Custom Pond & Water Feature Design in Charleston, SC

Eco‑Friendly Ecosystem Ponds, Waterfalls & Fountain Scapes Across the Lowcountry

Proudly Serving the South Carolina Communities

Charleston, James Island, Johns Island, Kiawah Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivans, and Seabrook Island

REIMAGINE YOUR SPACE

Ready to Turn Your Outdoor Space Into Something Magical?

Backyard garden with a small pond surrounded by colorful flowers, rocks, and lush green trees, next to a swimming pool and a blue house with large windows.

We believe your yard has tremendous potential. To be more than just a boring view, a bland patio, or source of constant maintenance—it could be a place that invites peace, wonder, and connection.

Imagine your Charleston yard transformed into a peaceful, living retreat—one that blends custom-designed ponds, waterfalls, and fountain scapes with natural, eco‑sensitive craftsmanship. At Cardinal Pond Design, we create water features that look like they’ve always belonged, using sustainable methods that support our Lowcountry ecosystems.

Whether it’s a bubbling fountain or a cascading backyard stream, we’re here to create a space that is nothing short of absolutely magical.

Illuminated garden at night with trees, colorful flowers, and a small pond with a water feature.

SERVICES / OFFERINGS

Our Custom Water Features in Charleston & the Lowcountry

Garden scene with stone urn water feature, surrounded by green plants, pebbles, and a stone wall. Ivy covers the background wall.

Fountain Scapes

Beautiful, low‑maintenance fountains designed for Charleston patios, courtyards, and entryways. Enjoy the calming sound of flowing water—with a look that fits effortlessly into Lowcountry architecture.

Koi fish swimming in the pond with rocks and a small waterfall in the background, surrounded by trees.

Ecosystem Ponds

Self‑sustaining ecosystem ponds that blend seamlessly into Charleston landscapes. Featuring natural filtration, aquatic planting, and wildlife habitat—ideal for quiet enjoyment year-round without constant upkeep.

Outdoor garden waterfall with rocks and plants

Pondless Waterfalls

Pondless® waterfalls and streams provide the visual drama and soothing sound of water, with zero standing water for safety. Perfect for compact Lowcountry yards or homes in Seabrook, Kiawah, Isle of Palms, and Johns Island.

ABOUT US

Sunset over a marina with sailboats, seen from a garden with a white picket fence, a three-vase fountain, palm trees, and flowering plants.

Professional. Thorough. Passionate.

Welcome to Cardinal Pond Design & Landscapes—where the Lowcountry’s natural beauty meets the art of water.

With over 20 years of experience in outdoor design and as proud Certified Aquascape Contractors, we specialize in creating naturally filtered water features that work with nature, not against it.

Whether you're nestled on Kiawah or tucked away in Seabrook, we bring a thoughtful, high-end approach to transforming your landscape into a serene, living work of art.

Aquascape Certified Contractor badge logo, featuring a green and blue color scheme with the word "Aquascape" and a frog silhouette.

Greg Wittstock “The Pond Guy” Showcases Cardinal Pond Design

Aquascape is one of the most respected names in the water feature industry, known for setting the standard in sustainable, ecosystem-based pond design. Their founder, Greg Wittstock—widely known as “The Pond Guy”—has been a leading voice in the movement to make water features both beautiful and environmentally responsible.

We were honored to host Greg and the Aquascape team at Cardinal Pond Design for a multi-day visit as they filmed and vlogged some of our top projects. It was an incredible experience to showcase our work alongside one of the industry’s pioneers. Keep an eye out—episodes are on the way!

Watch Our Spotlight on LOVING LIVING LOCAL

Here’s an episode featuring Cardinal Pond Design & Landscapes for LOVING LIVING LOCAL, broadcast in Fall of 2024.

Hear From Our Clients

  • If you want the best fountain or pond in Charleston call this team. Darby is great to work with and a wealth of knowledge. His designs and construction are spot on!

    Evan Jones

  • We had a great experience working with Darby and his company. They stand by their work and we have a wonderful fountain to enjoy.

    Thomas Garzilli

  • My backyard water feature is totally over the top! I could not have imagined such a wonderful transformation! They truly work magic and they have become close friends!

    J. Messler

  • Darby is an artist; our pond and waterfall are beautiful. He completed our project on-time and within budget. His team of professionals took care of the electrical, drainage and custom patio with walkway pieces. Glad he discussed the hardscaping because the seamless coordination of work really elevated our backyard living area.

    Kathy LaPorte

  • Cardinal Pond Design and Landscapes is truly a wonderful business. We met with the creative owner, Darby who spent a lot of time with us picking out water features and locations in our backyard. He also sent us a visual of what the installation could look like with an application similar to Photoshop. Darby and his team spent 3 days and many hours creating our new water feature. Now when we spend time on our backporch we listen to sounds like a babbling brook. Cardinal Pond Design and Landscapes is a winner!

    C.E. Renton

HOW WE WORK

OUR DESIGN PROCESS

Step 1

Consultation

During the consultation phase, we start with a complimentary phone call to explore your vision and discuss how we can bring your water feature dreams to life. Next, we’ll schedule an on-site design consultation ($495 fee), where we refine the details, develop a construction plan, and present your project contract—this design fee is credited toward your build if you decide to move forward with us.

Step 2

Installation

The installation phase is when your project comes to life. We focus on one build at a time, ensuring you get our full attention, creativity, and care throughout the process. Your construction slot is secured with a signed contract and deposit, typically finalized during your on-site design consultation.

Step 3

Enjoy!

Once installation is complete, all that’s left to do is relax and enjoy your new outdoor space. To keep things running smoothly, we offer a range of done-for-you maintenance packages—whether you’re a hands-on DIYer or prefer a completely hands-off approach, there’s something for everyone. You can explore our maintenance services under the Maintenance tab.

BEGIN YOUR PROJECT

Ready to create the backyard of your dreams?