Do you have a large, open area on your property? Whether it’s a residential or commercial property, you are probably wondering how to make the most of the space.
Building a pond can be one of the best ways to improve the appearance of the yard, making it enjoyable for you and anyone else who is passing by. But in order to have a healthy, beautiful, eye-catching pond, you’ll need to outfit it with a pond water feature.
There are different types of water features for ponds that you can install, from fountains to waterfalls. Regardless of which type you choose, the benefits of a pond water feature are super important.
Keep reading to learn why you need a water feature for pond health and beautification.
1. Eye-Catching Design
First and foremost, pond water features are beautiful. They are fun to look at. That’s why outdoor restaurant seating near water fountains or ponds is so popular.
People just want to be near ponds, preferably with a waterfall or fountain. Even if you can’t see it, you can hear it. The sound of flowing or running water is music to people’s ears.
When you have a water feature in your pond, you’ll find yourself wanting to sit outside near the pond as often as possible. It will become your favorite place to drink coffee in the morning and wine in the evening.
It also creates a fun place to entertain. So if you have family or friends over for dinner, an outdoor table with a view of the pond will sure be a hit. Your friends will be asking when they can come over again.
2. Helps to Relax and Relieve Stress
Water is vital for both our physical and mental health. Many studies have been done that show that being in or near water can make you a happier and healthier person.
Being near water, especially if you can see it and hear it, thanks to a water feature, helps us relax. It calms our minds and helps us feel at peace. It is the perfect antidote to a stress-filled, busy lifestyle that can so easily burn us out.
It’s the same reason why most people like to take vacations near the water. Whether it’s a lake, a river, or the ocean, we have the innate desire to be near water as much as possible
Installing a pond with a water feature at home is one of the best ways to improve your ability to relax each and every day. Sitting out by your pond can also boost creativity, critical-thinking skills, and encourage more play, which is great for you and the kids.
3. Provides a Healthy Habitat for Fish
One of the best parts about having a pond, whether at home or on your commercial property, is that it can be stocked with fish. Fish are incredibly fun to watch, as they spend a lot of time eating bugs off the surface.
Plus, if the pond is large enough, you can pull out the fishing rods and spend a little bit of time fishing each day. Pond fishing is a great way to get little kids into fishing.
When they are exposed to the fun and excitement of fishing at a young age, they are more likely to develop healthy, outdoor-focused hobbies. These will promote a healthier lifestyle both now, and in the years to come. Fishing gets them out into nature and away from screens.
The best pond fountains help to aerate the water of the pond. This means adding oxygen into the water, which is vital for fish. Oxygen will also allow plant life to thrive at the bottom, which is important for fish habitat.
Water features also mix up the water, helping to create an even temperature from top to bottom. This allows the fish to utilize the entire pond, rather than sticking to one area in the water column.
4. A Pond Water Feature can Reduce Mosquito Populations
Having a pond without a water feature is a recipe for frustration and disaster. Without a water feature, your pond becomes still water. And if you didn’t know, standing water is the breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes lay eggs on the surface of still water. So if your pond is currently still on the surface, you’re in for a rough summer. Instead of spending more time outside, you’ll spend far less to avoid getting bitten.
But with a water feature, the surface of your pond will always be moving. As a result, mosquitoes won’t be able to lay eggs here and will move on and find a different location to breed.
5. Prevents Muck and Bad Odors
Have you ever walked past a stagnant pond out in the woods? These usually occur after heavy rainfall, where water accumulates and gets stuck.
This still water starts to smell really bad after a while. Because there isn’t any movement in the water, gases, such as hydrogen sulfide build up on the bottom of the pond or puddles, releasing a terrible odor.
But adding a water feature to your pond prevents this from happening. Water features move oxygenated water from the surface down to the bottom, preventing the buildup of this gas. No more odors.
The movement and aeration of the water also prevent algae from growing on the surface of the water. Algae need certain nutrients and lots of sunlight in order to grow quickly. But if the water is always moving, it won’t have a chance to form or grow.
6. Increase Water Quality
By aerating and mixing the water on a constant basis, the overall quality of water will improve in your pond. Adding a pond water feature will help to replicate the natural cycle of water found in healthy rivers, lakes, and streams.
With water features, your pond will be cleaner, healthier, better-smelling, more pleasing to look at, and even more enjoyable to jump into from time to time.
7. Reduces Sediment Accumulation
Bodies of water are filled with organic waste. That can be from bugs, plants, fish, and other forms of organic matter blown in by the wind.
Without a water feature, the poorly oxygenated water will decompose this matter much slower. This leads to a buildup of mushy, organic matter on the bottom of the pond. As a result, the water will be murky, smelly, and the bottom will be quite unpleasant to walk on.
But aerating the water with a foundation or waterfall can add in plenty of oxygen, encouraging a much faster decomposition.
8. Increase Property Value
Lastly, adding a water feature to your pond can improve property values. A large, standing body of water can initially be viewed as a liability. But with a water feature, this liability immediately turns into an asset.
Homebuyers would love to have a pond in their yard if it’s already outfitted with an effective water feature. So, not only will adding a water feature improve the value of your property, but it can cause it to sell much faster, too.
Water Feature Buying Tips
If you are ready to invest in a water feature for your pond, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, there are different features to choose from.
Smaller ponds can often receive adequate aeration from waterfalls. However, these are usually only possible when planning the water at the time of designing and installing the pond. It’s possible, but a bit more difficult, to retroactively build a waterfall.
For existing ponds, the best option is to add a water fountain. These pull colder, less-oxygenated water from the bottom of the pond and spray it up into the air. This is super effective at aerating and mixing the water of your pond.
Larger ponds would benefit from multiple fountains to prevent dead spots in the pond. However, if you only want one fountain, you can opt for pond bubblers.
These can be placed on the bottom of your pond, on the outskirts where your central fountain can’t reach. They create streams of bubbles, adding oxygen to the pond from the bottom.
If you have a smaller pond in your yard, it might be easy enough to choose and install a water feature yourself. However, for larger ponds, or those with more complex needs or concerns, inviting the expertise of a pond specialist is a good idea.
They’ll be able to determine your water quality and recommend the best feature for your specific pond and geographic area. It’s an investment, but one that will greatly pay off in the long run.
Don’t Settle for a Mucky Pond
If you want to prevent your pond from becoming a foul-smelling, mosquito-breeding, algae-covered pile of muck, you need to add a pond water feature. Doing this ensures your pond is a fresh, healthy habitat for fish and plants.
It keeps the water clean, and it creates a beautiful, relaxing feature in your yard. Don’t wait, install a water feature today.
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