Why Your New Retaining Wall Needs a Water Feature in Wheaton and Naperville, IL Areas

If you’re installing a new retaining wall, does this mean it has to be “just a wall”? No. A retaining wall is the ideal opportunity to add interest and practicality to your landscape that goes beyond simply holding back earth and creating more outdoor living space. If you need ideas, here’s why your new retaining wall needs a water feature in Wheaton and Naperville, IL, areas.

Do you “need” a water feature?

Water is an irresistible draw for young and old. Everyone enjoys the sounds and sights of a fountain and in our experience, our clients often say, “I wish I had installed a fountain sooner.”

In today’s increasingly stressful world, everyone could use more nature, to unplug and enjoy its serenity. So while a water feature may feel like an indulgence, on some level it’s a necessity that helps you relax more deeply and pull away from your stresses. If nothing else, it could mask the sounds of traffic, which will greatly increase your ability to enjoy an afternoon nap on the patio.

Incorporating a water feature into a retaining wall can transform a boring wall into a stunning focal point. There are many style choices to choose from, depending on how intense you want the flow of water to be, the size of the fountain, and whether you will use a catch basin or a pool.

The design of a fountain is about more than just aesthetics. Each type of fountain - as well as its height from the ground - determines how fast and how much water flows from it, and how far it falls. A fountain could provide subtle background sounds reminiscent of a babbling brook, or a more dramatic rush of water that comes from a high waterfall.

Which type of fountain should you choose?

Wall fountains can be large or small in size. Some can be inset into the wall so that water is coming out from the wall itself, while others are installed onto the face of the wall.

One or several sheer descent waterfalls that come from the wall itself is one of the most popular ways to jazz up a retaining wall with a dramatic water curtain effect. This type of fountain is perfectly suited for a chic, modern space with smooth textures and clean lines. A Roman-style attached fountain could dress up a traditional, more formal patio with brick or quarry stone surfaces. A more relaxed yet sophisticated space could be created using a series of clay (or resin) pots set into the wall’s masonry, allowing water to spill from one pot into one another.

Plan carefully!

Plan a water feature carefully to make the process smooth right from the beginning. Plan for the pump’s electrical needs as well as electricity to power landscape lighting in and/or around the fountain.

Plan the placement, avoiding locations under deciduous trees that will continually drop leaves, flowers, or fruit into your fountain.

Make sure that the catch basin won’t pose a hazard to small children - even a few inches of water is too deep with little ones running around.

Be sure that the area in front of the fountain is a solid surface, either natural stone or concrete pavers or decorative pebbles. Any water that splashes out of the fountain could quickly turn a grassy area into an unattractive mud pit.

Whichever style of fountain you choose, your retaining wall will become a focal point in your landscape.