The Best Backyard Water Features

Who doesn’t love the soothing sound of a babbling brook or a cascading waterfall? The best backyard water features can bring that tranquility and elegance to your home. Examples include:

• Streams
• Ponds
• Waterfalls
• Fountains
• Bird baths
• Water walls
• Tabletop features

Whether small and low-tech or large and complex, a water feature can dramatically change the appearance of your property. It can transform a bare, dry space into an inviting oasis for yourself, family, and friends. Moving water adds moisture to the atmosphere on hot, dry days. You can even enjoy watching the birds that are attracted to plants along the edge of a stream or pond.

Before You Choose a Water Feature

When deciding which water feature to add to your yard, you’ll have to consider a few factors. Do you want a quiet, private place to sit and read, or do you want an elegant focal point for your landscape? Do you need a water feature that’s safe for children and pets? Would you prefer a low-maintenance water feature?

You’ll want to consider the style, color, and materials for your water feature. Whether it’s a fountain or a stream, the water feature should harmonize with your home and landscape. For example, an angular pool will complement a contemporary home, while terra cotta stones will help a waterfall blend with a garden.

Other factors to consider include water and power sources. While most water features recirculate the same water over and over again, others need a water source from the home. You’ll also have to decide how you will power the pump. Some water features are hardwired to the home’s electrical grid, while others are solar-powered. The hardwired option requires a licensed electrician to do the job.

Streams

A stream can enhance the natural beauty of your backyard and add the soothing sound of trickling water. It can flow through pebbles or drop from a pond and pour over ledges. You can even build several small streams that end together in a pool. Once you’ve decided where the stream will begin and end, you can use the existing slope, space, rocks, and plants as guidelines.

The slope of the land will help create sound and visual appeal for your backyard stream. Ideally, it should drop at least 2 feet for every 20 feet of land. A greater drop will allow more water to flow, along with louder sound and more dramatic visuals. It helps to look at the flow of real streams before deciding how much drop you want for your backyard stream.

Once the stream bed has been dug out, it will need underlayment fabric followed by a liner made of rubber. A pump will keep the water circulating from the upper to lower level. After a second underlayment, you can add a layer of stones, as well as other rocks or steppingstones. To make the stream look like a natural part of your yard, try to use native rocks as bridge stones and edge stones, as well as on the stream floor.

Plants and driftwood help complete the picture. Driftwood, logs, and tree stumps at various points help give the stream and surrounding area a natural, aged look. For a softening effect, you can place plants in the water, along the edges, or even near a waterfall, depending on specific growth requirements.

A stream can even act as a moat, adding a sense of privacy and security. You can construct a bridge or walkway across the moat for access to your home. Add some flowers and a bench or perhaps some lighting, and you’re ready to enjoy the tranquility of your private stream.

Ponds

Whether you have a large space or a tiny corner, a pond can make an attractive addition to your backyard. Ponds can be modern and minimalist or slightly raised and bordered by stones. Depending on your style, you can choose from a wide range of materials, from smooth, finished stones or tiles to naturally cut rocks.

A pond liner is an important part of a backyard pond. It keeps the water in the pond water by preventing seepage into the ground. Otherwise, you would have to refill the pond several times a week. Also, pond plants can anchor into a liner. Pond liners are available in a variety of materials. Flexible liners can be made of PVC, reinforced polyethylene, or rubber. Performed, non-flexible liner materials include fiberglass, concrete, and rubber.

Each type of liner has advantages and disadvantages. For example, a non-flexible liner limits your choice of pond shape, while flexible liners allow more creativity. Flexible liners, on the other hand, are susceptible to punctures. Concrete is a durable choice, but it is used less often today because it is expensive and time-consuming to install. Weather can also be an issue, with PVC and butyl rubber liners most susceptible to cracking in sub-zero temperatures.

The type of pond you choose largely depends on the surrounding landscape and intended use. A well-manicured garden, for example, is an ideal setting for an evenly curved pond bordered by polished stone. A pond edged with irregularly shaped boulders can create a focal point in a spacious lawn.

For a less polished look, add a variety of plants in and around your pond. Mix it up by combining foliage plants with water lilies or other flowers. The oxygen from the plants keeps the pond healthy and the foliage lush. Let the plants grow freely with little pruning to create a lively, visually stimulating effect.

Koi Pond

A koi pond adds the beauty of colorful, living fish to a backyard water feature. Since live animals will be in the pond, it will need specific dimensions and careful maintenance. A koi pond should be at least 2 feet deep so the fish can spend the winter in an unfrozen pocket at the bottom. In colder regions, 4 feet is a better depth.

Regular cleaning is essential for a koi pond. Remove plant debris and other organic matter to keep the water chemistry at an optimal balance for the fish. Besides adding an attractive touch, a waterfall can help oxygenate the pond water. Non-toxic aquatic plants, such as water lilies and water purselane, oxygenate the water and provide food and shelter for koi.

Waterfalls

Get ready to sit back and relax to the sight and sound of falling water. A backyard waterfall can be made of rock and other natural material, or copper or PVC for a more contemporary look. You can get creative and use unconventional materials such as wine bottles or even an old car to build a waterfall. Lighting can add drama after dark as it reflects in the cascading water.

Simply put, a waterfall needs two or more levels that allow the water to fall downward. It can be as short as several flowerpots or as tall as a 10-foot rock structure. A single waterfall can flow into an existing pool or pond, or multiple waterfalls can join several ponds. A pump recirculates the water from the pond to the spillway, where it falls. You will have to occasionally add water to the pond or pool to prevent it from drying out.

A waterfall does not always require a pump, though. For a more low-tech option, you can simply pour the water into the top level and enjoy it as it trickles once to a container at the bottom.

Pondless Waterfalls

Even if you don’t have a pond or pool, you can still enjoy the beauty of a backyard waterfall. Pondless waterfalls are an economical, low-maintenance option and are great if you worry about children or pets falling into the water. A pump recirculates water from an in-ground reservoir up through a spillway. The water cascades from the spillway, creating the attractive sight and sound of a waterfall.

From the spillway, the water filters through gravel into the reservoir. The pump then starts the cycle again as it recirculates the water to the spillway.

You can be as creative with a pondless waterfall as with any other waterfall. For example, you can include surprising twists and turns in the spillway to add more splash. If you like, you can always add a pond in the future.

Fountains

What better way to add class and elegance to your backyard than installing a water fountain? Light sparkles in the water as continuous trickling adds a soothing, cooling touch to a summer day or evening. Whether rustic or contemporary, a fountain may be the perfect backyard accent.

As with other backyard water features, a pump circulates the water in a fountain. Many fountains need a constant water source and are hooked up to the home’s water supply. These fountains can run indefinitely without drying out. Smaller models store water in a reservoir that needs occasional topping off with a hose. These fountains help keep the water bill lower.

Both types of fountains need regular cleaning to prevent slimy algae buildup. The finish and materials you choose determine how often you will have to clean and maintain it. Stone or concrete finishes generally need less cleaning and maintenance than bronze or copper models.

Style choices for fountains are virtually limitless. You can buy a ready-made fountain or make one out of items from a thrift store. Make a classic statement withstone masonry or a multi-tiered, stand-alone model. Maybe you’d prefer a sleek, modern style with straight lines and angles. Colorful tiles make a bold backdrop, providing an attractive focal point. You can create a cozy, country-style corner with a fountain made from rustic pots or bowls.

Features for Small Spaces

Even if you have a small yard, you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of backyard water features. Whether it’s a small water garden or a flat water wall, these water features can create an inviting space.

Bird Bath

Bird baths are a small, economical water feature. They don’t require pumps, liners, or digging, and are available in a wide range of styles and colors. Choose materials and colors that complement your home and garden. Place the bird bath in a sheltered area to protect small birds from hawks and other predators. Try planting flowers around the bird bath to add charm.

Waterwall

Is your yard too small for a stream or waterfall? A waterwall combines the best features of fountains and waterfalls. A pump circulates water that flows down a flat, vertical surface.

Since a waterwall is flat, it can fit on a patio or other space that cannot hold a full-size fountain. Some are small enough to attach to a wall or sit on a tabletop. You can build a waterwall with a pump, PVC pipes, and a bucket, or you buy one ready-made.

Water Garden

Does your compact yard or back porch have a corner that needs dressing up? A small water garden may do the trick. Find a shallow, rectangular container that will fit in the space. Place pea gravel and potting soil in the bottom of the container and fill it with water. Add water lilies and other water plants, and enjoy.

Tabletop Features

A fountain or waterfall does not have to be towering or grand. There are ready-made models that you can buy, or you can make your own from items from around the house. A charming tabletop feature made from old ceramic bowls or a tea kettle can add rustic charm to a patio table.

Find the Best Backyard Water Feature for You

When you’re ready to install a water feature, it helps to consult with a landscape professional. An experienced landscaper can go over the details with you, from choosing a pond liner to deciding whether to connect to your home water source. They can help you decide the lay of a stream and which stones are best for your waterfall. Finally, a landscape professional can install the water feature using the best available methods and materials.

Are you considering a backyard water feature project? Feel free to contact Gosnell Tree & Landscape for a free estimate.