There are several types of landscape water features that you can add to your property to make the area more beautiful. Before you get started or make any purchases, a certain degree of research is needed to ensure you’re making smart choices. Whether you’re looking for commercial water features or residential water features, let’s consider the basics.
The Details of Landscape Water Features Designs
You don’t want to clutter your property with water features. Take into consideration the size of your property. A small plot of land, say, won’t necessarily accommodate backyard waterfalls or grand fountains. A couple of birdbaths with some simple landscaping is sometimes all you need to make a bold statement. The goal is to increase the aesthetic appeal of your surroundings without making everything appear messy and overgrown.
Your personal style should also impact what you choose for your design. There really are endless choices to consider, so contemplate if you want a layout that has a natural feel, or if you’re interested in a bold statement that makes use of some of the more elaborate commercial water features out there. It’s also imperative that you choose the best locations for your fixtures so they can be enjoyed and appreciated by anyone that comes across them, including wildlife.
Ways To Beautify Your Landscape with Water Features
Landscape water features come in many different types. Some are more suitable for residential setups, while larger-scale designs suffice for commercial developments. Let’s take a look at some of the different water features that can make a big impact.
Swimming Pools
Swimming pools make a yard look beautiful, but they also contribute to backyard entertainment. Not to mention, pools increase the value of your home if you’re interested in selling in the next few years. Underground pools provide much greater value, and you can really build up the landscape around them to tie in areas for lounging, eating, and playing. A swimming pool is often the starting point to build off of for things like water walls and fountains.
Birdbaths
If you’re looking to add a water feature to your property but don’t want to spend a lot of money, birdbaths are the most affordable option. Not only do they add to the aesthetics of your yard, but you can spend hours sitting and watching the bird activity that comes and goes each time you fill the basin with fresh water. You can really customize your property with birdbaths since they come in so many different styles and colors.
Backyard Waterfalls
Waterfalls are nice because they add running water to your landscape, which can be very soothing and relaxing. It’s nice to simply sit and listen to the trickle of the water. A backyard waterfall can be simple, using just a short stack of rocks to create the effect. Some businesses and larger properties also incorporate elaborate designs into their waterfalls, including tunnels and plant walls. A sizable water pool at the fall’s bottom is needed, whether it be a pond or a small stream.
Ponds
You can bring a little bit of the shore to your yard by installing a pond. Both backyard ponds and commercial ponds can vary in size and shape depending on how much room you have to work with. They can incorporate several design elements like stones, plants, and trees. You can even purchase fish for your pond if it’s large enough to provide them with a happy and safe environment. Koi ponds are very popular, but you’ll need quite a bit of space for the fish to grow. You also have to be careful about the plants that you choose for the nearby area, since some plants are deadly to fish, such as angel trumpets and azaleas.
Fountains
Water fountains can be placed in many different locations, making them a versatile option. They look great in the front of homes and commercial buildings, especially if you have a large front façade and long driveway. Fountains make driving circles spectacular, too. Water fountains can also be placed in or attached to swimming pools, ponds, and waterfalls. You can change between different sprays to create different effects, and many fountains come with lighting that can change colors depending on your mood, the theme of an event, the time of year, etc. If you have an existing large pond on your property, installing a fountain is a relatively affordable and simple investment that can completely transform your water area.
Water Walls
Water walls are relatively modern, and you don’t need a lot of space to have one installed. This is essentially a rectangular frame that allows water to fall from the top down to a collection area at the bottom. It not only creates a focal point in your landscape, but it can also add to the privacy of a specific area.
Water blades are a similar concept, but they have a sheet of water flowing out from within a stone or brick structure into a collection area down below. Both efficient features simply recycle the same water over and over again. They usually require very little electricity to run, so the initial cost of the fixture and installation is really all you have to worry about moving forward.
Now that you have some inspiration for your landscape, you can start planning how to transform an undeveloped area into something spectacular. It’s best to start out with a budget and a concept. You can then research different ideas and think about how you would organize your design, ruling out things that simply won’t work. If you need to, consult your local landscape company for quotes and ideas. Taking one area at a time lessens the burden. Likewise, planning one project per season can be ongoing fun that adds ambiance and value to your home or business.
