Adding Fountains to Your Yard

Fountains, ponds, or any water feature is a great addition to any yard and can be a great relaxation feature or eye catcher. When deciding where to put a water feature, it is good to keep a few things in mind. First, decide where in your yard you enjoy most. Second, decide what type of water feature is best suited for the area.

Fountains
Fountains come in many different designs and styles. When choosing one, make sure it is something that you will enjoy in the years to come. Don't just settle for what is on clearance, because more often than not, you will decide the following year that it is not what you pictured, and you will spend more money to redo the project! You can find fountains, large and small, all over the Internet. If you are looking for cheap, smaller fountains. Check out www.collectionsetc.com . These are best suited for an area that you have defined as an outdoor room, an area with tables and chairs, flowers, and is used primarily for relaxing.

Larger fountains can also be used in gardens and flowerbeds. These fountains can be more expensive and time consuming to install, but add a great focal point to a garden. I like the fountains that are installed into a hole. This way the fountain is more level with the garden, and the flowers can grow around it to make it look like a natural fixture. One good idea is to install a fountain in the flowerbed underneath your window. Then in the summer you can crack the window and fall asleep to the sound of the water. If there is not one, you can always create one. Or if you cannot dig into the ground to create one, place potted plants and a fountain fixture. For apartments, a small indoor fountain with indoor potted plants can be placed by the window to create the same effect.

There are also fountains that can be mounted to walls, or stood up by a fence line. These can add more character and interest to a boring fence. When deciding where to install one of these, keep in mind any children or pets in your home. Children could get hurt by a falling fountain, and pets may destroy cords and other accessories, including the fountain!

Ponds
Adding a pond to a backyard can create a focal point to a backyard and can also add a bit more serenity. When deciding if a pond is right, it is important to keep the safety of children and other in mind. Ponds should be added to an area with abundant plant life, or an area which you want to add plants and flowers to. Ponds can look good by themselves, but look amazing with plants, flowers and trees surrounding them.

You can purchase a pond kit at many outdoor stores, or you can just do it yourself. From experience, I prefer the latter. By purchasing a pump, and a flexible liner, you can determine the shape of the pond to fit your existing landscaping. Also by either purchasing rocks from the store, or a permit to gather your own, you can create waterfalls and other interesting aspects to customize your pond.

Fish can also be a great addition to any pond. If you live in areas were the weather changes, you may want to purchase cheap fish, or invest in a underwater heater for the pond to create an area which does not freeze and the fish can then hibernate. Do be aware that ponds can attract other animals, such as snakes and cats, to your yard. Also, many dogs enjoy ponds as a way to cool off in the summer heat.

When choosing a water feature for a yard, pick what you like. There are no rules on when, where and how many fountains or ponds you can have. It is your yard, do what you like. After all, you are the one who will benefit from the work.