Water, water everywhere

Whether it’s a bubbling fountain or a winding stream, water features add lasting interest and beauty to the landscape. Knowing how to create and maintain these features is a way to expand your offerings, keep clients happy and add a dynamic aspect to your designs.

“People are attracted by the sound and the motion of water,” says Chris Horwath, landscape sales and designer with Weiss Landscaping in Nevada City, California. “Years ago, ponds were incredibly popular, but ponds just sit there. Most clients have different expectations nowadays.”

Water features are often installed as part of a larger landscape design or drawn up as a part of a project that can be installed over time as budgets permit. Most residential features take a few days up to couple weeks, and the most commonly requested element, the pondless waterfall, typically runs about $8,000 to $15,000. More elaborate projects, such as a small stream with boulders, cost $20,000 to $30,000.

With a thorough examination of the site and proper planning, water features can work in most locations. “I don’t recall ever telling a client we couldn’t do a water feature, but factors that drive up the challenge and cost include steep hills, boulder outcroppings and difficult access,” Horwath says.

For the full story, in the February issue, click here.