Planning a Water Garden: Assessing the Home Landscape

It can be great fun to add new elements to the home landscape. Proper planning can make this process a joy during installation, maintenance and use as well. Here is how to install a water garden that works with the home landscape.

Placing a Water Garden in Existing Landscaping

Very few gardeners begin with a blank slate. There are existing landscape elements to contend with: shrubs, trees, and thick undergrowth. There are patios, walkways, and all sorts of other landscape features.

To integrate a water garden into the landscape, take a look at the existing landscaping. Draw a picture of the area where the water garden might be located. Use landscaping software to understand that area in three dimensions or from an aerial perspective. This process makes it easier to see the gaps in the current garden landscape and the logical place to put a water garden that works. Consider the following factors when planning the water garden.

Shade Garden or Sun Garden

Sit in the garden on and off over the course of a day and watch where the shade and sun go. What parts of the garden get the most sun, and which ones get deep shade all day?

Moving water like a pondless waterfall can go just about anywhere, but the gardener may prefer a somewhat sunny location to increase the range of plants that can grow beside the garden. Place still water like ponds out of direct sunlight and deep shade. Sunlight causes algae to bloom, while deep shade is likely due to a tree that will drop leaves into the pond in the fall.

The Seasons in the Garden Landscape

Be aware of how the seasons change the garden. In the sketch of the garden landscape, note whether large landscape elements like trees change during the seasons. A large tree that drops leaves into a pond is not entirely desirable. Some shrubs may provide a stunning backdrop for a water feature in the fall or the spring. Light levels change over the seasons: be aware of this when planning for sun or shade plants near the water feature. Also, think about how snow and ice and wind impact the garden in the fall and winter seasons. A very exposed location is not the best place to locate a water garden.

The Size of the Pond, Fountain, or Pondless Waterfall

Size always matters in garden landscaping. Figure out what sort of space is available for a water feature. Is it a small and static space? If so, a fountain might do. Is it is wider, more accessible area? A pond might be a good idea. Is it a longer space surrounded by children’s play areas or in the brighter sun? A pondless waterfall or other fast-moving and shallow water feature would suffice.

Garden Landscaping for Human Traffic

Look at how people currently use the garden. Are there informal trails or favorite sitting or playing areas? What areas are easiest to access? Choose an accessible area for the water garden so that people can sit beside it and maintain it with ease. Place it outside of the play areas for children, but within view of adults so that a pond presents less of a hazard for small children.

Planning a new water feature can be very exciting. With careful forethought, the pond, waterfall, or fountain will be easy to access and clean, integrate well into the existing garden landscape, and will be a joy to look at in every season.