Royal Creations Blog

Water Features In An Outdoor Living Space

Water features can add a lot to an outdoor living space.  Of course, a swimming pool is one water feature, but there are many others.  Water features can add the bubbling of a brook, the roar of a waterfall, or the sound of animals using the water feature to take a bath.  A sense of peacefulness often comes over people while watching a water feature.  Adding fish and aquatic plants can create an ecosystem that attracts butterflies, bees, and birds to your yard. 

Types Of Water Features 

There are many types of water features you can add to your landscape.  Starting from the smallest features and working our way to the larger features, here are a few ideas to think about. 

Patio Pond 

Water features don’t have to take up much room.  Patio container ponds can fit almost anywhere you want to have the sights and sounds of water.  These small container ponds have aquatic plants and a small fountain or waterfall to keep the water from getting stagnant.  They can even support a fish or two.   

Rainwater Harvesting Feature 

Are you harvesting your rainwater?  You can take advantage of the available water to have a fountain that gurgles in your landscape.  Because it comes from a reservoir, rainwater fountains are very waterwise.  The water is filtered, goes over the water feature, goes back into the reservoir, and the cycle is repeated with little water from outside the system.  You also have the benefit of rain filling the system so you don’t have to use the hose as much. 

Decorative Fountains 

You can have small water features without the plants and fish.  Decorative fountains come in small packages within a container or over a stand of rustic rods in the landscape.  They also come in big packages, such as a large column of water falling into a large basin.  Either way, they are mesmerizing to watch.  They also attract birds and butterflies, adding a flash of wings while they drink and play in the water.  The nice thing about this type of water feature is that it can be plug and play and easy to set up. 

Fire and Water 

Fire and water seem such opposites.  However, they can form a dramatic feature when melded together.  The fire lights up the landscape near it and provides a focal point for your water feature.  The flickering flame and smooth water form a very relaxing and dramatic duo.  These tend to be very popular around pools. 

Pondless Waterfalls 

If you want a water feature that is a little more dynamic than a fountain or patio pond, a pondless waterfall can do that for you.  This could be a babbling brook running down a drainage area in the landscape or beside a set of stairs.  It could also be a tall waterfall crashing down a wall.  Little babbling brooks are great for kids to explore and interact with nature.  This is a good way to get a lower maintenance water feature that you won’t have to spend too much time on. 

Landscape Pond 

Landscaping ponds can be large or only slightly larger than a patio pond.  The size of the pond can dictate the types of plants you can put in them.  Deep ponds need floating plants, while shallow ponds can consist of anchored plants.  Either way, plants soften the transition from land to water, so it is not as sharply defined as waterfall.  These ponds will attract dragonflies, butterflies, birds, and local wildlife. 

Koi Ponds 

Depending on the size and depth of the pond, you can add colorful koi to it.  The pond has to be large enough around and deep enough that it does not heat up too much in the summer or freeze solidly in the winter.  Koi eat plants and insect larvae, so if you want special plants in the pond, you will have to block off areas of the pond for them.  Koi are fun to feed and become quite friendly when they associate you with their food. 

Lighting Your Water Feature 

Water features do not exist in a vacuum.  They should be lighted so that they are visible at night.  This makes them a focal point as well as keeps guests from falling in a pond they didn’t notice.  Small patio ponds can be lighted with submersible lights that shine up from the bottom.  Larger features can be lighted from the water or the land or even from trees above. 

Bringing It All Together 

Water features can really improve the look and feel of your outdoor living space.  However, setting them up just right and maintaining them can be a chore.  Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can help you pick the best water features for your landscape so that you will have a peaceful, relaxing space of your own.  Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today and we can start the discussion of the best way to incorporate the sound of water into your outdoor space.