From small tabletop fountains to large backyard ponds, the options are practically unlimited when it comes to water features. If you are thinking about putting in a water feature of your own, be sure to consider these five factors in advance.
Safety
Even though water features are beautiful to look at, they can be dangerous – especially for young children. If you have children or grandchildren who regularly play outdoors at your home, you may want to wait to install a pond. Instead, you could opt for something a little bit safer like a water fountain or a smaller pond that is elevated above the ground. If there is already a pond in your outdoor space, think about putting in a fence to keep children from getting too close to the water.
Alternatively, you can also install a special type of mesh over the top of the pond that will help provide additional protection. If you prefer, you could go with something simple like a bubbling fountain. These fountains allow you to bring water into your outdoor space without posing a major safety issue. If you do install a water feature, make sure you can easily see it from your house. That way, you can keep an eye on it when your kids are outside playing.
Maintenance
Most water features don’t require a lot of maintenance according to Soothing Walls. There are some steps that you need to take, however, to make sure that the water stays clean and that it drains correctly. For instance, you may periodically need to clean out any spouts or drain pipes. For ponds, regular cleaning may be required – particularly if you stock your pond with fish. Even if you hire someone to come to your home and clean your pond once a year, you should still take care of it between cleanings.
Using a skimmer is a great way to remove surface debris like leaves. You may also have to occasionally add water to your pond if it is hot outside since water can be lost to evaporation. Water plants can help keep your water clean by making it harder for algae to grow. At least once a year, you should check your pond filters to make sure that they are clean and that they don’t need to be replaced.
Features
If you are having trouble deciding on a water feature for your home, consider consulting with a professional. Most professional gardeners have plenty of experience with water features and can help you decide which option is best for your home. They can also help you make sure you have all of the materials that you need. When it comes to something simple like a fountain, you can usually choose whichever style you find the most attractive.
For ponds, however, there are a lot of other considerations that need to be taken into account ranging from the location and depth of the pond to the type of liner that you need to use. If you are hoping to keep fish or attract wildlife, you also need to take that into account when designing your pond.
Installation
Installing something like a fountain is easy. In most cases, they just need to be plugged in. If you are going to be putting in something bigger like a pond, however, you should consider hiring a landscaper. Most ponds require varying depths in order to keep the water clean as well as to keep any water plants that you add to the pond healthy. Typically, pond installation also involves dealing with plumbing, which usually requires the skills of an expert.
Lighting
Lighting can not only enhance the beauty of your water feature but it can also make it safer. It is a lot easier to see a water feature after dark if it is properly lit. In the evening, it also transforms your water feature into a focal point for your yard. Today, there are plenty of solar-powered lighting solutions available, meaning that you don’t have to worry about plugging them in.
For pond lighting, you may want to talk to an electrician to have permanent lighting installed. From a safety standpoint, it is important to make sure that your pond is well lit after dark to keep people from accidentally stumbling into it.
