The beauty and tranquility that a water garden adds to any outdoor area is more than enough incentive to create one of these stunning landscaping features in your backyard. However, there are benefits to a water garden that go beyond the pleasant hedonism of enjoying the unique aesthetic pleasures of a water garden. A water garden is as great for the environment as it is pleasant for homeowners.

The negative ions that moving water releases into the atmosphere help to purify the air. If you've ever noticed that air smells and tastes fresher near a waterfall or just after a rain storm, you have had a firsthand experience of the impact that these ions can have. A water garden produces a continual stream of negatively charged ions that help to remove toxins and impurities from the atmosphere. When you take a deep breath of the fresh, clear air that hovers around your water garden, you will find tangible proof of the fact that your garden is having a positive impact on the environment as a whole.

One of the reasons why eco-conscious gardeners are increasingly attracted to water gardens has to do with the idea of conservation. Most forms of plant based landscaping like lawns, flowers, shrubs, or gardens based in soil require constant watering. A lush yard of vibrant green grass can soak up gallons of water each week, especially during the summer months when heat threatens to wilt your carefully tended plants. This sends your household's water consumption through the roof, despite the fact that environmental experts recommend conserving water and using as little as possible. When you create a water garden, you create a self sustaining cycle of hydration that will keep plants alive and well without you having to water them at all. An occasional top-up with a hose or a watering is necessary, but for the most part your water garden will literally water itself, allowing you to save water, which is doing your share to save the earth.

The potential environmental impact of a water garden goes far beyond the immediate present, because a water garden can influence young people to help create a better future for the planet. If you have children, involving them in the design and maintenance of a water garden is a great way to help them gain an interest in science and environmental issues. A water garden is a complete eco-system of its own, where a delicate balance of fish, useful bacteria, plant life, and insects co-exist in harmony. This makes a water garden a great educational tool that teaches you and others how natural systems work with all of the different predators and prey in fully sustainable balance. Getting your kids engaged in thinking about environmental impact early in life with a water garden may help them learn about issues that will help them pursue an eco-friendly lifestyle years down the road.