Water Features & How to Incorporate Them

Published April 30, 2021

Intro:
There are four basic categories of water features: ponds, fountains, waterfalls, and streams. Each has their own unique requirements when it comes to maintenance and care, and there are pluses and minuses to each element. Be mindful of the overall design aesthetic to install water features that can keep your home feeling peaceful all year long.

It may be difficult to believe, but spring has arrived in Oklahoma, and summer will soon be in full swing.  With the arrival of summer comes the desire – and the need – to cool off however you can.  One of the questions GreenPro lawncare specialists are frequently asked by our clients is how to incorporate elements into their home and property design that can create a sense of coolness and calm.  An easy answer: water features, which can not only incorporate water into the property but also give clients and their guests and visitors a feeling of cool, peaceful serenity.

There are four basic categories of water features: ponds, fountains, waterfalls, and streams.  Each has their own unique requirements when it comes to maintenance and care, and there are pluses and minuses to each element.  When considering the type of water feature that is best for your home or property, it’s important to be mindful of the overall design aesthetic and choose a water feature that will integrate into your property overall.

Ponds

When it comes to ponds, homeowners should be mindful of the fact that there are different types of ponds.  The four most common?  Reflecting pools, ornamental pools, water gardens and fishponds. Each of these may be any depth, size, or shape.

Reflecting Pools

Reflecting pools are designed to be decorative features usually in a garden as a central feature. They often have formal, geometric shapes with walking surfaces that overhang their edges all the way around. For added artistic beauty these water features are normally located near a decorative landscape feature that is vividly reflected in the glassy surface of the water.

Ornamental Pools

Ornamental pools are generally located near a deck or patio. They are designed around an ornamental piece like a spouting statue a vertically cascading fountain or a bell fountain.

Water Gardens

Water gardens are living water features, replete with aquatic plant life that is full of vibrant colors and textures. Plants both inside and outside the perimeter of the pond create a lush natural setting

Fish Pond

Fish can be added to almost any type of water feature as long as certain life sustaining criteria are met. Goldfish and Koi are common favorites, adding a splash of color in motion.

Fountains

An almost limitless variety of shapes and sizes of fountains may be added to your water feature. The sound of water tumbling and splashing combined with a refreshing mist can be relaxing and invigorating.

Waterfalls

Like fountains, waterfalls add sound, motion, and vitality to your water feature. Often created with natural stone slabs or boulders, waterfalls bring a vertical dimension to your property. Additionally, waterfalls are delicious candy for any viewer’s eyes, as they capture interest from a distance as they dance and flow.

Streams

Streams are ideal for meandering along paths, walkways or even pool decks. Acting as natural filters, streams are often designed to flow into waterfalls and cascade into a pond to help sustain the entire ecosystem of a water feature.

Intrigued by the possibilities of these ideas?  Want to integrate water features into your property design?  Call GreenPro today; our specialists will be happy to work with you to install a water feature that can keep your home feeling peaceful all year long.