Designing an Ideal Pond for Your Property’s Size and Shape
Whether your property is large and expansive — or no bigger than a postage stamp — most yards can accommodate some type of pond.
As you’ll see from examples we’re highlighting, ponds come in many sizes, shapes, and depths, and sometimes these water features may not be classified as ponds at all.
“When it comes to a water feature’s location on a property, we recommend installing it where it can be enjoyed from a patio or deck, bedroom, or kitchen,” says Dave Stockwell, owner of Deck and Patio.”
Larger Properties
In our first showcased Deck and Patio pond project (below), the clients also wanted a new deck. It was ideal being able to design both the pond and deck together for a truly integrated result.
Ponds, Decks, and Landscaping
We designed the above deck with a viewing platform. From there, the clients can take in the whole pond. It’s also an inviting spot for dining with family or friends. And the robust landscaping — rich with aquatic and other plantings — adds to the ambience.
You can also see that we added large stepping stones for walking across the pond to other areas of the water feature.
“That path across provides the clients with what they were hoping for — an escape to a private place for relaxing and meditating. Of course you can always design your pond further away from the house for even more privacy,” says Dave.
Perfectly Placed Pond
Deck and Patio located this pond (above) in view of the home’s back patio and pool area, as well as from the house, for maximum enjoyment throughout the day.
Some of the plantings used are Cone flowers, Spirea Anthony Waters and Coreopsis, providing bright pops of color, along with deep green ground cover and tall grasses.
As you will see from all our ponds, part of what makes these water features so spectacular — and so relaxing — is their landscaping. Landscaping a pond requires knowledge of not just soil and sun but how each planting is affected by water and moisture.
Total Backyard Sanctuary
When constructing this backyard sanctuary, complete with koi pond, we built an Iron Woods Ipe deck (not shown); the bridge that crosses the pond is also made of Ipe — one of the strongest woods in the world; it is painted white to complement the clients’ existing backyard conservatory.
The whole project earned Deck and Patio both a NESPA and APSP Gold award.
Ponds With Additional Waterfalls
Additional Pond Waterfall
For this water feature, the homeowners wanted the best of both worlds: an additional waterfall located near the house and a glorious private pond-escape further away on the property.
Deck and Patio set the extra waterfall (left) at the top of a slope facing the clients’ indoor kitchen.
“From inside their home the family can enjoy the sights and sounds of this waterfall. A stream on its right flows down through five separate cascades into the lower, and more private pond area — a beautiful oasis for stillness and quiet,” says Dave.
Main Pond:
This photo is the main pond of the additional waterfall above which was located near their destination-pool recreation area in another part of their property.
When Property Space Is Smaller
Fitting Ponds Into Tight Spaces
When space is at a premium (and even when it’s not), Deck and Patio can help clients find ways to creatively add a pond.
The above photo showcases a Trex deck with two handsome “platform” staircases; we installed a beautiful micro pond and waterfall in and around the staircases in what was a former planting bed.
“Every time they enter or leave the house they enjoy the sounds and sights of a delightful pond,” says Dave. “So space is never an issue at all.”
Waterfalls Without The Pond
Pondless Waterfall/Photo: Courtesy of Aquascape Inc.
When children are very young, clients often opt for a “pondless” waterfall, in lieu of a pond.
With these water features, river rock allows flowing water from a waterfall to seep down into the ground where a reservoir captures the water and recirculates it.
“Of course, having a pondless waterfall does not mean that it can’t be adorned with robust plantings, especially when you consider that you’ve not had the added expense of any extra labor and materials required in creating a pond,” says Dave.
Pondless Waterfalls
A pondless system, as show in this Deck and Patio project, recirculates the water from the stream and waterfall via an underground reservoir.
It’s ideal for those who want to enjoy the beauty of a waterfall without the pond. We wanted it to appear as if the water is disappearing into the gravel.
We used dense and durable evergreens such as Procumbent Juniper that are very low maintenance and spread nicely. For color we used such delights as Begonias, Coleus, and flowering plants like Astilbe.
As you can see from these projects above, size and style depends on what meets the needs of each specific client. “Our ponds are never cookie-cutter,” says Dave. “The design and installation location always stems from our meetings with clients and visits to their properties.”
