Welcome Wildlife to Your Water Wonderland

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The Ripple Effect

Once you’ve settled on the type of water feature that best suits your needs, carefully consider the location. The amount of sun or shade an area receives, along with wind patterns, topography and distance from your home or garden can create a ripple effect of pleasure — or discontent. It’s far better to spend a little extra time in the planning stages than to end up with a poorly sited water feature that makes you grumble every time you think about it.

Pools or other water features that will include sun-loving aquatic plants are best located in a somewhat open area receiving at least five hours of sun daily. It’s especially important to locate garden pools far enough away from trees to avoid fallen leaf litter (methane gas, a byproduct of decomposition, can be harmful to fish) or traveling tree roots which can puncture the lining or cause damage to in-ground cement pools. The site should also be somewhat sheltered from strong winds that can affect the spray from a fountain or injure plants.

For the most visual opportunity, situate your water feature within view of a window, patio or deck. Perhaps you envision a secluded oasis with the water feature slightly hidden from view to evoke a sense of mystery. However, locating your water feature in an area that offers the most vantage points gives you more opportunities for frequent viewing and enjoying wildlife up close. Keep your binoculars at the ready.

When using a pump, you’ll want your fountain within easy access of an electrical source equipped with a ground-fault circuit interrupter, available at most hardware stores. Most water features also require access to a hose and water source to replenish what’s lost to evaporation. Other factors to consider include drainage or runoff that might affect the pond’s ecosystem, such as chemicals from a fertilized lawn. Remember to contact utility companies before digging to identify any electric or telephone cables, gas pipes or water pipes to ensure that you don’t damage them or place a heavy water feature directly over them.

Setting the Scene

A water feature can form the centerpiece around which a garden is designed or can accent a particular plant or grouping.  Each type of water feature creates a different aesthetic impact within a given space.

A pleasure pool (so-named because of its pleasure-giving existence) that looks spectacular as the focal point of a vista loses its impact when tucked into a tiny space. A more natural effect is achieved with an informal pool nestled into the surrounding landscape or built near the garden’s edge. Because waterfalls vary in size and magnitude from diminutive trickles to bold, dramatic drops, they can be adapted to suit almost any setting.

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