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Sounds like the deal of the century, right: getting six ponds and only paying for one? It is! Every Phoenix pond actually has six distinct personalities: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter (yes, we do have Winter here, although it doesn't snow -- at least not very often). A pond is a living, breathing entity, and it changes with the weather and the seasons. In Phoenix, we don’t have a lot of seasonal change compared to the Midwest and East Coast, but your pond notices! Believe it or not, a Spring Phoenix pond is not the same as your Summer Phoenix pond, and the Fall pond is very different from the Winter pond. Spring Pond in PHoenixA Spring pond is yawning and stretching (figuratively, of course) and getting ready to burst forth with life. The plants that were dormant and dull all winter start shooting out some new growth. This is when the old growth can be trimmed/thinned away to allow the new growth into the light. And algae is always the first weed in the garden, so there's some of that to deal with.  Summer Pond in PHoenixA Summer pond is growing aquatic plants like nobody's business! You have to stay on top of it, or your aquatic plants will eat the pond. It's an active time for water gardeners. And what better place to garden in 115 degree heat? Your Koi and goldfish are ravenously devouring food and constantly begging for more. This is the time of year you train them to eat out of your hand.  Fall Pond in PhoenixAquatic plants are starting to slow their roll as the water temps begin to dip. You still need to tend to them, but not quite as often as during the summer. Koi and goldfish begin to go into their dormant season, as well, and you stop feeding them the commercial fish food. Winter Pond in PHoenixDuring our "winter" months here in Phoenix, most of your aquatic plants are dormant, and your Koi and goldfish are generally hanging out at the bottom of the pond, clustered together for warmth. There are some cold-water loving plants, like Iris, that will give you some winter color. However, most of your plans will look a bit chlorotic during this season. Some areas of the Valley even have light freezes, so you might see some ice around the edges of your pond in the morning.   Nighttime Phoenix PondsThat covers four ponds. So, what about the other two? There’s also the day time Phoenix pond and the night time pond. The magic of the daytime Phoenix pond, with the sun glistening off the water’s surface, the colorful Koi darting around below and between the lily pads, all surrounded by lush green and colorful plants is truly spectacular. The nighttime Phoenix pond is full of romance, with underwater lights turning the entire aquatic ecosystem into a transparent liquid world that, for all practical purposes, is invisible during the day. Do you know anyone who can resist the seduction of the night time Phoenix pond? It’s absolutely spellbinding!   Oh, wait! That’s actually EIGHT ponds for the price of one, when you consider all four seasons, as well as both night and day. Hmmmm….. That’s a deal just too good to pass up! See some Phoenix ponds for yourself. And then Contact Us when you’re ready for yours! OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
GREAT WATER FEATURE IDEAS BUILD A POND THAT YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL ENVY! EXPECTATIONS OF AN ECOSYSTEM POND Thirsty for Survival
Water is Arizona wildlife’s most important resource, and it’s vital for more than just quenching thirst. Fish and frogs live in or near water their whole lives. Birds use water to keep their feathers clean and free of parasites, bees use water to cool their hives, and larger animals use water to cool down their bodies.
Arizona is in a cycle of long-term drought, which means there’s less available water for animals and a bigger fight for their survival. Urban sprawl has taken out many natural wetlands and catchment areas that our wildlife used to be able to depend on. As temperatures here rise, their search for water becomes even more crucial. Arizona Wildlife Needs Our Help
Arizona Game & Fish Department and their partners use trucks and helicopters to haul water to remote sites and keep 3,000 catchments full. These partners are mostly individuals volunteering. You can help them out by donating at SendWater.org, or volunteering your time.
Pond Owners Are Already Helping Arizona Wildlife!
As a pond or water feature owner, you are already helping! Keeping organic clean water in your yard invites our native feathered friends and the visiting migratory birds to quench their thirst and bathe. If you live in a neighborhood with a NAOS area, the wildlife living within counts on your water feature to survive alongside our human-built habitats. Bees count on your water feature to gather water to take back to cool the hive, ensuring their survival (and we all know how important they are!).
By having an ecosystem water feature, you are actually helping to replace our disappearing wetlands. You’re one of the good guys!
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CONTROLLING PLANTS IN A PHOENIX POND BACKYARD POND ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE 5 BASIC FENG SHUI PRINCIPLES FOR WATER FEATURES Save the (fill in the blank)! Saving natural habitats is hot on everyone’s mind these days. Riparian habitats are the rarest type of habitat in North America. The plants and micro-organisms found in riparian areas and natural wetlands are extremely efficient at removing excess nutrients from storm water and runoff. Unfortunately, man’s increased use of commercial fertilizers creates run-off extremely high in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which poses a major threat to the delicate ecosystems of our natural waterways. As a result of this, as well as excess traffic and use, 95% of the West’s best filtering habitats have been degraded to at least some extent.  Phoenix Ponds with Wetlands Replenish Disappearing Natural Wetlands What exactly makes a wetland such a good filter, even for a backyard pond? Wetlands are giant sponges. They protect ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, and aquifers by filtering out wastes and nutrients entering from storm water and runoff. Scientific studies have found that many common species of aquatic plants have the ability to uptake toxins directly from the water, thus scrubbing it clean again. This can even be accomplished in a backyard pond! Thinking of aquatic plants as the kidneys of the earth, it follows then that a constructed wetland filter would be an excellent approach to cleaning up an existing problem pond, as well as an outstanding way ensure that a backyard pond has plenty of filtration from the start, while providing a lush, beautiful setting.  Wetlands are Nature's Filter Clarity is one of the easiest and fastest ways to diagnose water quality in a backyard pond. Large loads of sediment and debris can have a serious impact on the aquatic life that a body of water can support. Wetlands, both in nature and constructed for backyard pond filtration, do a tremendous job of reducing sediment and debris, improving clarity within the pond. Natural wetlands are able to remove sediment by slowing the velocity of storm water, causing the sediment and debris to drop out of suspension. To see this concept in action, visit Regents of Scottsdale Apartment Complex, 15555 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Parkway, Scottsdale, Arizona. This riparian ecosystem that spans the center of the complex accepts runoff from the surrounding parking lots. Over the past six years of this system’s existence, the maintenance required has been quarterly bacteria and enzyme applications, along with monthly thinning of aquatic plants from within the streams  Phoenix Ponds Thrive with Wetlands! A constructed wetland filter of proportionate size can help provide crystal clear water in almost any backyard pond. We’ve all seen the chemically treated, generally blue-dyed, bodies of water that adorn many golf courses, apartment complexes, and HOA common areas. Furthermore, backyard ponds with a lot of large fish require a filtration system sufficient to keep up with the wastes these fish produce. On another note, many people have “green thumbs” and are attracted to the types of plants that can be grown in a backyard pond. Installing a wetland filter off to the side of a backyard pond will provide the perfect planting bed for a variety of aquatic plants, while allowing the garden owner to keep the pond surface area open for viewing.  Wildlife Appreciates Phoenix Ecosystem Ponds In addition to being a superb filter system, placed appropriately, the permanent and accessible organic water in a backyard pond is a boon to birds, both native and migratory. 80% of desert wildlife lives within sight of a riparian corridor. However, we have been damming and pumping our riparian areas out of existence here in Arizona. Constructed wetlands, and organically maintained backyard ponds, may be the best bet for the survival of many species of native and migratory bird life. In terms of economics, Arizona is a top ten birding destination on every birder’s list, and birding is a $2.5 billion a year tourism industry. Arizona’s share of this money in is huge! Adding a constructed wetland filter to a backyard pond not only adds a truly “green” element in every sense of the word, but provides a safe oasis to native and migratory birds, whether in the open desert, on a golf course, or in someone’s back yard.  One of the first questions we're often asked when folks call us for the first time is how long will it take to build my pond. Obviously, that depends on the size. The short answer is that our average pond project is started and completed in the same week. Part of our reputation, besides being the cleanest contractor people have ever worked with, is that we show up when we promise and we stay until the job is done. As a rule, we don't hop around between projects. Keep reading to understand our entire process -- it's a bit different than you may have experienced with other contractors before. ;-) If you're planning on building the pond yourself, then it can take anywhere from a weekend to a whole lot longer. Contact to ContractWe estimate that the average time it takes for someone to go from first contact with us to signing a contract and getting on our construction schedule takes about 2-3 weeks. That time estimate depends on our client's schedule, as well as the amount of incoming requests at any given time. We do our best to get back to people who first contact us within 48 business hours. During times of unusual incoming requests, this can take a little longer, and we try to keep you posted on where you are in our que. Once we've had a chance to chat, we usually get out to see your job site and put together your plan and contract within a week from the first telephone conversation. Once we have a plan, contract, and deposit, we can schedule your start date for next in line.  GETTING THINGS UNDERWAY When Can You Start?The next question is almost always, when can you start? Depending on the time of year (Spring being our busiest season), we are typically between 3 and 5 weeks out for a new project. Not gonna lie, we've been as far as 3 months out before. We always appreciate people who can plan ahead just a bit! ;-)  JUST FINISHED AND NEWLY PLANTED Our Unique SystemIt's as easy as 1-2-3! You might find our process a bit different than what you've experienced with contractors in the past. Our system is designed to first and foremost make sure that we're a good fit for you -- that we're the company that can best meet your needs, goals, and expectations. If we're not, we have no problem referring you to a colleague that we feel would be a better fit. Step 1. The initial contact is typically done through a phone or video conversation. We ask a whole bunch of questions, so please be patient with us as we get to know you and go through the discovery process of how we can be of service. Again, we have your best interest at heart. The last thing we want to do is jam our product down your throat and create an unhappy client because we didn't meet your expectations. We have a stellar reputation for a reason! If we're looking at remodeling or replacing an existing feature, we'll also ask for photos so we know where we're starting from. If everything goes swimmingly with the phone conversation, and you're comfortable with moving forward with your project -- and our company, we move on to the on-site design consultation. Step 2. We call this an on-site design consultation because we're coming out to design your pond or water feature. The "free estimate" part has already been handled during the phone conversation beforehand -- another factor in making sure we're a good fit for you. At this time, we meet with all the decision-makers involved to make sure that everyone gets their questions answered, their concerns addressed, and their expectations heard. When everyone involved is comfortable and chomping at the bit to get the party started, we lay out the design, write up the contract, and collect the deposit. The deposit is 1/2 of the contract amount, which allows us to go ahead and order and dedicate the materials necessary to complete your project. We do have a design consultation fee if you're not quite yet comfortable, or want to continue to talk it over amongst yourselves, etc. That covers our time, education, and expertise for this visit that was set aside just for you. This is why Step 1 is so important to make sure we're all on the same page before Step 2. Step 3. You are put on the construction schedule for next in line. And we don't just leave you hanging until then! We send out communication emails to let you know what comes next, and keep you informed along the way. That's really all there is to it. It's as easy as 1-2-3 to elevate your outdoor living experience! Can we get started on yours?  CAN YOU PICTURE YOURSELF HERE? OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
10 COMMON POND MYTHS -- DEBUNKED! WHY BACKYARD WATER FEATURES HAVE HEALING POWER LET US HELP YOU WITH YOUR DIY POND How do I find a leak in my Ecosystem Pond? Many times what people think is a leak in their backyard pond is actually a water displacement issue with the waterfall or stream. Or it could simply be a malfunctioning autofill device. OR, in May and June, which are our hottest, driest months, it could very well be evaporation at its finest.  When a leak really isn't a leak:  Remember that water wicks up the side of the rocks in your pond, so be sure you are actually seeing a drop in water, and not just wicking action. If the autofill device is not running at more than a drip, then you don't have a leak. Phoenix pond leak troubleshooting steps Before spending money for someone else to find the problem, here are some simple things you can do to troubleshoot the issue. Heck, you may even be able to fix it yourself and save some money! Turn off the water supply to the pond and unplug the pump, monitoring the water loss overnight. If the water level does not drop any further, you know the "leak" is in the waterfall or stream, and is more likely than not the result of plants needing to be thinned, or another displacement issue like shifting rocks on the edge of your liner due to some settling. Aquatic plants need thinning in a Phoenix pond or stream!  This is an easy fix with a living ecosystem pond built using EPDM rubber. Use an appraising eye to evaluate whether or not your stream is packed full of plant roots. If you've just been trimming off the dead leaves and not actually thinning the root material, chances are, you've located your issue. Sometimes you have to be brutal and thin those babies good! Just don't do this during winter when there's a chance that an upcoming frost will kill what's left of the plants. Settling leak around the edges of a Phoenix pond  Once that is done, check around the edges to make sure that water is still not going over the side of the liner. If it is, then you may have a settling leak. Again, this is an easy fix. Move some rocks out of the way, lift the liner up, shove some dirt under it, and replace the rock. Viola! Problem solved. The leak is in the waterfall If the previous two steps didn't solve the problem, then the leak is somewhere in the waterfall, and you should call your contractor to come deal with it, unless you're really handy and know what you're doing. Make sure that the flow over the falls is not being impeded by plants that have shifted into position. This sometimes causes a dam, causing water to flow off the back of the waterfall instead of the front. The leak is in the pond  If the water continued to drop despite the waterfall being turned off, go ahead and turn the system back on to keep it oxygenated for your fish if it's summertime, and call your contractor for help. You may be advised to turn the waterfall back off and let it drop until it stops so that the hole or tear can be quickly addressed. MORE POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY: RODENTS AND THE PHOENIX POND CONTROLING PLANTS IN A PHOENIX POND WILDLIFE AROUND A PHOENIX POND NEED MORE HELP? |
