7 Reasons a Water Feature Makes Your Backyard Better
Every time you head up a mountain, walk along a stream, over the field, and through the woods, what is it about nature that keeps drawing us back? The beauty is that you’re bombarded from multiple angles. What do you find most compelling?
The impeccable timing of Mother Nature’s yearly show
Depth of colors that you never thought you’d find in nature
Textures, soft and rough
Sounds, like leaves rustling high above your head or crunching under foot
Scents from something you walk by or that is carried on the breeze
All of the above?
Arguably, one of the best ways to experience nature is with water. Lake, pond, ocean, stream, creek, river, inlet… How about a backyard water feature? If you’ve not considered the effects – visually, acoustically, mentally, or environmentally, many homeowners are finding a water feature to be a must-have in their backyard.
Multiple falls create the soothing noise of splashing water, masking other sounds, like from cars or neighbors.
1) Environmental Noise Filter
Arriving home to enjoy your backyard, sounds of cars going by and airplanes overhead tend to be subtle reminders that the hustle and bustle of life is not far away. How do you push that into the background?
Kris and Gabrielle bought a house last year. Their home came with a beautiful, wooded backyard and a quaint water fall and pond. Unfortunately, years of weathering had taken its toll on the water feature’s construction. Their decision to have it rebuilt meant that they could continue to enjoy the sounds of the splashing water that filled their backyard.
The white noise created by the water feature creates a sort of natural audio filter that does a surprisingly good job at cancelling out other noises like traffic, neighbors, and airplanes.
2) Sounds to Soothe Even the Savage Beast
This couple knows that spending time outdoors is a great way to unwind after spending the day, working from home, staring at LCD screens for countless hours. They’re not alone. Groups and individuals alike have come to remark on the healing power of water. From Buddhists to psychologists, water has long been associated with positive benefits to the mind and body, including:
A general feeling of well-being
Better sleep cycles
A more alert mind
Less depression
Less tension
Lower blood pressure
3) Wildlife Will Love It
The sound of flowing water attracts all kinds of small, feathered, and fuzzy woodland creatures. Wildlife of all kinds will benefit from your backyard bubbler. It should go without saying that frogs will find it a great space to hang out like they’re on an extended vacation. There’s nothing wrong with a little open-invitation outdoor living space harmony with others.
Kris and Gabrielle, whether they like it or not, have been appointed guardians of the garden by the numerous frogs, tadpoles, birds, and other creatures that find refuge and refreshment in the water feature.
Even in the winter, a properly-equipped water feature can provide a wonderful place for the local wildlife a place for nourishing water. This gives you a perfect opportunity to witness the beauty that comes around in the winter months.
Adding a heater to your water feature allows for year-round enjoyment.
4) The Family Will Love It
The couple couldn’t wait to have friends over and show off their renovated water feature. I lost count of how many times they mentioned that they’d be having friends stopping by over the weekend.
You probably won’t be able to keep the family away from it. Everyone is going to enjoy hearing the soothing sounds of the water and watching the water cascade down the rocks. They’ll even be able to spy on the birds that land at a refreshing new rest stop.
Whether your kids are bipedal and go to a local elementary school or are quadrupeds and wag their tails, you are going to find that it’s nearly impossible to keep them away from your new water feature. There’s something magnetic about water that is irresistible.
Robert Molinet, owner of Sierra Landscape Management, has not only installed stunning water features for many clients over the last two decades, but has one of his own that runs all year long. His family gets a huge kick out of seeing what new birds will be showing up at their water feature, even throughout the winter.
5) Just One?
You may want to have one built that is larger than what you first thought about. Based on Robert’s experience, “Almost everyone regrets not going bigger. It’s addicting. Most people add more than one eventually.”
I can attest to this. Once my waterfall was completed, my wife began dreaming of a location in our backyard for water feature #2.
Kris and Gabrielle have plenty of space for their water feature. At some point they may even add on to it. For now, they’re enjoying their backyard with their friends. And frogs. Lots of frogs.
6) Lightweight Maintenance
You may be surprised at how little work a water feature needs to be keep clean and functional. A filter that captures leaves and debris in larger water features will need to be occasionally cleaned out. Smaller water features (without plants) may need a splash of chlorine crystals to keep algae at bay.
Kris is the one that will be taking care of the maintenance of the waterfall. The enjoyment that he and his wife get from this water feature far outweighs the little bit of work he’ll have to do during the year.
Just before winter, he’ll have to pull the pump and prep a couple of things for the freezing weather. They may even install a heater at some point to keep it going throughout the winter. Of course, if things get too busy for homeowners, we are happy to take care of the winterizing for them.
7) Flexibility
A locally-sourced stone tub provided a perfect water feature with personality.
Depending on how much area you have, the water feature can be sized to fit accordingly. And there are different styles of water features that can meet your personality. Sierra keeps an open mind when it comes to these soothing additions.
One homeowner had a large and uniquely-shaped boulder that became the centerpiece for a pondless water fountain with water cascading over both ends.
Another client used a very old stone tub and added a traditional hand pump to create an their own take on a water feature.
Going all-out is no problem either. There’s something to be said about making a statement. A large hill on the side of one homeowner was the perfect place to design a waterfall that looked like it had been there since the beginning. Large boulders along with a shallow riverbed flowed along side the patio. You couldn’t help but let the flowing water pull your tension away.
What’s Right For You?
When the time comes to make your backyard the best it can be for your family, Sierra Landscape Management is ready to hear about the ideas you have to include “you” in your outdoor living space. Our Buyer’s Guide can provide ballpark ideas for costs and the Portfolio can offer more inspiration.