Hot Landscape Trend: Backyard Water Features

Dewey and Brenda Willis, relax by the pond in their backyard with their dogs Jazmin and Holly. (Photo by Leilani Hu, Sacramento Bee.)

Waterfalls are extremely popular these days, according to landscape architects and contractors. They can be constructed of natural or artificial rock and some, such as Kenrow's water feature, are unions of both.

Incorporated into existing and new pools, waterfalls often increase a home's value. As a spectacular stand-alone feature, a waterfall often feeds a pond, which can be stocked with fish, aquatic plants or both. The Atlanta-based National Pond Society estimates there are about 9 million homeowners who are pond hobbyists in this country.

"There's something about water," says Michael Moss of Designing Concepts Landscaping Co. in Sacramento, Calif. "It's always changing, splashing and moving around. But at the same time, it's consistent. Sort of a paradox."

Moss says the demand for backyard water features has "exploded" in the past four years. Most newer, in-ground swimming pools have a waterfall and many older pools have been upgraded with one. Interest in water gardening and water features is red-hot nationally, says the National Garden Burea, which predicts the trend will continue far into this decade.

Sunlight plays off the water and plant life at the Willis home. Massive boulders and tiny rocks influence the sound and path of water. (Photo by Leilani Hu, Sacramento Bee.)

"From what I've observed, people just love to come home and relax by water," says Moss. "Some can't afford swimming pools, but they want the sound of water. They want to stick their feet in it, sip a glass of wine. It's hard to be uptight when you're looking at a waterfall."

Water features are enjoying boom years now, but Sacramento landscape architect Brent Thrams says water is an age-old favorite in landscapes.

"This has been going on for hundreds and thousands of years," says Thrams, who operates Acanthus, a Sacramento landscape architecture, architectural and urban design company. "Water has been considered sacred and fundamental for gardens for at least a thousand years and by many cultures. It's one of the three sacred elements we use in gardens — water, stone and plant."

Thrams says water is both spiritual and physical, possessing a refreshing character and a cleansing element. "Think about sitting by a high mountain stream and staring into and listening to the moving water," he says. "It's like staring into fire. It will captivate and hold you. It transfers you out of everyday life."

The dedicated, low-maintenance gardener prefers just water and its mesmerizing qualities. But whether you go for fish, plants or plain H2O, you'll need the basics to build a water feature — rubber liner, pump and filter and rocks. A small, starter pond kit will cost about $200-$500 and pump about 300 gallons a minute. Larger kits start at about $750 and, depending on what you want, can cost several thousand dollars.

Triple-level waterfall built into the backyard retaining walls with flower beds at Dave Kenrow's home. (Photo courtesy of Owen Brewer, Sacramento Bee. )

Or you can have a water feature designed by a landscape architect and built by a contractor who specializes in such things.

Randy Ximenez of Ximenez Waterfalls Experts in Rancho Cordova, Calif., sells and installs a variety of waterfalls and ponds. After more than 25 years and four generations of experience in building waterfalls, Ximenez says the majority of jobs are priced in the $2,500-$5,000 range.

"There's an incredible market in that price range," he says. "These are people who want peace and tranquillity in their lives. They want to enjoy the sound of water."

Ximenez says water features have become popular for two reasons: People seem to have more disposable income and there's more stress in their lives. Only 20 percent of his customers want to deal with fish.

Kenrow sits atop his triple-level waterfall in his backyard. The water is pumped by a swimming pool pump. (Photo courtesy of Owen Brewer, Sacramento Bee.)

Waterfalls and ponds can be constructed from more reasonably priced artificial rock or with more costly natural rock. Artificial rock, made from compressed foam "rocks," are set with acrylic cement and are much less labor intensive. That makes them about 50 percent cheaper than natural rock.

A water feature with artificial rock can be built and ready to use in a day or two, while natural rock structures can take a week or more, depending on the scope of the project. Ximenez' artificial rock structures are guaranteed for five years. They may need to be touched up thereafter, depending on how they're maintained.

By Nature's Design, a company in Citrus Heights, Calif., casts its own "rocks" from a sand-fiber base. It's called a caststone component building system, which can create waterfalls and rock outcroppings on pools, spas and ponds. "About 95 percent of our jobs are backyard waterfalls with ponds," says co-owner Mike Martin. "Customers want the looks and the sounds. Sometimes they want a lot of water sound to help drown out traffic noise. Some want fish; some don't."

A waterfall added to a swimming pool starts at about $2,500, while a stand-alone waterfall starts at $3,000. Thrams dug an old laundry room basin into his own back yard, bought a $100 pumping system, added plants and is happy with the results.

"You don't have to go off the edge when it comes to cost," he says. "You can create white noise to drown out your neighbor's air conditioner or road noise. White noise can be a very inexpensive thing to accomplish."