Significance

• Water features are a luxury. They must be properly designed and engineered for the topography of the area to be landscaped. They must harmonize with the climate of the area in which the garden is situated and be laid out with the same formality (or lack of it) as the rest of the landscape. Ponds, banks and rocks must be properly supported and backed with sand and gravel rather than set down on dirt that will wash out. Pools and ponds must be lined with material that will prevent seepage. All of this requires skill and planning that most homeowners don't have. Although you may be willing to do all the work, it is foolish to do the planning and engineering yourself when a little professional help is easy to find.
  
  

Features

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  If you'd asked a homeowner of the 1950's if she'd like a water feature in the back yard, she would probably picture a nice big swimming pool with crystal-clear water and plenty of deck chairs sitting on a big cement slab. The use of water in landscaping is not new, but today's designs go beyond simple pools. They frequently contain several levels for waterfalls and a channel for running water. Water features can consist of a simple jug fountain in a natural pond or a complete stream with a waterfall. The design of the water feature is dictated by the climate and environment of the garden.
  
  

Time Frame

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  Large water features require the coordination of a number of subcontractors to excavate, lay substrata, construct the feature, bring in topsoil, gravel and landscape elements and set the plantings properly. A water feature can take from a few weeks to an entire season to construct, depending on size and complexity.
  
  

History

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  The earliest water features were designed into the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to irrigate the lush foliage. Water became an essential feature of Persian gardens, coursing through underground passages and defining the four quadrants of the formal garden with channels. Invasions by Mongols and Arabs spread the concept of the garden as a miniature world throughout the Mediterranean, and fountains and pools were designed to include ornate mosaic works and complex sculpture. The gardens of the Moorish Alhambra were copied by European nobility who added characteristic touches, such as sculpture including the human form. Throughout the Renaissance and into modern times, formal gardens in Europe and America have contained pools and fountains as central features. The movement to preserve environments in arboretums, preserves and parks has encouraged more informal use of such elements as brooks and water features that actually flow through landscapes.
  
  

Considerations

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  Like any home improvement, water features can consume as much time and money as you let them. If you want more than a small pond or container garden, plan your project with an experienced designer. Learn what kind of maintenance you'll need to do on a regular basis and how to deal with problems such as algae and breeding mosquitoes.