| Q: |
Do ponds and water features breed mosquitos? |
| A: |
Mosquitos breed in stagnant water. A properly designed water feature with a skimmer
keeps the water constantly circulating with a slight current.
|
| Q: |
What size of pond is the most popular? |
| A: |
An 11 ft. x 16 ft. pond with a depth of 2 ft. is a good size and
is large enough for koi.
|
| Q: |
Why is the pond liner usually covered with rocks? |
| A: |
Rocks help with filtration, extend the life of the
liner, hold the liner down under hydrostatic pressure, and make the pond look more natural.
|
| Q: |
Why are rubber pond liners used instead of concrete? |
| A: |
Today, 45 mil EPDM liners are fish safe and last 20 years or
longer if covered with rock. They work well in cold temperatures and conture to the shape of your pond. Concrete cracks and
looks unnatural.
|
| Q: |
How much do ponds cost? |
| A: |
Many factors determine the cost of a pond. Is the site in
a backyard with limited access? Is it near large trees with roots? Is the soil rocky? As a general rule, an average size
pond will cost about the same as installing a new hot tub.
|
| Q: |
What do I need to know about predators and my pond? |
| A: |
Blue herons and raccoons love fish so ponds must be designed
with this in mind. A pond should be at least 8 ft. wide and 2 ft. deep to discourage raccoons. These dimenions make it
difficult for raccoons as they will not dive into a pond for fish.
Blue herons are the most difficult challenge. When herons are found to be a problem, we install a motion-activated sprinkler
which is very effective at keeping the birds away.
|
| Q: |
What are the steps in water feature installation? |
| A: |
- Choose the site. photo
- Excavate the site. photo
- Install components: under-layment, liner, skimmer, filters, and plumbing. photo
- Place rock work and covering liner. photo
- Install landscaping, pond plants, fringe terrestrial landscape, and other finishing touches. photo
|
| Q: |
Are there any safety issues with ponds? |
| A: |
The outside edges of our ponds are shelved like a staircase for several reasons.
The shelves provide different depths for plants. Plus, if someone falls in, the shelves act like stairs allowing them to get out. We also cover
the entire liner with various sizes of river rock, providing traction when climbing out of the pond.
|
| Q: |
Do water features increase the value of my home? |
| A: |
Today, the number one desired home improvement in America is a water feature.
The money spent on a professionally installed water feature enhances the landscape dramatically, increasing the home's value.
|
| Q: |
How much maintenance do water features require? |
| A: |
Water features do require some maintenance to keep them
clean and fully functional. However, they typically require less work than maintaining a healthy lawn.
|
