Best Pondless | Winner ‘Moves Mountains’ and 40 tons of Boulders

Published on February 28, 2017

It’s not that difficult to understand why some contractors might balk at the prospect of a project that requires manipulating more than 40 tons of boulders into a pondless waterfall in a tight backyard with limited access and an extreme slope. But when a recently retired couple presented the idea to Tim Wood at a home and garden show, it was clear that they had found the right person for the job.


>> See all the 2016 Water Artisan winners via our Gallery Spotlight

Demi Fortuna and his sons at August Moon Designs won the award for Best Renovation in 2016 with their koi update in New York.

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 When Tim and his team got to work at the nearby residential property, they faced the daunting process of excavating massive chunks of rock — some weighing in excess of 2 tons — while navigating trees and scrounging for accessible, stable ground to position their excavator. “We had some tense moments,” Tim says, remarking how their Takeuchi 285 could barely lift some of the largest boulders.

The larger-than-life, living sculpture consists of two waterfall spillways providing tranquil melodies of trickling water that flow into a 500-gallon reservoir. Tim also integrated a series of fallen logs and large sections of thick moss harvested from the nearby woods to create a naturalistic oasis that far exceeded the customer’s expectations.

Tim Wood

Tim Wood is a Master Certified Aquascape Contractor and the owner of Aquatic Edge Pond & Landscape Solutions in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He specializes in natural-style ecosystem koi ponds and water features. He also works as a consultant, providing lake management services and offering a variety of natural bacteria products developed specifically for use in lakes and large, earth-bottom ponds. When he’s not on the job, he frequently finds himself participating in local organizations focused on the management of lakes and ponds.

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