4 Water Features That Add Charm & Value to Your Yard
Water features can bring an elegant touch to any yard. They don’t have to be grand or expensive; a simple water fountain can immediately transform your property and increase its value.
The key is to find a water feature that fits your outdoor space, blends with the landscape, and goes with your budget as well.
Modernize.com shares the top four water features that you can add to your yard for that elevated look. From beautiful water walls to Asian-inspired koi ponds, you’ll surely find the perfect design idea that works for you. Read this informative article now for more details!
Inspiration: Add a Water Feature to Your Yard
There’s no denying that water features add considerable value and charm to any yard. However, many homeowners are reluctant to add these to their property because they’re afraid doing so will require too much space, cost and maintenance. The truth is, there are many different kinds of water features, and regardless of the size of your garden or your pocketbook, there’s one that will be just right for you.
A Water Wall
If you already have a patio tucked away, and you want to have an impressive water feature without allocating extra space for it, try adding a water wall.
Converting a wall (or part of it) into a water feature will take up very little space. At the same time, such an addition will provide you with the soothing sounds of water cascading down the surface of some rough stones or interesting tiles.
The good news about water walls is that many of them come in the form of simple DIY projects.
A Koi Pond
Koi ponds can be as large or as small as you like, and they are a lot of fun to build. Just be sure you protect your koi from birds, raccoons and other predators, and build the pond where it will not be exposed to direct sunlight.
The number of koi you can put in a pond depends on the amount of water the pond will contain. As a rule, each koi needs 100 gallons of water.
If you don’t have a lot of space, you can build a 1000-gallon pond; this is fairly small but it will allow you to have about 10 gloriously colorful koi swimming gracefully while you relax.
A Fountain
There is something magical about fountains.
With proper lighting, a fountain can add infinite drama to your surroundings when you entertain at night, and there are virtually countless types of fountains – big splashy fountains, multi-tiered Spanish fountains, Moorish wall fountains, Japanese style fountains, and tabletop fountains.
If you have a large garden, go ahead and splurge on a truly dramatic fountain.
If your space is limited, consider building a Zen style fountain; this will require very little space and practically zero structural changes.
Water Gardens
Water gardens aesthetically display aquatic plants, and there is no limit to their style or size.
These also come in just about every shape, but they are generally no more than 20 inches deep. Water lilies, lotus, water hyacinths, azolla, cattail, and bulrush are among the most popular aquatic plants for water gardens.
Around the edges of the water garden, marginal plants (such as Iris and taro) are normally cultivated.
These marginal plants can survive even when their roots are submerged in water, and they provide interesting color for transition between the water and dry ground.
If you live in a condo or an upper floor apartment, a pond in a jar might be the perfect water treatment for you.
To create your miniature water treatment you only need a large glazed garden dish. Plant a few miniature aquatic plants, fill it up with water, set it in a shaded part of your terrace, and let nature work its magic as your plants grow.
For more design ideas, head to Modernize.com.