Creating natural looking water features
Your backyard pond can be a source of great pleasure and enjoyment, adding to your landscape what few other features can; including, sound, movement, and wildlife attraction. However, while a water feature has potential to add so much to your landscape, it can be difficult to make it actually belong with the landscape.
Here are a few simple tips to create a beautiful element, rather than an out of place eyesore:
- Go Big
Build it a bit larger than you initially think – chances are you”ll wish it was bigger if you start too small. - Use Natural Shapes
Use of irregular, flowing lines and kidney shapes for your pond are far more natural than perfect circles. - Create Visual Interest
Break-up the perimeter with a variety of rock sizes, and be sure to have some of them stick out of the water. Not only does this create visual interest, but also a place for turtles to bask in the sun. - Fitting In
Create a seamless transition to the surrounding garden beds by using similar plants both in and out of the water – various grasses, sedges, and irises fit the bill nicely. - Add Wood
look at almost any natural water feature and you”ll surely find some fallen timber & stumps especially in a stream. - Keep it to Scale
Keep the waterfall scaled to your property – you want sound and movement, but not Niagara Falls. Make sure it fits in with your property – nothing looks more unnatural than a flat backyard with that “mole hill” waterfall. - Varying Water
Create variation in the types of water movement – small and large falls, cascades, and riffles add different sound tones and visual appeal. - No Shy Gardens
Be generous with the size of the surrounding garden beds to blend the pond and stream into your yard.
This really is just the tip of the iceberg, but things to think about when planning your pond. Feel free to contact us for more information.