Liven Up Your Backyard With These 11 Essential Water Features
Water is one of the most delightful additions to a backyard. Whether you prefer the zen-like tranquility of a reflecting pool or the dramatic sounds of a cascading waterfall, water will cool the area, mask environmental sounds, and provide a constantly-changing visual feast. Here’s how to liven up your backyard with these 10 essential water features.
1. Reflecting Pool
This partially above-ground water feature is typically built with masonry walls or a poured concrete form. The bottom may be filled with river rock or pebbles which give the reflecting pool a completely different personality when illuminated at night. For best results, place a reflecting pool near tall trees so there is something to reflect off the water.
2. Bird Bath
Birdbaths are the only water features that don’t require plumbing. They do require regular cleaning and filling but you will be rewarded by the presence of many colorful bird species as well as pollinators such as butterflies.
3. Natural Pond
A natural pond looks like it has always been part of the landscape. This free-form feature is often surrounded by boulders and a variety of native aquatic plants including floating plants. It may contain fish or turtles for added interest. Water is often circulated via a waterfall or a bubbler.
4. Standard Waterfall
A standard waterfall can be designed as a standalone feature or added to a pond to improve the natural feel. It can be made using real stones or sculpted concrete. A waterfall is infinitely customizable with regard to the drop and other ways to control the flow of water (and the resulting changes in sound and ambience). The height will depend on the topography: it can look awkward to have a waterfall jutting out of the middle of a flat lawn so landscape designers often design a berm behind the waterfall so that the flow is more natural.
3. Pondless Waterfall
Most artificial waterfalls are designed with a pond at the bottom which collects water which is then recirculated. A pond basin uses a minimal catch basin usually filled partially with pebbles. It’s a great solution if the pond is located close to the house or you don’t want a pond for safety’s sake.
4. Water Wall
A chic water feature that does double duty as a privacy wall, a water wall pumps water to the top of a vertical feature and allows it to cascade down a masonry wall which will create wonderful subtle trickling sounds. Or, the wall could be an opaque sheet of glass for a lovely curtain effect. LED lighting can be added for stunning effect after dark.
5. Rain Curtain
A rain curtain is similar to a water wall except that water is allowed to fall freely from small holes in the upper portion of the water feature. Rain curtains can act as subtle privacy screens or “outdoor room” dividers.
6. Laminar Jets
Laminar jets shoot smooth streams of water that appear not to be moving at all (especially when illuminated with LED lighting). The stream of water is customizable, from a narrow jet to a wider curtain effect. They are often installed in pools, but work well in ponds, too.
7. Scuppers
Scuppers deliver water from an upper container to a lower container, such as a series of clay pots mounted on a tall retaining wall. The sound they produce depends on the volume of water, the size of the drop between levels, and the materials used. Scuppers can be used to deliver water to a pond or pool, or they can be pondless.
8. Sconces
If you’ve ever been to Rome or Athens, you’ve seen lion heads or other figures with water pouring out of their mouths into a receptacle pond. Other versions have cherubs pouring water out of an amphora. They’re great choices for evoking a charming Old World feel.
9. Fountains
Fountains are infinitely customizable and can be made to fit into any outdoor space. Usually standalone, they are often placed prominently as a dramatic focal point; although placing a fountain in a secluded corner of the backyard will create an amazing tranquil getaway. Fountains can be minimalist, naturalistic, baroque, and everything in between. They can be as rustic as a hollowed-out rock with a small bubbler, or as elaborate as a multi-tiered baroque fountain. They often feature built-in scuppers or sconces. The sound quality depends on the intensity of the water, the size of the drops between levels, and materials.
10. Streams
Streams are elaborate water features that require a sloped property and good design to look natural. They often empty into a pond and are lined along the way with boulders and smaller rocks, and feature small waterfalls along the way.
11. Bubblers (Gurglers)
Bubblers conjure up feelings of natural hot springs, with water bubbling up from beneath the surface. They are often used to aerate a pond; but they are also wonderful in naturalistic stone fountains placed strategically around the backyard to provide ambience.