7 Benefits of Adding Water Features to Your Landscaping
Ask anyone who has travelled to Rome if they threw a coin into Trevi Fountain, and the answer will no doubt be a resounding yes. Like the famed Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas, it is a centerpoint of any vacation to be able to see these gorgeous water features. Who wouldn’t want to be able to view such beauty on a daily basis? At Peer Landscaping we love creating eye-catching water features for our Southwest Florida clients. While obviously water features create gorgeous curb appeal, but there are so many other benefits to them, including all kinds of health benefits. Let us tell you all about those benefits, as well as the diverse ways we can incorporate a water feature into your landscape.
Water features make you feel better
Flowing water generates negatively charged ions. Why are we telling you about ions, you ask? Because negative ions are good for your health and have been shown to decrease depression, improve your mood, and improve your energy overall. Here’s how they do that. Negative ions help increase the blood flow to your brain, which improves your alertness and mental energy. They have even been called the “vitamins of the air” because they have significant health benefits. The energy of flowing or falling water splits neutral particles in the air. This action frees up electrons to attach to other air molecules, resulting in negative ions. If this sounds a bit woo woo, rest assured it’s not. You can find lots of peer-reviewed studies that show the link between mood and the presence of negative ions.
Relaxation and rejuvenation
Even if you don’t really understand the power of negative ions, water has many emotional health benefits. If you’ve ever sat and meditated besides a bubbling brook, you know that flowing water improves your mental state and increases focus and concentration. Many Zen gardens have water features. Flowing water serves as white noise, masking unwelcomed noises from loud neighbors, busy streets, and barking dogs. By blocking out other sounds, white noise allows you to shut out the rest of the world to help you relax and focus. So having a lovely water feature is a great way to reduce stress and free your mind to just let go for a while.
Increase your home’s curb appeal
Looking for a way to make your property stand out from other homes on your block? At Peer Landscaping, we have plenty of ideas, and water features are a sure-fire way to make your home the envy of your neighborhood. Water features elevate the look of your home, giving it pizzaz. Your home will be the one all the neighbors want to emulate (feel free to refer us to them. . . we promise not to duplicate your gorgeous design.) A focal feature like a pond or water wall will also draw in buyers when it’s time to sell. Potential buyers will feel more relaxed in the serene, outdoor oasis you’ve created and want to stick around for good.
Enjoy low maintenance living
Sometimes when we introduce the idea of adding a water feature to someone’s landscaping project, they worry about it being difficult to maintain. But to be honest, nothing is further from the truth. A professionally installed water feature can be simpler to care for and operate than your pool. Once we install it, the water feature needs water and some chemicals from time to time, but we always walk our clients through the process, so they are comfortable with the upkeep. And unlike a swimming pool the utility costs to run the water feature are easy on the bank account.
Breathe cleaner air
Let’s talk about those negative ions again, because having a water feature cleans your air. Those negative ions also attract dust particles and allergens and attach themselves to them. Then the ion becomes heavy and sinks to the ground, which means you won’t have to breathe in the dust and pollen. That means your water feature is a highly effective air purification system!
Cool off your yard
We’ve grown up in Southwest Florida our whole lives, so we know exactly how hot it is here, especially during the summer months! A water feature in your yard can cool down the ambient temperature by 20° to 25° Fahrenheit, that way you can beat the heat naturally. You’ll find you spend more time enjoying your gorgeously landscaped outdoor space, which is a win-win scenario.
Attract local wildlife
Here in Southwest Florida, we have some really gorgeous tropical birds. Water features are a great way to attract all kinds of birds and other forms of wildlife to your landscaped yard. You and your family will love having a chance to watch birds splash around in a fountain or dragonflies dipping into your pond for a drink. Adding a water feature to your landscape is a terrific way to enjoy Florida’s wildlife up close and personal.
Types of water features
It really doesn’t matter how large or small your yard is, we can recommend a water feature that fits in with your landscape’s over all look and will create a relaxing environment for you and your family. This is a list of some of the most popular water features you’ll see. But we are here to create your dream landscape, so if you’ve seen something not listed here, just ask us and we will discover.
Natural ponds
We love creating natural ponds and have found them to be very popular with homeowners because they look great in just about any kind of landscape design. They’re also pretty easy to create. We excavate a hole and line it with a rigid or flexible liner, add a filtration system and submersible pump to keep the water clean, and voila you’ve got a pond. Of course, we landscape it with lots of beautiful plants and rocks surrounding it and sometimes even add some waterlilies or other water-based plants to the pond. We often recommend adding a natural rock water fall to provide that lovely white noise that’s so good for meditation.
Waterwalls
A waterwall is created by having a masonry or tiled wall that has water cascading over it. They look so elegant and make a great addition to your pool area or outdoor kitchen or perhaps as a focal point in your front yard garden. The sound is divine and a pump feeds the water back to the top, continually cycling it. For a gorgeous evening look, add LED lights to the water wall.
Waterfalls
In places like Hawaii people hike for miles to see gorgeous waterfalls, and we can create a natural waterfall for you as a standalone feature or as part of your pond. This is a hardscape that looks best with natural stones but can also be created with sculpted concrete or fiberglass to mimic the look of the real thing. We can help you decide how high your waterfall can be based on the topography of your land. And of course, that will determine how much noise your water feature will make. Surrounded by gorgeous tropical plants, you’ll feel like your home is a resort!
Bubblers or gurglers
Bubblers and gurglers can be added to ponds or fountains to give the impression that water is gurgling up from an underground spring. They make a calming sound, add visual interest and when added to a pond, they keep the water from being stagnant. This is particularly important because we have a mosquito problem in Southwest Florida, and they lay their eggs in stagnant water. So this prevents that from happening.
Fountains
A gorgeous fountain as a focal point to your front garden sets you apart from your neighbors. They can be small or large, a simple tall vase shape or something ornately carved. They can have a geyser of water coming out of the top or a simple bubbler moving the water over the sides. With so many choices, we will provide the guidance you need to choose one that matches your landscape perfectly.
If you can dream it, we can do it
At Peer Landscaping we are dream builders! We love to create the outdoor living space of your dreams. We live in paradise here in Southwest Florida and your yard should reflect that.
We’ve covered the benefits of installing a water feature in your yard as well as some of the most common types of water features. But we haven’t addressed the importance of professional installation. Water features will only be hassle-free if they’re installed correctly, so it’s important to call on an experienced landscape contractor. Peer Landscaping is the answer. Our landscape design professionals can turn your dream into a reality. Call us today and let us help you find a water feature that works for your yard and your design plans. We also offer maintenance services for existing water features. Reach out today at (239) 645-6455 for a complimentary consultation. We are proud to serve our local community in Fort Myers and the surrounding areas of Southwest Florida.