Keeping Your Water Feature Wildlife-Friendly: Managing Pests and Visitors
Even though you may love animals around your water feature, it’s a good idea to learn how to control them and keep pests away
When we first started this journey back in 2012, opening Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features back in Pennsylvania, one of the main things that drew us to water features was the calm and serenity that they bring. We’ve had the pleasure of witnessing this first-hand as we’ve created koi ponds, pondless waterfalls, and all kinds of other water features in the Rock Hill SC area for our customers.
We’ve seen deer come right up to water features while humans were sitting just a few feet away, and while we didn’t get to reach out and touch these majestic animals, the experience left us feeling nourished inside.
The thing with landscaping and water features is that they are meant to beautify your outdoor living spaces and bring you closer to nature. Perhaps you spend all day at an office or maybe you’re in your vehicle for most of the day.
No matter what, you deserve to come home to a relaxing home environment, both inside and out. Your stress melts away as you settle in at your outdoor fire pit with loved ones, and you can close your eyes and relax as you listen to the gently rushing water of your fountain or pondless waterfall.
Furry visitors are part of the charm and natural beauty of having a water feature in your outdoor living space
Be Prepared for Furry Visitors
Along with this serenity come visitors, and we’re not talking about your envious neighbors here. Instead, we’re talking about the furry and feathered friends we all love to watch from the comfort of our back window or even from the closeness of a backyard paver patio. Yes, water features have the potential to attract wildlife, and for some, this can be a good thing. Unfortunately, cute deer, colorful birds, and fluffy squirrels aren’t the only visitors around water features.
Yes, the creepy-crawly variety can show up too. Bugs can end up around your water feature if you don’t take steps to mitigate them, but thankfully, that’s not too difficult to do. Below, we’re going to share some easy steps you can take to manage wildlife and pests around your water feature this spring and summer in Rock Hill.
By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to get the most from your outdoor living space without driving away the cute and fluffy visitors we all know and love. You’ll also learn some tips to make the most of your outdoor living space during the day and at night to keep it clean and serene.
It’s a fact: Having a water feature in your outdoor living space will attract wildlife and possibly pests. Thankfully, there are ways to mitigate this.
Embrace Wildlife, Reject Pests
The thing about installing a water feature is that it’s in nature. While your backyard may not be located in some remote wilderness, and instead, you might have houses as far as the eye can see on either side of you, the fact is that wildlife seek out sources of water.
In fact, many forest animals can actually smell water. This means that any source of fresh water has the potential to attract some furry friends. We always tell our customers that this is a possibility, so be prepared. At the same time, pests seek out water as well, so it’s best to prepare for them as well. We want to cute animals, but we don’t want the annoying bugs.
Boxwood and similar plants can have a deterrent effect on wildlife and pests
Choose Landscaping Plants That Deter Pests
When planning your landscaping, our team works with you to find solutions using plants and shrubs that deter pests. In Rock Hill, SC, these can include lavender and marigold, but mint and citronella grass can also be helpful.
Another consideration when it comes to choosing plants is that some wildlife like to snack on plants. The last thing you want to find in the morning is that Bambi has made a late-night meal of your landscaping, but by incorporating plants like Bee Balm and Boxwood.
Motion-activated lights and other devices can spook wildlife and keep animals away from your water feature and landscaping
Install Motion-Activated Devices
A humane way to keep deer, rabbits, and other wandering animals away from your water feature and landscaping is to use motion-activated devices. These are devices designed to turn on and cause some sort of reaction when nearby motions causes activation.
Some of these devices emit an ultra-high frequency that scares off intruders, but others can deter further incursions by simply moving around. Deer and other animals typically get spooked by these devices, and they don’t involve traps or chemicals.
Some of the ultra-high frequency devices also deter certain insects. Citrus and citrus peels as well as garlic can also tell bugs that your water feature is a no-go zone. We also recommend essential oils in some cases depending on the type of pest you’re dealing with.
Keeping your water feature clean is one of the keys to preventing pests
Maintain Your Water Feature
Water feature maintenance is also crucial for keeping unwanted pests at bay. When improperly maintained, algae can build up in and around your water feature. This can cause pests to flock to the area hoping for a snack.
When you rely on professional water feature maintenance from a company like Ground FX Landscaping and Water Features, we can ensure your water stays clean and flows freely without worrying about attracting pests.
This also means keeping vegetation trimmed and maintained. Our landscaping experts can help with this, but we recommend keeping at least three feet between your vegetation and your water feature. Insects often use plants as ladders and bridges, and they will use overgrown vegetation to build nests and hideouts.
Installing some type of barrier around your water feature can keep wildlife at bay
Install Fencing or Barriers
For larger animals, installing fencing or barriers around your water feature can deter wildlife. This can also be a safety feature if you have neighbors. Many of our customers who have backyard ponds also install fencing around them to reduce the chances for someone accidentally wandering in.
Consult With a Professional
If you’ve tried a few of these methods and find that you’re still dealing with unwanted wildlife and pests, let a professional evaluate your landscaping. At Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features, we can provide recommendations for existing landscapes and water features to reduce unwanted guests, but we can also incorporate natural deterrents into the design of new landscaping and water features.
Contact Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features to Get the Outdoor Living Space of Your Dreams
Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features is dedicated to providing the Rock Hill SC region with professional water feature design and installation. We also offer maintenance solutions, landscaping services, hardscape design and installation, and everything else you need for an incredible outdoor living space.
Contact us today by calling (803) 371-2324, or use our convenient contact form to reach our team on the web to schedule a no-obligation on-site consultation for your new water feature, landscaping, or hardscaping project in Rock Hill, SC.
