Formal vs. Informal Pond Design

Formal Water Feature Design

Clean, simple, straight lines and symmetrical, mirror image arrangements characterize formal style. Formal water gardens have straight edges and geometric shapes. Brickwork makes a functional yet highly decorative border for a formal pond, as do square precast pavers, tile, uniform size stones, and even sod.

Formal designs work well paired with manicured beds of roses and neat, evenly planted perennial borders accented with clipped boxwood hedges or other small shrubs. If your landscape design is formal and you’re considering a reflecting pool – a water feature who’s principal function is to reflect trees, sky or plantings at the edge of the flower border – a square or rectangular shape is just what you’re looking for. For lushness, add a large display of water lilies with a towering papyrus.

Informal Water Feature Style

Curving, fluid lines and asymmetrical arrangements define informal design. The American cottage garden or the mixed perennial border dotted here and there with bright colors provides the perfect setting for an informal pond. An informal water garden flows seamlessly, without defined edges, into the surrounding landscape planting.

In contrast to formal designs where plants are used as ornaments, plants are the heart of the look in informal styles. Foliage of similar texture and form in both the pond and perennial borders casually links the pond with the rest of the landscape. Water garden edging compliments – rather than defines – informal style. Large irregular field stone, river rock, or boulders: logs, or pebbles make the pond look as if it has always been a part of the landscape.

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