irrigation ditches

Although the acequias were conceived (probably) for a practical purpose, which is to carry water from one place to another for consumption, we are not the first to realize that an acequia is beautiful: the Persians have known it well since the first century B.C. Let’s see some of the best known examples of ornamental ditches, which may have gone unnoticed among so much beauty, but they are the soul of the places: 

• The Court of the Main Canal, in the Generalife of the Alhambra. If there were a queen of ornamental irrigation ditches, this would be it. Although this irrigation ditch played a fundamental logistical role, its ornamental value in this courtyard is indisputable. 
• Patio of the Orange Trees of the Mosque of Cordoba. This mythical courtyard has another type of irrigation ditches in it. It is not a single channel, showy and protagonist as in the Patio de la Acequia, but a network of small ditches that flow from the main fountain and surround the trees, forming a beautiful geometric pattern.
• The garden of Fin in Iran. This is one of the most splendid examples of authentic Persian gardens: an impressive complex of more than 2.5 hectares that takes advantage of the pressure of a nearby spring to fill its fountains, ponds and irrigation ditches without the use of water pumps.
• Gardens of the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh, India. One of the world’s most iconic and recognizable buildings is preceded by a discreet garden. The construction of the main mausoleum of the Taj Mahal is so impressive that everything in front of it goes virtually unnoticed, so many people will not have noticed the irrigation ditches that cross the gardens diametrically in both directions.