Nothing says backyard luxury like an attractive water feature! Adding a pond to your backyard can take your landscape design game to new heights. But if you want to add to the ambiance of your pond and highlight your gorgeous water feature, there are a few design elements that will help you kick it up a notch. Here are seven design ideas to turn your backyard pond into an absolute oasis.
1. Plants
When you are brainstorming pond design ideas, foliage is one of the first things we recommend considering. Backyard ponds are a feature that should blend seamlessly with the rest of your landscape design efforts, so you want it to feel natural. Adding plants is the best way to do that, but you need to be sure that they will be able to thrive in or around a pond environment.
Canna lilies and irises, for example, are designed to grow in muddy, swampy areas, so they are the perfect choice if you need some flowers to help stabilize the banks of your pond. You can also plant little beauties like water lilies in the shallow areas of your pond or plant them in pots and submerge them in your pond.
2. Fish
Fish add color and character to any backyard pond. While you don’t need to keep fish in your pond, it sure is fun—especially if you’ve got little ones! You can make feeding your fish a family activity or just sit next to your beautiful water feature and watch the fish cruise around. Koi don’t need a heater here in South Florida, even in the winter months, but if you plan to add tropical fish like African Cichlids to your large pond, you will need a heater for winter cold snaps.
3. Lighting
Lighting is a subtle yet impactful way to add ambiance to your backyard, and what better feature to draw attention to than your gorgeous pond? It is best to design and install pond lighting based on where you (or your visitors) will most likely enjoy it. If you have a waterfall, highlighting it with a spotlight or backlight looks gorgeous as well! However, if you decide to bring some fish friends home, be sure not to use too much lighting as it can throw off their natural rhythms.
4. Hardscaping
Now, this is where a professional landscape designer can save the day. If you intend to have long-lasting hardscaping surrounding your pond, we highly recommend bringing in a professional. Whether you are hoping to create a modern vibe or make it feel like you’re in the middle of the woods, they will be able to help bring your pond dream to life!
5. Seating
What better way to enjoy your beautiful backyard pond than setting up some comfy, classy seating nearby? We love the idea of mixing the elements by creating a stone patio where you can set up a small fire pit with comfy lounge chairs around it. If you’ve settled on more of a country vibe, a porch swing might be a lovely place to hang out and enjoy relaxing next to your water feature.
6. Waterfall or Fountain
One way to up-level your pond game is by adding a waterfall along the edge or a fountain in the middle. There is just something about the sound of water falling that brings an extra sense of peace to an outdoor space. If you hope to add either a waterfall or a fountain to your pond, there are plenty of options. Both will require a pump, and a fountain will be a little easier than a waterfall to install on your own.
7. Bridge
Take whimsy in your garden to the next level by installing a bridge over your pond! If your pond is relatively large, you could even include a small bench in the middle of it to admire your gorgeous landscape and water feature from the very center. You can even extend your pond to create a small river through your property and have a bridge connecting two separate hangout spaces in your backyard. It depends on the amount of space you have and what you are willing to invest in this aspect of your landscape design.
There are truly so many pond design ideas we love for Fort Lauderdale area gardens! If you’re still feeling a little bit stumped about what to do with your pond or need a hand installing it, feel free to stop by the garden center! We’d be happy to help.