Pond Features Add Serenity

When Dan Berger put a pond in his back yard about three years ago, even he was surprised by some of the changes it made in his life.

"It's one of the smartest things I've ever done," says the Bay Area landscaper whose company LandPlan Landscaping in Pleasanton installs at least a dozen back-yard ponds every year. Berger is a member of the California Landscape Contractors Association whose work has been featured numerous times on HGTV's "Landscape Smart." Television show. "People come over to look at the pond, and they want it," Berger says. "It's just stunning." In fact, Berger jokes, the pond looks so natural and so inviting that there have been times when he's been tempted to pull out his fishing pole.

Instead, he finds other reasons to be out and about among the fish, frogs, water lilies and birds he shelters in his secluded oasis. Maintenance chores are way down on the list. "Over the entire year, maintenance averages out to about one hour a week," Berger says. In fact, thanks to recent innovations in pond construction and pump and skimmer systems, more homeowners than ever are staking out a little piece of serenity for themselves. "I would say that the dawn of the modern pond age started about five years ago," Berger says explaining that the big breakthrough came when a reliable system for sustaining a pond's biological balance was developed. "It took ponds from poured concrete dishes to liner-types that were designed with rocks and plants and fish," Berger says.

As a result, the subject of a water feature or back yard pond springs up in virtually every preliminary design meeting Berger attends.

Steve Lambert, CLCA member and owner of Garden Lights Landscape of Orinda, is as adept at listing the ways water features add serenity and drama to a landscape as his company is at installing them — at last count, about 30 a year. But, there's one aspect Lambert is passionate about-the reflective quality of water in the garden. "I've been interested in lighting since college," says the contractor. "If you think of the pond as a big reflective surface, you can light the plant material and use the pond to bounce the light. To me, it seems a shame to have this beautiful feature in the back yard and not have the right lighting."

When lighted properly, a water feature can provide enjoyment long after sunset. "A lot of people don't realize a good lighting system until they see it," Lambert says. "When I show them what we can do, they're amazed."

Steve Lambert's Top Five Plants for Pondscapes:

  • The Queen Palm:for a tropical look.
  • Weeping Birch: A graceful deciduous tree that grows 8 to 10 feet tall.
  • Red Twig Dogwood: Grows 8 to 10 feet tall with salmon-colored branches in winter, yellow leaves in the fall and white flowers in the spring.
  • Blue Clock plant: A vine with brilliant blue flowers.
  • Japanese Forest Grass: A deciduous variegated grass ideal for pond edges.

Thinking about adding a pond to your landscape? Here are some guidelines from the California Landscape Contractors Association.

  • In a properly designed and installed pond, water moves from the waterfall to a skimmer across the pond. The movement virtually eliminates worries about stagnant water or mosquitoes.
  • The larger the pond, the easier it is to sustain its biological balance. A pond about 11 feet by 16 feet is ideal, but if you're short on space you can downsize to 8 feet by 8 feet or even 4 feet by 6 feet.
  • Still think your back yard is too small? Sometimes the tighter the quarters, the bigger the pond looks.
  • An 8 by 8-foot pond can cost as little as $2,500. An 11x16' can range from $5,000-8,000 (not including fish or plants).
  • Afraid of wildlife or neighborhood cats devouring your fish? Foil raccoons, opossums and herons with a vertical drop of about 2 feet at the pond edge. Most common predators prefer to wade into a pond. If you give fish rocks or even clay roof tiles to hide under, they can dive out of danger and even the craftiest of cats will soon tire of trying to catch them.
  • If you're a novice, stock your pond with Shubunkins, colorful goldfish that cost from $6-10. Koi can prove an expensive lesson for beginners. "To some people, having koi and other fish is the most important aspect of having a water feature," Stewart says. "Having fish requires a little more maintenance, but then, to some people, it's well worth it. I have a client who spends 15 to 30 minutes a week on Saturday backwashing his filter and keeping the water healthy for his fish — about 12 pretty good size koi. His pond is about 20-feet long by 15-feet wide (at the bottom pond where the fish live) and there's even a good size waterfall. And he really enjoys being out there."
  • If an ornamental fountain is more your style, pick the container of your choice, show it to your contractor and let him or her run with the idea. One of Steve Lambert's recent creation is made of limestone with a plaster/gunite insert, green glass tile, and a sun medallion. One of Dan Berger's was constructed from clay sewer pipes.
  • The newest look in fountains is invisible. Many of today's ornamental fountains are configured so water virtually "disappears" into a hidden reservoir. The look is great and the fountains are easy to keep clean because there's no debris to scoop out.
  • If space is really tight, think about having a water feature built right onto the garden wall. Contractors can build a frame, cover it with tile or a rock veneer, direct the water flow into a trough or route it into a reservoir. Small wall fountains can start around $2,000 and range up to $15,000 or more, depending on materials used. "Water Walls" as they're sometimes called, can also be installed indoors.
  • Once you've made your decision to add a water feature, start scanning books and magazines for ideas. Think about how you will use the pond ... as a public space, a centerpiece guests can gather around, or a private, secluded retreat for your family.

— Joan Waters