How a Pond in Ridgewood, NJ, and Franklin Lakes, NJ, Fits Into a Landscape With Planting Beds

A pond adds movement, sound, and a calmer feel to an outdoor space, but it needs more than water and rocks to look like it belongs. A pond in Ridgewood and Franklin Lakes, NJ, works best when it is designed as part of the full landscape and connected to planting beds that create structure, softness, and seasonal interest. When the pond and plantings are planned together, the result feels intentional, not like a separate feature dropped into the backyard. 

Related: The Perfect Pair: A Pond and Outdoor Fireplace in Franklin Lakes, NJ

Why Planting Beds Matter Around a Pond

Planting beds are what make a pond feel grounded. Without planting beds, a pond can look exposed, unfinished, or disconnected from the rest of the backyard. Planting beds create transitions between the water feature and the surrounding lawn, patio areas, and walkways. They also help direct your eye toward the pond so it feels like a focal point rather than an isolated element.

A well-designed pond landscape uses planting beds to frame the pond and soften the edges. Plantings can create layered height behind the pond, low-growing textures around the perimeter, and seasonal blooms that keep the space looking lively. Planting beds also help the pond blend into the rest of the landscape design so the feature feels cohesive rather than separate.

Start With Pond Placement That Works With Your Landscape Layout

Pond placement affects everything that comes next. The best placement considers how you use your backyard, where you want the focal point to be, and how the pond connects to other outdoor living features. A pond placed without regard for the rest of the landscape can make designing planting beds harder and disrupt how the backyard feels.

Our team evaluates your backyard layout and determines the best pond location based on views from the home, natural grades, and how the pond will connect to walkways, patios, and seating areas. We also consider how planting beds will wrap around the pond and how the pond will look from multiple angles. This planning stage is what allows the pond and planting beds to work together.

Related: 5 Benefits of Adding a Pond to Your Montvale, NJ & Ridgewood, NJ Property

Create Layered Planting Beds That Frame the Pond

A pond looks best when it has depth around it. Layered planting beds create that depth by combining different heights, textures, and seasonal elements. Tall evergreens or ornamental grasses can serve as a backdrop. Mid-level shrubs and perennials add fullness and structure. Low plantings soften the pond edge and help the feature blend into the landscape.

The key is balance. Planting beds should frame the pond without hiding it. They should support views of the water surface and any waterfall feature while still creating a natural setting around the pond perimeter. Our professionals design planting beds to achieve that balance and select plantings that fit the site conditions and look polished throughout the growing season.

Design Walkways That Lead to the Pond

A pond becomes more enjoyable when it is part of how you move through the backyard. A walkway or route that leads to the pond helps create a sense of destination. It also allows the pond to feel connected to the patio, outdoor kitchen, pergola, or seating areas.

Walkways can be built with natural stone or pavers, depending on the style of the landscape. The goal is to guide movement and make the pond feel like a natural stop along the route. Our professionals design walkways and routes as part of the pond plan, so the feature feels integrated into the overall outdoor space.

Use Plantings to Create Privacy and Reduce Visual Clutter

Many homeowners want a pond for a calmer backyard experience. Planting beds can help create that feeling by adding privacy and reducing the sense that the backyard is wide open. Evergreen shrubs, layered screening plantings, and ornamental grasses can create a more enclosed pond setting without completely closing off the space.

Plantings can also be used to hide equipment areas and create cleaner sight lines. When the pond is framed correctly, the backyard feels more organized, and the pond becomes the feature you notice first.

Our team handles all planting decisions so privacy, structure, and seasonal interest are built into the design from the start.

Related: The Best Pond Designs for Your Ridgewood and Oakland, NJ Property