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Fountainscapes & Waterfalls

Custom Fountainscapes in New Ulm, MN

Sculptural, low-maintenance water features designed for Minnesota homes and installed with precision. From modern bowls to stacked slate spheres and bubbling urns, we build fountainscapes that look intentional, sound beautiful, and last.

  • Professional design + installation
  • Compact, safe, and low maintenance
  • Built for Minnesota freeze-thaw cycles

What Is a Fountainscape?

A fountainscape is a self-contained decorative water feature that recirculates water without the need for a full ecosystem pond. These features typically include decorative urns, spheres, bowls, or custom stone elements placed over an underground water reservoir. Because the water is contained below grade, fountainscapes are compact, safe, and low maintenance while still providing the relaxing sound of moving water.

Why homeowners choose fountainscapes

  • Instant focal point for front yards, patios, and entryways
  • Smaller footprint than waterfalls or ponds
  • Recirculating systems with minimal water usage
  • Flexible styles: modern, natural, rustic, architectural

Best fit for

  • Smaller yards or tight landscape zones
  • Clients wanting water sound without pond ownership
  • Businesses or storefronts needing curb appeal
  • High-visibility “wow” areas near walkways and entrances

Types of Fountainscapes We Design & Install

Every fountainscape is designed around your space, your style, and the way you want the water to feel: gentle and elegant, bold and dramatic, or natural and organic.

Stacked Slate Sphere Fountains

Modern, clean, and sculptural. Stacked slate spheres create a strong focal point with a refined sound profile, making them ideal for entryways, front yards, and patio corners.

  • Contemporary style
  • High visual impact
  • Great for lighting

Decorative Urn Fountains

Classic, elegant, and timeless. Bubbling urns deliver a calming sound and pair beautifully with plantings, stone mulch, and walkways.

  • Traditional curb appeal
  • Easy footprint
  • Soft water tone

Fountain Bowls & Spillway Basins

Sleek architectural movement. Bowls and spillway basins create layered flow and can be arranged in multi-level compositions for a premium modern look.

  • Clean lines
  • Layered cascades
  • Perfect for patios

Custom Natural Stone Bubblers

Organic and Minnesota-friendly. Natural stone bubblers blend into landscapes and feel like they’ve always belonged there, especially when paired with boulders and native plants.

  • Natural aesthetic
  • Durable materials
  • Great in gardens

Custom Multi-Element Fountainscapes

Some of the most visually striking fountainscapes combine multiple fountain styles into one cohesive design. A stacked slate sphere may rise behind a pair of modern fountain bowls. A bubbling granite boulder can anchor a decorative urn. Spillway basins can cascade into lower-level bowls to create layered movement and varied sound.

By blending materials, heights, and water flow patterns, we create custom compositions that feel intentional and sculptural rather than “plug-and-play.” Because each component shares a concealed underground reservoir system, the entire feature operates cleanly and efficiently while maintaining a low-maintenance profile.

Ideal for

  • Wider front yard planting beds
  • Courtyard-style patios
  • Entryway focal points
  • Commercial storefront impact statements

Designed to

  • Balance proportion and scale
  • Direct sound intentionally
  • Integrate lighting when desired
  • Complement hardscape + plantings
  • Withstand Minnesota freeze-thaw cycles

Built for Minnesota’s Climate

Minnesota weather isn’t gentle. Your fountainscape should be built with that reality in mind. We design systems that run clean in summer, shut down properly in fall, and come back to life reliably in spring.

Freeze-thaw smart

Proper basin construction, stable setting, and correct winterization reduce risk and extend system life.

Clean operation

Hidden reservoir systems keep the feature tidy while maintaining strong recirculating flow.

Efficient water + power

Right-sized pumps and thoughtful flow tuning help reduce splash-out and unnecessary water loss.

The Signature Fountainscape™ Experience

For clients seeking more than a decorative fountain, we offer a fully customized Signature Fountainscape™ design experience. This is a sculptural water composition designed intentionally around your property’s architecture, grade, lighting conditions, and visual flow.

May include

  • Multiple coordinated fountain elements
  • Integrated LED lighting for evening ambiance
  • Layered elevations for varied water sound
  • Stone and finish selections matched to your home
  • Hidden basin systems engineered for clean operation

Best for

  • High-visibility front yard entrances
  • New construction landscapes
  • Courtyard and patio focal zones
  • Commercial storefront curb appeal
  • Clients seeking a high-end architectural look

How Much Does a Fountainscape Cost in Minnesota?

We believe transparent pricing builds trust and helps you plan. Most professionally installed fountainscapes in Southern Minnesota fall into these ranges.

Simple Single-Element Fountain

Starting around $3,500 – $6,500

Decorative urn, sphere, or boulder with reservoir.

Mid-Level Custom Fountainscape

Typically $6,500 – $12,000

Multiple elements, upgraded stonework, enhanced landscaping.

Signature Fountainscape™ Installation

Often $12,000 – $25,000+

Multi-element design with lighting, premium finishes, architectural layout.

What influences final pricing?

  • Site access and excavation conditions
  • Material selection and number of elements
  • Electrical integration and lighting
  • Hardscape and landscape integration
  • Complexity of water flow and elevation changes

Fountainscapes vs. Pondless Waterfalls

Both fountainscapes and pondless waterfalls deliver the beauty and sound of moving water without a full pond. The best choice depends on your space, the look you want, and how you plan to use the area.

Choose a Fountainscape if you want…

  • A sculptural focal point (urns, spheres, bowls, bubblers)
  • A compact feature for smaller spaces
  • A clean architectural look for entries and patios
  • Lower splash and a more contained footprint
  • A fast install with a big visual payoff

Choose a Pondless Waterfall if you want…

  • A natural backyard destination feel
  • Longer water movement with stream-like sound
  • Immersive boulders, planting, and grade integration
  • An organic look that feels like nature built it
  • A larger outdoor centerpiece experience

Can you combine them?

Yes. Some of the most premium designs use a fountainscape element (bowl or sphere) feeding into a short pondless cascade for a layered, custom look.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fountainscapes

Are fountainscapes low maintenance?

Yes. Because fountainscapes use a concealed underground reservoir and do not support fish or full ecosystems, they require significantly less maintenance than traditional ponds. Routine care typically includes occasional debris removal and seasonal shutdown before winter.

Can fountains run year-round in Minnesota?

Most fountainscapes in Minnesota are shut down before freezing temperatures to protect plumbing and pumps. Proper winterization ensures long-term durability and easy spring startup.

Do fountains use a lot of water?

No. Fountainscapes recirculate the same water continuously through a hidden basin. Water loss is minimal and usually limited to evaporation during hot summer months.

How long does installation take?

Most single-element fountains can be installed in 1–2 days. Larger multi-element or Signature Fountainscape™ projects may take several days depending on design complexity.

Can lighting be added to a fountainscape?

Yes. LED lighting can be integrated into most fountain designs to create dramatic nighttime effects and highlight water movement after dark.

Schedule a Signature Design Consultation

To make sure we’re a good fit and to give you an accurate starting design direction, we begin with a short pre-qualification step.

Most consultations take 2 minutes to request. We respond within 1 business day.

What type of water feature are you exploring?
Where will it go?
What investment range are you comfortable with?
Ideal timing
Your contact details
Best way to reach you

Prefer to talk now? Call (507) 720-3450 or email info@fountainscapesandwaterfalls.com.