Water features add both beauty and tranquility to your landscape, transforming outdoor spaces into serene retreats. Yet, installing these features requires careful planning to avoid common pitfalls. Scott Rudolph, our water feature specialist at Eichenlaub, shares insights gained from years of water feature maintenance. In this blog, we’ll discuss five typical installation mistakes and how to sidestep them to save time, money, and avoid unnecessary frustration.
5 Common Water Installation Mistakes
1. Lack of proper filtration
Inadequate filtration can lead to disappointment in water quality. Sometimes this shows up in the form of “pea-soup” water. Many times this causes pond owners to overcompensate with chemicals; this can be costly and will ultimately throw the ecosystem “out of whack”. Do-it-yourselfers and “part-time professionals” sometimes purchase inadequate filters or will purchase components “a la carte.” It may be cheaper to purchase the items piecemeal, but it’s challenging because different manufacturers use different fittings and they need to be modified to work together versus having everything matched and designed to work as a unit. Efficiency and simplicity will create a better system for your pond.
2. Choosing the wrong water feature type 
Nowadays there are many different water features to choose from. It is not ‘one size fits all’. Different water features have different levels of maintenance. Sometimes people choose to install a pond without understanding that it will require ongoing maintenance. If you have a busy lifestyle, either you can choose to have a professional help with your water feature maintenance, or you can consider a lower maintenance option. For example, a pondless waterfall looks like a natural waterfall but it does not have the pond or fish that require a higher level of ongoing maintenance. Always think through your maintenance plan when designing your water feature. Eichenlaub can help you with this.
3. Poor location
Start with a well thought out design. Ponds are too often placed in an unused area of the property or in a low spot that collects water. Both of these locations cause problems. Unused areas of the landscape are unused for a reason and it is a waste to put a water feature in an area that will not be seen regularly. Out of sight, out of mind … meaning nobody will care for it or enjoy it. Low spots that collect water are challenging to build in (high water table) and water quality can suffer from too much runoff and pollutants entering the pond system.
4. The water feature is too small
A small pond is easier to construct (less digging and rock placement) but it is actually harder to maintain. A small feature is less stable than a larger volume of water and most people end up reconstructing the water feature to make it larger because they not only love it, but their plants and fish outgrow a small water feature. A well-designed water feature really needs to fit the space! Eichenlaub can help you design a water feature that will be right the first time.
5. Improper use of rock and stone
A typical water feature will use several tons of stone to give it the desired naturalistic appearance. That can be a lot of wear and tear on the family minivan! Many do-it-yourselfers will decide this to be too much effort and they will choose small, manageable stones that are easy to
move and place. This is also where many landscaping companies will cut corners and miss the mark. While the work might be easier, this results in the pond falling short on aesthetics. In addition, the pond loses the structural importance provided by the larger, more difficult-to-move boulders. In some cases, the novice pond installer will just eliminate the stonework altogether. This can look artificial. Without rock and gravel, the system fails to function properly because stone not only lends to the aesthetics of the feature, but it also functions as a habitat for colonization by a variety of organisms from bacteria to crustaceans -all critical to the success of the feature.
Water Feature Maintenance Services:
Many people underestimate the amount of thought and labor that goes into water feature installation. We cannot count how many times we have been asked to finish a pond where the homeowner has dug an unfinished hole or to re-work a water feature when a novice landscaper has come up short. Proper maintenance is critical to ensuring your water feature looks great and functions well over time.
At Eichenlaub, our experienced professionals will help you design, install, and maintain a water feature that will thrive long-term. Our maintenance services include:
- Regular cleaning and debris removal
- Water quality testing and treatment
- Filter and pump maintenance
- Seasonal preparation and winterization
- Plant and fish care
By entrusting us with your water feature maintenance, you can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of your outdoor space without the hassle.
End Note:
Many people underestimate the thought and effort required for proper water feature installation. Time and again, we at Eichenlaub have stepped in to complete projects where homeowners have started but couldn’t finish, or to correct the work of inexperienced landscapers. Our team of experienced professionals is ready to help you design, install, and maintain a water feature that not only looks beautiful but also functions effectively over the long term.
Be sure to explore our water feature gallery for inspiration on your next outdoor living project! If you have further questions about water feature maintenance, don’t hesitate to reach out to Scott Rudolph at srudolph@eichenlaub.com or call us at (412) 767-4769.
