A small piece of magic, soothing sound, and aesthetic delight are all achieved when a water feature is added to a landscape. Incorporating a water feature into your property can require a minimal investment with maximum results. There are many, many choices of pre-constructed fountain and pond systems.  Get started with a simple pond using the beginner’s tips below.

Choose a Style, Read the Specifications, and Consider the Location for a Pond:

Once the desired style is found, read about the product. Most features spray a certain length and width. It is important to make sure the feature is not dwarf or overpowering to the space it is going to call home.

Also consider safety when choosing a water feature. If children are likely to visit the garden and water feature, a smaller, more shallow option is safer. Pebble fountains and self-contained features are a nice option for these considerations, too.

Consider slopes and grades as it is easier to work with the natural landscape than against it. For example, a feature in a sloped landscape bed would look nice with a small waterfall or stream feature that fills a small or larger size base forming a pond at the bottom. Trying to pump the water back up into a continuous circulating stream is going to be more difficult and more of an investment of time and resources.

Remember to consider and plan for the power source, and water source, if needed. Many features reuse the water in them after set up and can be refilled by hand weekly, or as needed. Others that are more intricate require continuous water flow and a professional is recommended for these types of installations. Electricity sources are required for most features, which can be simple to very complicated. Wires and cables should always be labeled correctly and buried to a proper depth, by a qualified professional.

Ideally a water feature of any kind works best when filled with rain water. If sufficient supplies of rain water are not able to be used, let tap water sit for at least 7 days prior to installing plants.

Still Water Features:

If a pond is not the best choice for your landscape for whatever reason, some simpler, more cost and time efficient options are below. Water features come in many forms and fashions, so do not give up before considering:

Ceramic Pots:  A large ceramic pot measuring at least 18” deep can create a nice water pond to grow water loving plants and add texture and design to a landscape bed. Choose a material that is frost proof if in a climate that receives cold weather regularly. Use bricks or stones as stepping stones inside the pot to make height variations of the same plants. Small water lilies grow well in a still water feature, as well as many grasses and other water loving plants. Read the information card provided with plants before selecting and be cautious of invasive or spreading plants that can quickly overrun a small, still water feature.

Half-Barrels:  Similar to ceramic pots, a half-barrel that is lined with a water proof liner is an ideal small still water feature. With plenty of depth for taller plants and the opportunity to stack levels of plants, many garden lovers will enjoy this feature.

There is nothing quite as sweet as the sound of soft, gentle flowing water or the sight of bright green water lilies contrasting beautiful perennials in the backdrop.  Best wishes in adding texture and design to your landscape with a simple or more intricate water feature. Go with the flow… and see where the water may lead.

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