Landscape fountain design in Boise, Idaho

When people ask me about landscape fountain design in Boise, they usually say something like, "I want a fountain, but I don't want it to look like an afterthought." That's the right instinct. This kind of design is about where the fountain sits in the whole yard: what you see it from, how you walk to it, and how it works with the slope, the plants and the patio around it. Get that right and even a simple fountain looks like it was always there.

I'm Kabe Hockema. I've been designing and building landscapes since 2012, and the person who designs your yard is the same person who builds it. My fountains use Aquascape components. This page is about placement and planning. For the fountain pieces themselves, see custom fountain design, and for everything fountain related, visit my fountain contractor page.

Design the fountain with the yard, not after it

The most common problem in landscape fountain design is adding the fountain at the end. Then it usually lands wherever there's an open spot near an outlet. When it's planned with the rest of the yard, it goes where it does the most good: at the end of a path, framed by plants, or tucked beside the seating area. The power, the grade and the beds are all set up for it ahead of time.

Sight lines and focal points

A sight line is the view from a spot you use, like a window, a gate or a patio chair. I map the main ones on your property and look for a fountain spot that shows up in more than one.

• From the front walk, a fountain near the entry greets guests and gives the front yard a center.
• From inside the house, a fountain lined up with a big window gets seen every day of the year.
• At the end of a path, a fountain gives people a reason to walk out into the yard.

Plants and stone then frame the view, so the fountain reads as the focal point and doesn't compete with five other things.

Working with slopes

Fountains need a level base, and a lot of yards aren't level. Slopes are common in the Boise foothills, the Eagle foothills and Hidden Springs. Even in the valley, many lots tilt toward the street or the back fence. On a slope, I set the fountain on a flat terrace, often held by a short stone wall, so the basin sits level and the feature lands at a good height to see. I also plan for runoff. Storm water coming down a slope can wash soil into the gravel, so I shape the grade to carry it around the fountain.

Tying in plants, stone and paths

The fountain should share materials with the rest of the yard. If your patio is a warm tan paver, the stone around the fountain should work with it. If the beds are full of grasses and perennials, the planting near the fountain should feel like part of the same bed. I keep bark mulch away from the basin, since it floats, and use rock near the water instead. My page on fountain landscaping goes into plants and rock in more detail.

Sun, wind and trees on the plan

Treasure Valley summers are hot and dry, and afternoon wind is common, so weather is part of landscape fountain design in Boise from the first sketch. On a plan, I note where the afternoon sun hits hardest and which way the wind usually blows. A fountain with some shelter loses less water and throws less spray. I also keep it out from under messy trees, so leaves and seeds don't clog the pump every fall.

Design first, build in phases if you need to

Some people want the whole yard done at once. Others build in stages. A fountain plan works either way. If the fountain comes later, I can run conduit and leave the spot ready while the patio and beds go in now. My landscape plans page explains how I put a full design together. For a modern, clean-lined look, see architectural water features.

What drives the cost

Design cost depends on how much of the yard is part of the plan. A fountain spot with the bed around it is a smaller job than a full yard design. For the build, Aquascape fountain kits start at $5,500. The total depends on the feature, any walls or terraces, the power run and the planting around it.

Where I design

I design yards in Boise and nearby towns: Eagle, Star, Meridian, Garden City, Kuna, Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton and Hidden Springs. I also work on properties in Sun Valley and Ketchum, where sloped lots make careful placement even more important.

Plan your fountain with the whole yard

If you want a fountain that fits the whole yard, schedule a consultation for landscape fountain design in Boise. I'll walk the property with you and show you where the water will do the most good.