We recently talked about Adding a pool to your backyard landscape. If you aren’t ready for as large of a commitment that a pool requires, we are going to move into a discussion on the ease and beauty of adding a water feature. One word that comes to mind when we think of a water feature: ambiance.
Decorative coy ponds, outlying waterfalls, and sparkling fountains serve one main purpose, and that is to make sure your landscape has the feel of a living, moving presence. Moving water can transform your outdoor patio into a backyard paradise.
Bubbling Fountains
Do you like to bird watch regularly? If you want to increase your experience, your best bet is to install a fountain close to the porch. Moving water attracts more birds than a still-water birdbath. To get you started, check out this list of 32 DIY fountain ideas. This list is proof that you can build a fountain on a budget that still looks great! In those 32 ideas, you will find a simple stone basin filled with water and a bubbler pump. You can also create a recirculating fountain with an urn or boulder. There are so many ways to make a fountain that if you only decide to do one thing to enhance your backyard living space with a water feature, a fountain is the easiest choice.
Flowing Streams and Waterfalls
Looking for serenity out your back door? Look no further than a personal stream. It is certainly a project to install this type of landscaping into an otherwise flat backyard, but it is well worth the trouble. The concept is quite simple, especially if your yard slopes down into a drainage creek. Simply pick a narrow length of yard, most likely on the edge, to safely dig a shallow passageway (just make sure you call the authorities to make sure there are no pipes below the surface!). If you want to add a waterfall, dig out one section and then drop the next section a little lower.
After digging, add stones and rocks to vary the landscape and provide guidance for water flow. To keep water circulating, you need a pump. In fact, just follow the steps outlined in this DIY post to give you an idea about how this sort of project works. The work is worth it to have a serene getaway right in your own back yard!
Garden Ponds
An option to have a body of water in your yard that is easier than installing a stream is to add a garden pond. Such ponds lack the soothing sound of flowing water, but they make up for this with the ambiance they create (and you can always add a waterfall if you prefer later). Adding in a few coy fish or goldfish adds sparkle and interest to an otherwise still garden.
Installing a pond is easier than most people think, according to this DIY installation guide. While it is no longer a job left up to strictly professionals, you will need permission from municipal authorities to dig, measurements and planning, a pond liner, and rocks and earth to cover up the construction. After all those steps are complete you have got yourself a pond! Go a little further by adding lily pads and fish, and you have a mini habitat right out your kitchen window.
What’s your water feature?
In this busy world, having a retreat at home is vital for maintaining a sense of balance and peace. Adding a water feature like a fountain, stream, or pond will create a sense of serenity and calm in your landscape that you really can’t find with anything else. Still hesitant? Here’s a master list of water features to get your brain pumping.
What’s your water feature? We want to hear from our readers about their experiences. Was it a big hassle to dig out a streambed? Have you ever made your own fountain? Tell us all about it!
The post Your Outdoor Living Space: Water Features appeared first on The Rock Place.
