Water features like ponds, waterfalls, and fountains are exceptionally popular additions to Nashville landscapes. And why wouldn’t they be? Water, specifically the sound of moving water, has always been associated with relaxation and calmness.
Most families view their lawns as an oasis. A place to get away from the hubbub of modern life and enjoy what nature gives us without requiring a Wi-Fi connection. The look and sound of water hardscapes can create that oasis, but they can come with challenges as well.
As a leading Nashville landscaping service with more than 30 years of experience, The Parke Company has installed many water features, both large and small, for customers in Nashville, Belle Mead, Green Hills, Oak Hills and other communities. Often times these hardscapes are the central feature of the landscaping due to their size and unique qualities. If you want the sound of a burbling brook but don’t want to take up the space a pond or waterfall might occupy, we recommend a fountain.
Is Your Lawn Ready for a Fountain?
Fountains – The Pocket Size Oasis
When we talk fountains, we are not talking about something that looks like it was stolen from Vatican City sprouting up in the center of your lawn. Fountains come in all sizes and shapes. When deciding on one, scale should be foremost in your mind. In fact, scale is one of the several advantages that fountains have over other water features. For example:
- Scale. If you are an urban dweller with limited space to play with, a small fountain can bring the same relaxing sounds as an elaborate waterfall. If you have a large space but you want to carve out a niche for meditation, reading, or just relaxing, a small fountain can be the perfect centerpiece. A tasteful planting of shrubs or hedge can delineate the space, and an urn or statuary fountain provides the soundscape.
- No Standing Water. Ponds and waterfalls, by definition, include standing water. Even though the water is recirculated, a waterscape faces the same problems a swimming pool does. They are subject to bacterial growth and algae meaning your lawn maintenance tasks will have to include cleaning the pond. In addition, your pond is often viewed as a personal spa for your four-legged family member who uses it for a fast cool down on a hot summer day.
- Better than a Bird Bath. With the exception of a bird feeder, nothing will attract birds to your lawn faster than a fountain. Birds love them. You don’t have to be an Audubon fanatic to appreciate the foliage and chirping of Tennessee’s birdlife. In addition, some of those birds find fleas and ticks to be tasty tidbits helping you to control that unwanted population.
Fountains make sense on so many levels. If you need help designing a space or choosing a fountain that fits, give us a call at The Parke Company. We do so much more than tree trimming, lawn mowing, and resolving lawn problems. Our professional landscape designers can turn your entire lawn, or just a corner, into a little piece of heaven.
Give us a call today!