These landscape gardening and styling tricks can flex the orbit around your backyard pond into an idyllic staycation spot .
Photo : Carson Downing
Key Takeaways
Some prospective home emptor are wooed by a move - in - ready kitchen orexpansive picture windows . For Mark Vander Linden , the marketing point for the Des Moines sign of the zodiac he wound up buying was a small koi pool in the backyard . “ I just make love the serenity of it , ” he remembers . Here ’s how Mark and his partner , Jarret Einck ( artistic creation director atBetter Homes & Gardens ) have taken that peacefulness and expanded upon it over the past 20 class , creating an idyllic hideaway for themselves and their little family of Pisces the Fishes .
1. Create a Serene Seating Area
A comfortable seating room area advance pondside lounging . Thewarmth of the rattanand cool blue palette of this space fix a calming tincture that does n’t distract from the pool or the greenery .
2. Bring in Fish
Koi drown happily in the pool , tote up to the sense of tranquility . For happy koi as well as a clean pool , the ecumenical formula of thumb is to keep four koi or fewer per 1,000 gallons of water . The homeowners have three large koi in their pond , which assess 13 by 5 feet . " We unquestionably suppose of them as pets , " says Vander Linden . A bonus : Thewater featureattracts birds and frogs , too .
A sluttish but sturdy net over the pond can keep koi safe from predators ( with the added incentive of keep leaves off the surface of the water ) .
3. Build Your Own Waterfall
The homeowner created lure movement and auditory sensation by adding a simplepump - powered falls , which cascade down composition of flagstone . Not only does it add a relaxing raw soundtrack to the thou , but the Pisces seem happier when the waterfall is turned on too .
4. Add Aquatic Plants
Aquatic works not only depend calm , but help clean the water system and put up ghost for fish . Plants like urine hyacinth , piddle lettuce , andwater liliesfloat on the surface . borderline industrial plant such as purple pickerel rush , dulcet flag , and motley water celery ( Oenanthe javanica ) grow in shallow water along the pond ’s edge . Apotted elephant ’s earsunken into the water add a striking touch . The plants pull round from spring to light but are removed before the winter freeze sets in .
5. Plant a Lush Landscape
To soften the border of the rectilinear pond , the homeowner institute amass of hostasalong the top of the retain wall . Behind them , the pinkish leaves of a tricolour beech tree bring just a touch of soft color . In other parts of the yard , they ’ve replaced the lawn withnative plantslikeblazing superstar , butterfly stroke weed , andCulver ’s roottosupport pollinatorsand beneficial insects .
Credit:Photo: Carson Downing
Credit:Photo: Carson Downing
Credit:Photo: Carson Downing
Credit:Photo: Carson Downing
