Outdoor water feature design in Boise, Idaho

Outdoor water feature design in Boise usually starts with a feeling. You want the sound of water off the patio. You want something to cover the road noise or the neighbor's AC unit. Or you've seen a waterfall in a friend's yard and keep thinking about it. Then the questions start. Pond or no pond? How big? What happens in January?

Designing a water feature means choosing the type, the size, the spot and the setup before anyone digs. I'm Kabe Hockema. I design and build water features as part of my work as a landscape designer, and I build with Aquascape components. I've been landscaping in the Treasure Valley since 2012.

Pond, pondless waterfall or fountain

These are the three main choices, and each one fits a different yard and budget. These are my published starting prices:

• Pond with a waterfall. An 8' x 11' Aquascape system pond with a waterfall starts from $15,500. You get open water, room for fish and water plants, and the sound of the falls.
• Pondless waterfall. A pondless waterfall with a small stream starts from $9,500. Water runs down a stream and disappears into a gravel bed, where it's stored underground and pumped back up. You get the sound and movement with no open water, which is good for families with small kids.
• Fountain. Aquascape fountain kits start from $5,500. A fountain fits a small bed or a spot next to the patio and gives you a gentle sound in a small footprint.

You can see more on my water features page.

How the ecosystem approach keeps water clear

I build ponds using the ecosystem approach. That means the pond works like a small natural system instead of a bare tank. A skimmer pulls debris off the surface. A biological filter at the waterfall grows good bacteria that break down waste. Rocks and gravel on the bottom give that bacteria more places to live. Water plants soak up nutrients that algae would feed on. Fish, if you have them, eat bugs and algae. Each part does a job, so the water stays clear without a lot of chemicals.

Where to put it

Placement matters as much as the feature itself. I look at:

• Your view. A water feature should be seen from inside the house, usually from the kitchen, living room or patio.
• Sound. You want to hear it where you sit, but not so loud you have to raise your voice.
• Sun. Some sun helps water plants. Full afternoon sun in July can warm the water and feed algae.
• Trees. Trees that drop a lot of leaves nearby mean more cleanup.
• Power and slope. The pump needs power, and a natural slope makes a waterfall look like it belongs.

Sound, scale and stone

A waterfall that's too tall for the yard looks fake. One that's too small gets lost. I size the falls and the rock to the space, use boulders with a mix of sizes, and bury them partway so they look settled. The height of the drop changes the sound. A short spill gives a soft trickle. A taller drop gives a stronger rush that covers more noise.

Water features through a Boise winter

Our winters freeze. Some ecosystem ponds keep running through the cold and build ice formations around the waterfall. Others get shut down for the season. If you have fish, the pond needs a hole kept open in the ice so gases can escape. Pondless waterfalls and fountains are simpler. They can be turned off and drained when it gets cold. I'll go over the winter plan before we build, so you know what to expect.

What changes the price from the starting point

The prices above are starting points. What moves them up:

• A bigger pond, a longer stream or a taller waterfall.
• More rock and larger boulders.
• Tight access, where rock and gravel have to be moved by hand.
• How far power has to run to the pump.
• Lighting in and around the water.
• Planting and landscaping around the feature.

Tying water into the rest of the yard

A water feature looks best when it's part of the yard, not dropped into it. I often place one right off a patio laid out through patio design, or make it the focal point of backyard landscaping. The Caldwell outdoor living room pairs an Aquascape fountain with pavers, a stone wall, a fireplace and a fire pit. A small fountain is also one of the easiest ways to finish a garden through garden decorating.

Where I build water features

I design and build water features in Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Garden City, Star, Kuna, Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton and Hidden Springs, plus Sun Valley and Ketchum.

Plan your water feature

If you're ready for outdoor water feature design in Boise, schedule a consultation. I'll walk your yard, show you where water would work best, and help you pick between a pond, a pondless waterfall and a fountain.