Landscape Design and Construction
By Jennifer Zuri
Top Trends in Water Features
ou've heard the phrase "Bring the outdoors in" when it
comes to home décor, but the trend is reversing, and
more consumers are focused on bringing the indoors
out. According to the 2014 Garden Trends Report by
Garden Media Group, more people are decorating their
yards, driving demand for elements such as decorative
planters, garden art, fountainscapes, and more. In fact, strong growth
is expected to continue for outdoor living areas, and an important
component of this space is water.
Water conservation and the economy are important influencers
when it comes to today's water feature trends. As the economy improves, the water gardening market is showing an upswing in demand from consumers. Savvy landscape contractors are smart to add
this category to their list of products and services, particularly if they
focus on the trending options.
All photos provided by Aquascape, Inc.
Y
Patio ponds
Portable, miniature water gardens are all the rage this year, and
provide an efficient and affordable entry point into the wonderful
world of water gardening. These decorative patio ponds are available
in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Aquatic plants, small fish
and a pretty fountain can be added to a patio pond to create a true
water garden experience that's smaller in stature.
"Even people with existing waterfalls enjoy adding a patio pond
to their yard," explained Brian Helfrich, construction manager for
Aquascape Designs. "They love the sound of their waterfall, but
want to enjoy the experience of fish and plants on a smaller scale
than an in-ground pond."
Patio ponds also make it possible for renters to enjoy the water
garden lifestyle since the bowls are portable and can fit almost anywhere. Avid gardeners love them too, since they open up greater
10 Landscape and Irrigation October 2013
www.landscapeirrigation.com
