Transform Your Backyard Pond into a Relaxing Retreat with These 5 Simple Tips

Garden Landscaping

Key Takeaways

Mark Vander Linden and Jarret Einck transformed their backyard into a serene retreat with a koi pond as the focal point.
Creating a comfortable seating area, adding aquatic plants, and building a waterfall enhance the peaceful ambiance of the pond.
The koi pond supports a small ecosystem, attracting birds and frogs, with the owners treating the koi as pets.

While some potential home buyers are drawn to a move-in-ready kitchen or large picture windows, Mark Vander Linden was captivated by a small koi pond in the backyard of a house in Des Moines. "I just loved the serenity of it," he recalls. Over the past 20 years, Mark and his partner, Jarret Einck (an art director at Better Homes & Gardens), have taken that serenity and transformed the area into a peaceful retreat for themselves and their fish.

1. Create a Serene Seating Area

A cozy seating area makes it inviting to relax by the pond. The warm rattan furniture and cool blue accents in this space create a calming atmosphere that complements the pond and surrounding greenery.

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2. Bring in Fish

Koi swimming in the pond add to the peaceful vibe. To keep koi healthy and maintain a clean pond, it's recommended to have no more than four koi per 1,000 gallons of water. The homeowners have three large koi in their 13-by-5-foot pond. "We definitely think of them as pets," says Vander Linden. Additionally, the pond attracts birds and frogs.

A loose but sturdy net over the pond can protect koi from predators and keep leaves out of the water.

3. Build Your Own Waterfall

The homeowners added a simple pump-powered waterfall that cascades over flagstone, creating engaging movement and sound. Not only does it provide a relaxing natural soundtrack, but the koi also seem happier when the waterfall is on.

4. Add Aquatic Plants

Aquatic plants not only enhance the serene look but also help clean the water and provide shade for the fish. Plants like water hyacinth, water lettuce, and water lilies float on the surface, while marginal plants such as purple pickerel rush, sweet flag, and variegated water celery (Oenanthe javanica) grow in shallow water along the pond’s edges. A potted elephant’s ear submerged in the water adds a dramatic touch. These plants thrive from spring to fall but need to be removed before winter.

5. Plant a Lush Landscape

To soften the edges of the rectangular pond, the homeowners planted a mass of hostas along the top of the retaining wall. Behind them, a tricolor beech tree with soft pink leaves adds a splash of color. Elsewhere in the yard, they replaced the lawn with native plants like blazing star, butterfly weed, and Culver’s root to support pollinators and beneficial insects.