Have you watched any of those landscaping or gardening shows lately? One requirement for most of the homeowners tends to be a water feature. Whether it’s to mask street noise with the soothing sound of running water, or to host fish, or just to beautify a spot in the yard, a water feature can be an excellent and enjoyable choice.

If you’ve always wanted one but were afraid it would be too difficult to put together, I assure you that a basic pond, fountain, or even waterfall is not too complicated for the average person. Manufacturers have responded to public interest by creating a number of products designed for easy installation and no specialized knowledge.

First, you must decide what type of water feature you’d like. Ponds provide a serene location for many water and bog plants as well as fish and frogs. They sometimes even attract wildlife you’d prefer to keep out, such as raccoons and great blue herons (they will both eat the fish). The look of a pond can be formal or informal but ideally should fit into its surroundings.

Within the pond, you might choose to install a fountain. There are many types available, from sprays to streams to bubblers. You can even purchase statuary that will spill or shoot or spit water. Just remember, when you’re considering a fountain, if you want to grow water lilies, you must have an area of the pond that remains still for them to grow properly.

Another type of water feature that can be incorporated with a pond is a waterfall. I have strong personal opinions about this addition. Often, people create waterfalls that come from – nowhere. Now I realize that in most cases visitors will figure out that your water feature is man-made but, even so, a waterfall should be situated where it is logical. In other words, if your pond is located at the bottom of a hill, a waterfall that springs from the top of the hill makes sense. If your pond is located in a corner of your patio, which then blends into a flat stretch of lawn, a waterfall would look unnatural because its origin would be illogical. I’m sure there are exceptions to this, or you may simply disagree with me. But you might want to keep this in mind as you make your plans.

A stream might be a better choice if you want a moving water feature to flow into a pond from a flat expanse of yard. Designing a stream gets a bit more complicated but can still be undertaken by a homeowner. Of course, as with the waterfall, it should flow from somewhere logical. It is best if you have a wooded area or some obstruction toward the back or side of your property where you could hide the origin of the stream.

A variation on, or an addition to, a pond is a bog garden. This feature can be created next to the pond or as a stand-alone area in a low spot on your property. Sometimes, the grading in a landscape produces a naturally boggy area. Often, homeowners are frustrated by this nearly constantly soggy area and don’t know what to do with it. Turn it into a bog garden. You’ll have a whole new group of plants to work with that thrive in these moist conditions.

Next week, we’ll talk more about water features – what materials and equipment to use, how to construct them, and what to grow in and around them.

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