A residential waterfall and pond is almost certainly the most captivating feature in a residential yard. People are drawn to them – it’s the appeal of the water, the sounds, the little birds and dragonflies that visit, and the beauty of the reflections, splashes, and surrounding plantings – all found in one feature. Adults and children both love them……just for different reasons!
Shades of Green Landscaping specializes in custom designing waterfalls and ponds that will be unique to your yard. It may be small, simple, large, have multiple falls, a small island, places to touch the water, do a little wading, or just watch and enjoy. It can have subtle features, with just the suggestion of water, or it may be quite dramatic with rushing water, and long drops …..that is up to you. It may have just the falls and then ‘disappear’ into a basin of pebbles and rocks.
Shades of Green Landscaping will visit your site, and discuss the type of waterfall/pond you would like (and be best for your lifestyle, budget, and maintenance expectations). We will make various suggestions, mention possibilities, and draw sketches to see your reaction, and then based on your site and qualities you have requested, design a feature that includes your vision – including perhaps a bridge, an area near the top to view from a higher perspective, a place to feed koi, low sitting rocks for dipping your toes, or a hammock nearby.
Larger Waterfall and Pond Project
This is a very large residential waterfall and koi pond – 125′ long with a 25′ vertical total drop in elevation. It has dramatic vertical drops, places where the water splits around rocks and ‘islands’, various levels of falls dropping from the same pool, cascades that make white water and a lovely sound, several shallow, flat pools with adjacent level areas for viewing, a unique custom bridge that crosses it and connects the main lawn area to a fire pit and seating area, and finally, a 3′ plunge into a large koi pond.
There is a flagstone patio by the pond and the clients can feed the koi and view the entire length of the feature. Even though the client has a large back yard, this definitely commands the attention!
More Waterfalls and Ponds
Double Waterfall – one side cascades water to the pond in descending ripples; the other waterfall is a series of longer vertical drops – great sound harmony!
Waterfall appears to be coming from much higher up on the steep hill behind the house; it actually starts just behind a n ornamental evergreen tree. A stream goes from the base of the falls over to the patio and gazebo, ending in a small pond next to the patio …. then gets pumped back up to the start of the falls.
A Pondless Waterfall built on a slope of client’s back yard. It provides a lovely view from the house and patio, is easy-to-maintain, and is a great use of the space compared to mowing on too steep a slope.
The view from the living room has a great view of this waterfall and koi pond. Combined with the patio, there is very little lawn to mow, just a small patch on the other side of the patio for their dog. The curved bridge connects the patio to the gate.
This small water feature is visible from the small patio as well as the kitchen and breakfast nook. It is built into a small retaining wall.
Sunset through the foliage that surrounds this waterfall built in the woods in clients’ back yard. Perfect place to enjoy the falls and great summer sunsets from the bench at the base of the falls.
Built on the steep slope of the client’s side yard which is elevated significantly from the street, this terraced waterfall is enjoyed from the main patio, also on the side yard. As the Douglas Fir trees grow, they will provide privacy from the adjacent neighbors.
Newly installed, the plantings will grow to make the area lush.
Using boulders from the site excavation (rather than the usual basalt or granite), this low waterfall and shallow pond system provides great place for frogs and small fish to live among the water grasses. The overflow is directed into the nearby wetlands.
The back deck was cut in a circular shape that matches the outline of the pond. You can sit on the deck and dip your toes into the water.
The flat site was raised significantly to create this waterfall and small pond the wraps partially around the paver patio.
This Des Moines home has a large, irregularly shaped pond with Nw and Asian type plantings surrounding it. Rather than a waterfall to provide circulation, there is a small bubbler fountain.
The waterfall courses through the hostas and fir trees to a pond next to a patio at the base, about 10′ lower than this spot.
A Pondless Waterfall built into the woods behind client’s home in back yard. This is the view from the Master bedroom, very close to the falls. They mainly wanted the sounds the falls makes rather than seeing the water….but it is beautiful too, especially when lit at night. Turning the pump gph up would increase the water flow over the falls dramatically if seeing the water was important.
Very natural looking waterfall set between large boulders and drops into a small pond. At night, the lighting is spectacular!
A pagoda set net the short waterfall gives an Asian flair to this area of the garden surrounded by dogwood, Japanese Maple and Korean Ferns.
Newly installed double waterfall and pond has a 15′ drop and is 80′ long. There is a stone bridge that crosses the stream to a fire pit area and a gazebo to the left. The pond is 35′ long x 12′ wide, soon to be occupied by lots of koi and waterlilies.