Pond professionals come from a wide range of backgrounds and interests and often wear many different creative and technical hats. With an artistic background in design and a team of landscape architects to put the vision together, a pond professional can easily overlook some of the electrical issues or assume that the electrician will take […]
Submersible Water Pumps: Electrical Safety Tips Read More »
Biosafety. We all know that word by now — it’s becoming the new norm on a worldwide scale. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the issues surrounding biosafety at all levels have become an essential daily concern. Sticking to our industry’s best practices is a must as we move into the “post-Coronavirus” world. As pond professionals,
Biosafety and Pond Management in the COVID-19 Era Read More »
The water feature industry is relatively young when compared to most of the established trades within construction, so it’s not uncommon to see seminars at sales conferences that focus on the bidding of a project, selling a project and closing on a deal. No question, the initial pond project consultation should instill confidence in the
17 Steps to Empower Your Customer’s Pond Design Choices Read More »
The most common pond size across the country is 2,000 gallons. Potential customers often call me asking, “How much will it cost to build a 2,000-gallon pond?” Unfortunately, this question can never be answered over the phone without further consultation. So many factors are involved in making individual decisions about a specific design, including location,
Best Pond Practices | Two Ponds, Two Ways Read More »
A living pond is an artificial body of water with the functional capability of supporting aquatic life. The proper function of a living pond has little to nothing to do with its aesthetic makeup. The visual appearance of a pond relies upon a combination of how well it fits into the surrounding space and what
Best Pond Practices | Naturalistic Pond Edge Treatments Read More »
Zombie projects like this one are projects that come back to life after a long period of disappearance. The general contractor, Blue Heron, originally contacted me three years ago to provide the design and supply the equipment instead of coming in after the infrastructure was finished. The good thing about this project is that I
Best Practices | Formal Courtyard Pond Design Read More »
In early 2018, I received a call from Anthony in Aliso Viejo, California, who needed assistance designing his pond. Anthony was in construction and had acquired some glass panels. He wanted to build a pond with windows on the sides. Anthony and his wife Linda’s backyard was small, so a raised pond would be a
Best Practices | Glass-Paneled, Raised-Pond Construction Read More »
In the past couple of years, I have been fortunate enough to help design and supply equipment for clients who are interested working with both their pool and landscape contractors to build a formal pond. Occasionally a client will retain me and then go from contractor to contractor. The contractor-client relationship can be a delicate
Best Practices | Collaborative Formal Pond Design Read More »
Just like in real estate, the location of a water feature is key. The most natural-looking man-made pond is one that could have been created naturally, given time and the interaction of weather, geology and gravity. The processes are always the same, though geology and terrain will vary. Water flows out from the side of
How to Site a Water Feature: A Checklist Read More »
A few months ago, I received a call from a couple relocating from California to Las Vegas. They had just purchased a new home and needed to move and quarantine their fish while a pond was built. Not only did they need help moving their fish and temporarily housing them, but they also needed assistance
Best Practices | Raised, Formal Backyard Pond Design Read More »