Water Gardens

How do I select the right water feature?

Our designer will meet with you to survey the property and help select the right water feature for your residence or commercial site. We can design a feature for every taste and budget; from small fountains to streams, ponds and waterfalls; both indoors and out. We make a thorough assessment to make sure that the location of the pond will be enjoyed from all areas of your yard. We can plan your pond so that you can easily add a waterfall or a second pond in years to come.

What about maintainance for my pond?

We offer customized programs for you and your pond’s needs. There are many options but the main components of a program are Spring clean-out, monthly monitoring visits, and Fall covering and/or shut-down. Well-balanced ponds require relatively little maintenance. All that is really required are frequent equipment checks and the occasional cleaning. There is no need to drain the pond on a regular basis. Nets and pond skimmers can be used to remove fallen leaves and other plant materials.

How do you construct a pond and why?

We utilize construction techniques and materials to keep everything as natural, simple and long-lasting as possible. Installation work is performed to assure the finest artisanship. We put rocks and gravel on the bottom of the pond for filtration, providing surface area and allowing for naturally occurring bacteria to break down fish waste and other organic debris, and this also makes bottom drains unnecessary. A pond with rocks and gravel is much more natural looking than having a black liner with nothing but algae covering it up. We do not use UV lights and feel that they are unnecessary; by creating a natural environment and with enough plants, rock, and gravel; with not too many fish the UV light is not needed. We rarely ever have green water in the ponds that we build. UV lights will do nothing but get you into a cycle that works against nature instead of with it.

What is the recommended amount of fish to put in the pond and how often should they be fed?

Our rule of thumb for amount of fish is to have 1" of fish for every 1 sq. ft. of pond surface area. We usually recommend not feeding fish more than once a day. The fish have plenty of things to nibble on in the pond, and the more you feed the fish, the more waste they will produce. Do not feed the fish when the water is less than 55 degrees

What do you do with fish in the winter?

We leave them in the pond making sure that there is something keeping a hole open in the ice and the water moving. We will put a temperature controlled heater and a small fountain pump in the pond near each other. When the air temperature drops below 10 degrees, the heater kicks in and helps to keep the water moving.

What is the recommended amount of plants to put in the pond?

The recommended amount of plants is to have 30-50% of the surface covered. You want to have a good mix of plants. We place all the plants (with a few exceptions) directly into the gravel. The plants grow much better in the gravel never becoming root-bound. This also helps the eco-system, because the plants will be able to search out more nutrients by letting the root system travel through the gravel and rocks.

What happens to the plants in the winter time?

Most hardy plants will die back and go dormant during the winter. The tropical plants need be brought inside, or treated as annuals.