Water in the Landscape - Part 1

There are many features that can enhance your landscape, but the one I recommend for maximum impact is water! Water in the landscape is a great magnet, drawing in both people and wildlife. Moving water is hypnotic, the sound and motion creating a sense of calmness, allowing people to relax.

A pond we installed for a client in Wellington, OH

Moving water is usually added to the landscape with fountains or waterfalls.

Fountains come in all shapes and sizes, so there are plenty of choices. Fountains can be hidden fairly easily. They do not take up a lot of space and are usually easy to install. Compared to a garden pond, they are reasonably inexpensive. Ongoing maintenance for fountains is also relatively easy.

All the appeal of moving water, none of the hassle of excavating a pond.

Waterfalls and fish are a good option for those with more room in the landscape and who don’t mind some maintenance.

GARDEN POND OPTIONS

Preformed small garden ponds are available and may be the ideal way to achieve a pond. Installation is easy: Excavate a hole the shape of the pond, set the pond in the hole making sure it is level, add rocks or stones around the edge, fill with water, add the pump, plug it in, and the pond is done. Allow 24 – 36 hours before adding any fish. CAUTION: This type of pond is usually relatively small and shallow, certainly not deep enough to overwinter fish. If fish are to survive, they must be moved to an auxiliary tank indoors for the winter.

The next step up would be a custom-built garden pond. This is essentially a larger excavation lined with an impermeable barrier, edged with paving of some sort, which supports a circulatory mechanism connected to a fountain or waterfall.

A mid-construction photo we took of a pond we installed for one of our clients in Avon, OH.

These ponds can be expensive to install and there are many points to consider, including:

• Can I do this myself?

• Will I need an electrician?

• How big should the pond and liner be?

• How large should the pump be?

• Are there local ordinances to consider?

A larger excavated pond requires some research (the pond design is determined by intended function and planned extras, such as lighting and fish), and is a lot of hard work to install and maintain. It may be more than the hobby gardener can handle, so a professional landscape company may have to be hired to do the installation. This can be an expensive investment, so make sure to make the right choice. Ask prospective companies for references and take the time to call them. Ask if you may look at some installations in case the quality of workmanship doesn’t meet expectations. This installation will cost a good sum of money, so have it done right the first time. It can be a real pain to dismantle and then rebuild a pond, so make sure there is a guarantee that covers workmanship.

The Koi pond I installed in my own yard.

You may wish to add components to your creation such as low-voltage lighting, water plants, fish, paving and landscape features such as statuary and seating. Adding such components to pond design will be discussed in my next post, so be sure to check back!