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Water features are an aesthetically pleasing, soothing and therapeutic centerpiece to a backyard landscape design. The variety of types and designs mean it is possible for you to construct a water features that is appropriate for almost any landscaping setting or theme. Water features are inherently calming; they’re directly in-line with, and a sensible addition to, the concept of an outdoor living space.

By providing both visual and auditory life to an outdoor living space, water features mask unwanted noise; attract birds, bees, frogs, butterflies and dragonflies; and provide a constant source of wonder for adults and children alike.
A water feature allows you to create a calming effect outside similar to the mood a fireplace creates inside a home.

Misconceptions About Water Features

There are two misnomers about water features that may be keeping you from improving your outdoor living space with these therapeutic and aesthetic centerpieces:

Water features waste substantial amounts of water.

Water features are high maintenance.

Water Conservation

There are a number of ways to create a water conservative feature. Size is a major factor in determining how much water evaporates. The smaller the feature you construct, the greater the water conservation.
Recycling pumps also minimize waste by recirculating water,as opposed to you letting it flow into the sewer. Putting in aquatic plants that cover the water’s surface dramatically reduces evaporation. Placing the water feature in an area that is shaded part of the day also reduces evaporation. A landscape design company can create a water feature that simply uses less water; something like an Islamic or zen garden.

Maintenance

Unlike swimming pools, hot tubs and saunas, water features are relatively low-maintenance. Water gardens, streams and waterfalls require virtually no maintenance. Fountains and reflective pools require maintenance one or two times a season, with the exception of removing leaves and debris.
Water features are not high maintenance.

Types of Water Features

Water features can be very simple or extraordinarily extravagant, and anywhere in between. From a single, small pool to a pond with a cascading fountain, koi fish and a bridge, water feature options are limitless.

There are five types of water features:  ponds, pools, waterfalls, streams, and fountains.

Ponds

Water gardens and fish ponds are the most common types of ponds. Ponds typically have large amounts of vegetation that encourage living organisms to thrive. Ponds require the least amount of maintenance.

Water gardens consist of living features, including aquatic plant life; fish, snails, turtles and frogs; vines around the water; and ornamental flowers — anything that adds vegetation, life, color and texture to the garden.

Pools

This includes reflecting pools and ornamental pools. Reflecting pools are shallow and undisturbed by fountains and falls. Reflective pools create a quiet, calm and pensive environment.

Ornamental pools have a centerpiece statue, fountain or feature that spouts, cascades or spills water into the pool.

Streams

The most natural of water features, streams typically provide the widest spectrum of sounds and visual aesthetic diversity. Streams also work well with other features, leading well into a pool, off a waterfall or into a water garden.

Waterfalls

Unique sounds and visual aesthetics make waterfalls one of the most settling water features. Trickling water cascading into a pool below make waterfalls fit naturally into the peace of an outdoor living space.

Fountains

With respect to options, fountain choices are limitless. From statues of mermaids and Greek gods to fountains that spill water from one bowl into a larger one below and a larger one below that, fountains come in all shapes and sizes.

If you are looking to bring a calm beauty to their outdoor living space, you would do very well for yourself to begin looking at water feature options.

To learn more about water features and other hardscape skills we can bring to the table, check out our hardscape page.