Natural rock water features are stunning additions to any landscape, offering a unique blend of beauty and tranquility. These features, often used in gardens, yards, and even interior spaces, are known for their natural look and feel, bringing a touch of the outdoors inside or enhancing the natural beauty of an outdoor area.
When it comes to adding water elements to their garden, many homeowners look to natural rock water features. These types of water features make stunning additions to any landscape, offering a unique blend of beauty and tranquility. They’re known for their natural look and feel, appearing almost as if they’ve simply sprung from the ground into your landscaping.
What is a natural rock water feature, exactly, and what are its benefits for your yard? Continue reading as we answer these questions and discuss how natural rock water features are created to determine if it’s the right choice for your dream backyard.
What Is a Rock Water Feature?
As you might have suspected, a natural rock water feature is a water installation designed using rocks that deliver a beautiful aesthetic to your landscaping. These types of water features typically consist of rocks, stones, and pebbles arranged to create a cascading or flowing water effect. They can vary in size from small to large, and make the perfect front yard water features to boost curb appeal or relaxing backyard water feature design ideas for your Upstate NY home.
When you’re considering rock water features to install in your backyard (or front yard, for that matter), be sure to consider additional elements like the surrounding landscaping, lighting, and decorative accents to complete the overall look and maximize the value added to your home.
Types of Natural Rock Water Feature Materials
The style of a natural rock water feature can range from rustic and natural-looking to more contemporary and sleek, depending on the design preferences of the homeowner or landscaper. The rocks used in these features are often chosen for their aesthetic appeal and durability, ensuring they withstand the elements and remain visually appealing for years.
Common rocks used in a natural rock water feature often include:
- River rock: River rock is often chosen for natural rock water features because of its smooth, rounded shape. This creates a soothing sound as water flows over it. Additionally, its natural appearance blends seamlessly with outdoor landscapes.
- Slate: Slate is a popular choice for a natural rock water feature since it is easily stacked and arranged. This lets water feature installation professionals create cascading water effects exactly how the homeowner wants. Its fine-grained texture and variety of colors also make it a visually appealing choice.
- Granite: Granite is great for natural rock water feature installations due to its durability and weather-resistant properties. This is why it’s been used for outdoor water features for centuries. Its timeless appearance and range of colors also offer versatility, letting homeowners choose sophisticated and long-lasting natural rock water feature designs.
- Basalt: Basalt’s dark color and fine-grained texture make it a popular choice for natural rock water features, especially when creating dramatic waterfalls. Its durability and resistance to weathering ensure that the feature will maintain its aesthetic appeal over time in your Upstate NY yard.
While popular installations like backyard fountains or pondless waterfalls are typically relatively low-maintenance additions to your landscaping, make sure you learn how to clean water feature rocks to keep them in optimal condition. Not only does it protect your water feature, but it’ll keep it looking great all year round.
Benefits of Installing a Natural Rock Water Feature
Having a natural rock water feature in your landscaping offers a range of benefits that make them a popular choice for homeowners with any size space. From their natural aesthetic to their low maintenance requirements, these features transform a garden or yard into a peaceful oasis.
Some benefits of incorporating natural rock water features into your landscaping are:
- Natural aesthetic boost
- Relaxation and tranquility
- Wildlife attraction
- Low maintenance requirements
- Versatility of rock water features
- Adding value to your home
1. Natural Aesthetic
One of the primary benefits of natural rock water features is their ability to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Unlike traditional fountains or ponds, which stand out from the landscaping by design, a natural rock water feature has a rustic and organic appearance that enhances nature’s natural beauty making it seem as if your backyard landscaping was created around a naturally occurring feature.
2. Relaxation and Tranquility
The sound of flowing water is known to have a calming effect, making a natural rock water feature ideal for creating a serene and relaxing environment. Whether you’re using it as a focal point in your backyard or as an understated accent piece for your outdoor space, the gentle sound of water helps to reduce stress and promote a sense of tranquility.
3. Wildlife Attraction
A natural rock water feature can also attract a variety of wildlife like birds, butterflies, and frogs. It’s a unique way to add to the dynamic of your outdoor space while simultaneously supporting the local ecosystem.
Bonus Info: Want to turn your backyard into a bird sanctuary with a rock water feature? Learn more on how to design a water feature for birds after this article.
4. Low Maintenance Requirements
Compared to ponds and other larger water features, a natural rock water feature requires relatively little maintenance. Once installed, they typically only require occasional cleaning and upkeep, making them a practical choice for busy homeowners.
Some of the most important aspects of how to maintain a water feature after installation is to check the water levels and winterizing your water feature.
5. Versatility of Natural Rock Water Features
Natural rock water features can be created in almost any shape, size, and design. This gives homeowners the opportunity to have the design of their dreams come to life through the very capable hands of our team of designers.
The versatility of a natural water feature also presents endless options for selecting a final design that complements the existing landscaping and outdoor design aesthetic. Whether you prefer a simple rock fountain or a more elaborate waterfall, you’ll have a unique water feature design that fits your home.
6. Adding Value to Your Home
Have you wondered, “Do water features add value to a home?” You bet they do!
Incorporating a natural rock water feature into your home’s landscaping enhances its curb appeal (for front yard water features) and adds to its overall value regardless of where you have it. Water features are desirable additions to outdoor spaces, impressing potential buyers and adding a touch of luxury to your property.
A well-designed natural rock water feature can set your home apart from others on the market, making it more attractive to prospective buyers and potentially increasing its resale value.
Installing a natural rock water feature is not only visually stunning but also offers a range of practical benefits. Whether you’re looking to create a peaceful retreat in your backyard or add a touch of nature to your outdoor space, rock water features will transform your landscape into your dream oasis.
Get started planning your natural rock water feature using the NVS Project Planner. Save your plans or submit them to us and one of our water feature installation professionals will be in touch to make your vision a reality.
