Most likely you've driven past homes with water gardens and appreciated the lovely landscaping. After all, burbling, cascading water and the sight of a beautiful pond, fountain, or waterfall can make any back yard prettier, as long as it's designed with taste and an eye for curb appeal. You might have even dreamed of having a water garden built into your own yard until you learned the cost of the project. Fortunately, you can do the work on your own water feature and save on all the labor costs you'd have to pay otherwise. By following a few basic guidelines, you'll be well on your way to being the envy of all passersby.

You may be objecting, “But I'm not very handy that way.” The majority of us aren't, but building a water garden is more dependent on your creative planning and hard work than it is on having a resume filled with building skills. If you can garden, you can build a great water garden in your yard.

Get started by learning your community's codes about where you can build your water garden. There are most likely rules governing the placement of your water feature as well as its size and depth. Some towns will have safety rules, such as how deep you can dig your pond without needing to fence in the area. You are going to also need to learn where pipes, wiring, septic system, or other underground utility features are located, because you obviously can't excavate in those areas.

Decide on your location carefully. Once you know what you're dealing with, you're free to choose a location where your water garden will be both visible and functional. If you are only planning on cultivating water plants in and near your pond, it will be fine to locate your water garden in bright sunlight. However, if you want to add fish to the pool, you have to locate it where where it will receive some shade during the hottest times of the day.

Actually, the time you spend planning and shopping will most likely take you longer than building the water garden itself. You can begin the project with nothing more than a small pump, a pond liner, and a shovel. Over time, and as you are able to afford it, you can add to your water feature and make it more intricate and fancier so that someday you'll have the water garden you always dreamed about, and you'll have built it yourself.

A backyard fountain can transform a plain back yard into a relaxing retreat. There are numerous kinds of this backyard water fountain and shopping for one that is suitable in your yard may require a little time. This could be time well spent taking into account just how significant a change a yard water feature actually makes.

One thing to consider is size. It is possible to choose a rather modest small water feature that helps you build a tranquil setting or perhaps you can come up a grand fountain that can make an impact on guests. Keep in mind, your yard fountain should reflect your own personal tastes as well as your persona.

The backyard fountain also needs to be suitable for your area. You might be seriously considering a bigger water feature for your garden but your yard may be unable to adequately accommodate a really massive item. Basically, a compact lawn needs to have a more compact backyard fountain.

You will discover methods for getting around this, though, at least when it comes to design. Should you be really attracted to more substantial backyard water features then you might want to investigate a fountain that features a significant presence without taking up a lot of space. There are numerous factors to consider in these smaller sized, yet impressive backyard fountains.

Try to look for items that give the optimum aesthetic impression in the smallest amount of space. I opted for corner style backyard fountain for my tiny outdoor area. This particular structure is perfect for smaller sized areas but it also features a very pronounced presence. This particular water feature has unique tiers that offer different levels for the water.

The tiered designs are fantastic because they deliver height and in addition they appear rather large. However, they don't require too much room in spite of their impressive height. It's not necessary to pick a very tall backyard water fountain to occupy a small place. This isn't the only way to creating a impressive statement in a small area.

You may want to consider a backyard fountain that provides motion. What this type of outdoor water feature lacks in stature it will make up for in interest. Incorporating movement to the peaceful sounds of the water is a wonderful way to make an awesome impression. There are several diverse styles that provide enchanting mechanized components.

There is a large consideration to create this type of backyard water fountain. A number of these devices mandate at least one electrical outlet. This can present a tremendous issue for a lot of backyard settings.

To find creative ideas for your backyard fountain, you could check-out a neighborhood aboretum, park or local home improvement store. The online garden shops maintain a bigger variety of water features than local stores can maintain in stock and are a great place to acquire information, installation tips and design options. Installing a backyard fountain is a beautiful addition for any garden to provide a peaceful oasis for you to unwind from a stressful work day.

The garden is very much an under utilized place and many people will not figure out what they can do with it. Having great illumination in place to add to the ambience is one way of decorating the place for those who want to entertain there and getting replacement landscape lights may be a good way to boost the look. solar deck lighting is another way to make sure that power bills are kept to a minimum so that the patio can be used at will no matter what time of day it is.

Of course, the way that a garden is lit usually makes or breaks the ambience and this is where many will go wrong. The wrong kind will take away from the look, but get it right and everyone will want to be there much more often. Even entertaining can be carried on there and what better way to impress people than to have some beautiful corners lit up to show off some lovely parts.

But this is not as easy as it may first seem and this is where the expert will be needed to come in and give an idea of what is possible and what is not. Water features are great places that can be lit to good effect and even garden furniture or statues can be lit in a great way.

But all this must fit in with the layout of the garden and the plants which have already been set out there. Expert gardeners will be able to advice on what plants will suit the climate, as well as how big they will grow and if they will trespass onto to the other plants at all. Indeed, some people will really have no idea when it comes to planting up the garden and this may just spoil the completed look in the end.

Some people like the idea of having winter color, while others will want a flush of color to come in every few months or so. Trees that turn golden in the autumn or flowers that come through at the end of winter are just two ideas that most people will be familiar with. When this has been decided then it is time for the illumination expert to have a hand in the finished look so that the garden can grow.

Of course, it is possible to put in the illumination after the plants have gone in but some do not like to be disturbed after they have put down their roots and should be considered in the overall plan.

Finding ways to go ‘green’ is also on a lot of minds these days particularly when power bills are going astronomical. By putting in sun powered illumination there is an opportunity to use power without worrying about the cost. Power is practically free so the garden will be able to be lit at will and this is where evening entertainment will come to the fore. Whatever is chosen, making sure that quiet corners are left for those who want to read or just hang in nature is a must.

Pond Water Feature
House & garden tours
The third annual Bexley House & Garden Tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The tour will feature 15 homes, including that of sculptor Joan Wobst, whose chess pieces featuring characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass will be on display on a large chessboard in the yard. Tickets cost $20 at the Columbus School for Girls, 56 S. Columbia Ave.

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Pond Water Feature

Most likely you've driven by properties with water gardens and admired the beautiful landscaping. After all, burbling, cascading water and the sight of a beautiful pond, fountain, or waterfall can make any garden more attractive, as long as it's done tastefully and well. You could have even thought about having a water garden put into your own yard until you learned the price. Fortunately, you can build your own water feature and save paying all the labor costs you'd have to pay otherwise. By following a few simple guidelines, you'll be on your way to becoming the envy of all passersby.

You may be saying, “But I'm not very handy that way.” The majority of us aren't, but building a water garden is more dependent on your creative planning and hard work than it is on having advanced building skills. If you can plant a garden, you can build a great water garden in your yard.

Begin by learning your city's guidelines about where you can build your water garden. There are probably regulations dictating where your water feature can be placed as well as its size and depth. Some towns will have safety rules, such as how deep you can build your pond without needing to fence in the area. You will also need to know where pipes, wiring, septic system, or other underground utility features are located, because you obviously can't dig in those areas.

Select your location carefully. Once you understand what you're dealing with, you're free to choose an area where your water garden will be both visible and work properly. If you are only going to be planting water plants in and near your pond, there will be no problem in placing your water garden in an area where there is no shade. However, if you plan to add fish to the pool, you have to locate it where where it will receive some shade during the times of day when temperatures are at their peak.

Actually, the time you take planning and shopping will be apt to take you longer than building the water garden itself. You can get started with nothing more than a small pump, a pond liner, and a shovel. As time goes by, and as you can afford it, you can add to your water feature and make it more complex and appealing so that someday you'll have the water garden you always dreamed about, and you'll have developed it yourself.

In the first millennium, a wealthy Roman family would most likely have had a garden surrounding their home. In it, you might find an open-air palazzo, pergola-style structures dripping with vines and blooming flowers, a dining area with couches for relaxation, water features such as an outdoor water fountain or wall fountain, and walkways that led out into the garden proper, perhaps to a prized rosebush or into an olive grove. These are some of the elements characterizing what is now called classical landscape design, also known as traditional landscape design.

Classical landscape design is a subset of formal landscape design that uses linear, clean lines to develop an uncluttered look. These lines can be drawn with rows of trees and well-trimmed hedges, perfect plantings for the classical landscape design. Or perhaps a seat wall made of regimented terra cotta tiles can do double-duty. Here and there, vines, such as ivy or wisteria, can soften any harshness. In this regard, this style is similar to the Mediterranean landscape design with its Roman and Greek influences.

The History of Classical Landscape Design

Borrowing influences from previous civilizations, classical landscape design solidified in Rome and the surrounding countryside. Villas were built with comfortable courtyards, sparkling with the sound of water, shaded by large trees, fragrant with rosemary and citrus fruits. It was from this setting that we got the term "pleasure garden."

In England of the late 1700s, property owners started looking backwards, past the Baroque period and the Renaissance, to the beginnings of western civilization. There, they found classical landscapes making use of woods, water, indigenous plants and small temples. These elements were incorporated into the gardens of that day, further defining the principles of traditional landscape design.

By the way, when Rome fell to the barbarians, the gardens had become so exquisite that the barbarians chose not to ransack them. Instead they kept them up and learned from them. This development is one of the early examples of how we, as humans, learned that beauty can change the world: it can stop violence. This principle is now being used to good effect in gardens started as rehabilitation projects in prisons, inner cities and ghettos.

Choices in Classical Landscape Design

As with all landscape design, the architecture of the house needs to be considered when using a traditional landscape design. For this style, the home and landscape can be tied together through the subtle placement of a hardscape feature, such as the use of tumbled travertine for the courtyard flooring.

Because of the formal principles inherent in this style, you want to strike a balance when choosing materials between boring blandness and baroque lavishness. Think instead in terms of interesting variety. For instance, well-contained decorative gravel can provide color and texture. Courtyards, pool decking and patios should use materials that are symmetrical, in keeping with the formal style. Stone, terra cotta tiles and flagstone are appropriate choices. Granite benches, concrete grottoes and marble urns add sturdiness and reference antiquities.

Your preference for classical landscape design can also be demonstrated in the plants you choose. Your residential garden will be enhanced by fruit trees and other dwarf trees-or perhaps a stand of cypress, mulberry or fig trees. The cheery colors of marigolds, hyacinths and roses are well suited for the classical landscape design. Herbs planted in terra cotta pots scent the air and provide fresh flavor in your outdoor kitchen cooking.

Hardscapes in Classical Landscape Design

Color, form, line, scale, and texture are your means of expressing classical landscape design preferences just as they are with modern landscape design.

Hardscapes to include:
• Outdoor rooms for outdoor living. These living areas, in effect, make your home bigger. They also serve to create transition areas that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. Plus, they further the notion that a garden is a place of rejuvenation. In particular, outdoor kitchens are important to the traditional landscape design.

• Outdoor water fountains. If you remember your ancient world history classes, you know that the Romans perfected the aqueduct. So water is prized within classical landscape design and nothing showcases it like a picture-perfect outdoor water fountain. Look for fountains in formal, Romanesque, Italianate, Mediterranean and rustic styles. Those made of tile, cast stone, cast iron and concrete work particularly well with this style.

• Swimming pools. When placed within a classical landscape design, the shape of your swimming pool should tend towards basic geometric shapes like rectangles and ovals. Thus, the shape of the pool frames the water and turns it into a classical design element of the landscape. It is often efficient to combine the pool with an outdoor water fountain to eliminate some maintenance redundancies.

• Landscape lighting. Landscape lighting is another important element of traditional landscape design as it creates ambiance and lets you enjoy the outdoors, night and day.

Classical Landscape Design: A Houston Setting

"We implemented a classical landscape design for one of our Houston clients, whose home was French Country. For the garden, we chose a design that closely resembles a famous garden in Florence," says Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds. "The landscape design makes good use of gravel and limestone, which looks very natural in a Houston garden. And we planted boxwoods, which we trim and shape regularly as part of a well-thought-out residential landscape maintenance plan. It is a lovely and relaxing space."

There may be a time when you're attempting to landscape your yard that you run into a brick wall as far as creativeness goes. Maybe there's an area of your property that wishes something, but you can't decide what, as an example. These are times when it's good to stop and step back and take a look at what others have created which may stimulate your own creativity. In coming up with a water feature for your yard, you should analyze different types of water gardens that have been developed over the years in order to find elements that you can update and work into your own design. One of the searches you can do to find inspiration is to look at footage of some of the lovely Italian water gardens, some of which have brightened the landscape for decades.

One of the most famous water gardens is Longwood which was created in Pennsylvania by Pierre du Pont, a man who actually really liked to design with water. Naturally, you aren't going to try and copy his garden in your own yard, unless you have a lot of additional space, because Longwood covers 1,050 acres, but you can find concepts while looking into the many elements that were incorporated into Longwood. Have a look at the utilization of fountains, sculptures, and topiary which turned this normal lawn into a showplace. You can pay attention to the lavish use of flowers to create carpets of color and see how they were woven into the final design of the property. On the Longwood website you can view pictures of layout and find ideas for such features as a kids's water garden and a forest garden of local plants.

Spend some time looking at the photo of the Italian water garden at Thanksgiving Point on the web. Although you doubtless can't build anything this elaborate, you can still get an idea about what a chain reaction fountain can be and the employment of generous arrays of flowers surrounding it. Another example of a sunken Italian water garden is Higham garden, avery formal, scrupulously maintained garden with sternly clipped hedges and stone walkways.

Any time your creativity stop flowing while you're building a water feature in your own back yard, you can turn to web resources to get the concepts rolling again. Although these old Italian water gardens are much more formal and lavish than what we need for personal water gardens at our homes, they can still provide us with the muse we need to keep ourselves pumped up about the project.

Once you have a garden pond, you're probably going to need to build a waterfall in it. After all, what looks any pleasanter than cascades of sparkling water falling over the rocks or sounds any more natural? As well as looking and sounding beautiful, a waterfall is also very functional in circulating water and allowing it to oxygenate which enables your fish to respire well. Although you could be thinking that your yard is too flat to support a waterfall feature, you'll find that it's simple enough to build one yourself, and the waterfall you create will seriously add to the atmosphere you've developed in your yard.

While creating a stream will only need a drop of 1" per ten feet, you will need considerably more drop for a waterfall. If you have additional soil left from digging your pond, you can use it to create a natural landscape that has fall. By all means, don't just pile the mud in an ugly hump. Level and mix the soil into gradual dips and falls. If you're fortunate enough to have a yard with natural slopes, you can exploit it by building a collection of pools with waterfalls flowing into each one of them them. If you do this, take care that the top pond holds the least water and the lowest pond holds the most. If you don't have the natural fall, you might wish to purchase a fiberglass insert that will mold your landscape for you.

Be certain to build your waterfall with sides that are high enough to keep your water from splashing out. You will also must line the sides so that the water doesn't just soak away into the ground. When you build a waterfall you will create a pumping system to recycle water back up to the top of your falls. While some of your water will evaporate as you might expect, you can slow the decrease in water flow by taking these preventive measures. If you can afford to have water piped to your water garden, this won't be an issue for you. Otherwise, you need to be prepared to add water to your pond on at least a weekly basis. Use rocks to keep your liners in place and to provide a natural-looking setting for your water garden.

There is plenty of planning that goes into building a great waterfall, but if you use the techniques and methods you'll find on the Internet, you can successfully add a waterfall to your water garden and make your yard the showplace of the neighborhood.