Add a Pond by Your Poolside Patio to Increase Your Backyard Serenity in Madison, WI
Do you want to create a more relaxing outdoor space? Add a pond by your poolside patio to increase your backyard serenity in Madison, WI. You may be asking, why add water when there’s already water present? There are some great reasons that will help you enjoy your outdoor living space even when the pool is closed up for the season.
Related: Need to Create a Tranquil Outdoor Space? Consider a Pond in Middleton and Monona, WI
Enjoy Your Poolside Patio Any Time of Year
If your poolside patio is only used in the summer during swimming season, it’s worth noting that this space is still being paid for (as part of your mortgage) even when you’re not using it. Make the most of your investment by adding a feature such as a pond, which can draw people outside even in winter.
How Can You Enjoy a Pond in Winter?
If your pond is big enough, you could enjoy a classic Midwestern winter activity: ice skating. Be sure the ice is thick enough (experts recommend ice that’s at least 4 inches thick). If you don’t skate, there are still plenty of ways to make a pond a winter focal point.
Keeping fish such as koi is possible in winter too. If the pond is located right next to the poolside patio, you can watch your fish swim from your pool patio: a built-in observation deck. Koi are a type of carp and they are a cold-hardy fish that can easily survive winter as long as their pond is at least 2 feet deep, and that you have a bubbler and/or floating heater in the pond to keep it from freezing solid.
Of course winter brings its own stark beauty to a landscape. Planting a few shrubs around the pond that bear colorful berries in winter will add a touch of subtle color. Aquatic and wetlands plants such as cattails and ornamental grasses add interest, and the local birds will appreciate the seeds as an important food source in winter.
Even if you don’t have fish, you can attract local wildlife and birds by using a de-icer along the shore (so deer and other creatures don’t accidentally fall through the ice, but can still get a drink from the shore). Your pond will be a haven for thirsty animals and birds, and you’ll have a front-row seat from your poolside patio.
Adding a gas-fueled fire pit to your poolside patio will ensure that you can enjoy being by the pond no matter the temperature. Gas-fueled fire pits won’t give you the authentic campfire aroma and crackle, but since they’re poolside, there won’t be splinters or smoke to take away from the experience.
The ultimate would be a pavilion with an outdoor fireplace: this permanent shelter structure would offer shade in the hottest days of summer, and the fireplace would deliver plenty of warmth. This combination will ensure you can enjoy your pond even after the pool has been covered up for winter.
Year-Round Beauty
Your pond can also be a more tranquil part of the backyard. Let the splashing and happy shrieking take place at the pool, and enjoy a more zen-like space by looking toward the pond.
A pond offers a more naturalistic element in your backyard. Let the pool take you into the 21st Century and let the pond transport you back to simpler, quieter times.
About the Author
With over two decades in business and maintaining an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau the entire time, Proscapes LLC is a leading landscape company in the Madison, WI, area. As a Unilock Authorized Contractor, we are recognized as the best-of-the-best in our craft—earning numerous awards along the way.