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  • Home
  • Reviews
  • About
    • Contact
      • Consult Form
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Public Display Water Features
    • A Little About Us
    • FAQ's
    • Pond Myths
    • The Pond Squad
    • Blog
  • Services
    • Fish & KOI Pond Installation
    • Disappearing Pondless Waterfalls
    • Landscape Fountains
    • RainXchange Rainwater Harvesting
    • Natural Stone Patios
    • Maintenance
      • Pond Maintenance
      • Pond Cleaning
      • Pond Repairs
      • Spring & Summer Maintenance
      • Fall Maintenance
      • Winter Maintenance
  • Portfolio
    • Backyard Pond Projects
    • Pondless Waterfall Projects
    • Landscape Fountain Projects
    • Outdoor Lifestyles
    • Natural Stone Patios
  • Maintenance & Services
    • Why HIre Us
    • Send Us Pictures
    • Pond Cleaning
    • Pond Skimmers
    • Waterfall Filtration
    • Algae Control
    • Large Pond Maintenance
    • Pond Renovation
    • Leak Detection
    • LED LIghting
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Pond Blog

Best Tips for Fall Pond Maintenance

9/12/2019

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Have you ever noticed that your pond water is clearer in the fall?  This is typically due to cooler temperatures and full, lush plants. To keep your pond looking its best throughout the fall season, follow our helpful, easy-to-follow pond maintenance tips.

  • Prune yellowing leaves off all of your plants. Your lilies - tropical and hardy - should still be going strong, at least until the first heavy frost.
  • Stop fertilizing plants when the weather becomes cooler. This lets the plants know the season is coming to an end.
  • When the water temperature is around 50 degrees F, stop feeding your fish. If you continue to feed them, you might create health problems for your finned friends, since their digestive systems are beginning to slow down for the winter.
  • As leaves falls from nearby trees, you'll need to empty your skimmer’s debris net every day to keep up with the influx of leaves. Some leaves will undoubtedly sink to the bottom of the pond; try to remove as many as you can. However, a few left in the pond will give insects and frogs a place to over-winter.
  • If you leave too much organic matter in your pond, the water may turn brown. If this happens, remove the excess debris and add activated carbon to clear the water.
  • Installing Pond Netting over your water feature is a great way to free up your maintenance time and allow you to enjoy sitting by your pond on these cool days, instead of skimming leaves!  The netting still allows you to see and hear your waterfalls and enjoy your fish.
  • As the temperature gets colder and your plants expire, cut back the dead plant material and remove the tropicals. Cut back the cattails above the water level, or better yet, leave them up to see how magnificent they look in the winter.
  • If you're fortunate enough to live where it stays warm all year-round, you're set for the winter.
  • If you live up north where the surface of the pond freezes, you'll need to prepare for winter by deciding whether you want to keep your pond running or shut it down.
  • To shut your pond down, first unplug your pump and pull it out of the water. The pump should be stored in a frost-free location, submerged in a bucket of water to keep the seals from drying.
  • If you have fish, a small re-circulating pump or • If you're fortunate enough to live where it stays warm all year-round, you're set for the winter.
    • If you live up north where the surface of the pond freezes, you'll need to prepare for winter by deciding whether you want to keep your pond running or shut it down.
    • To shut your pond down, first unplug your pump and pull it out of the water. The pump should be stored in a frost-free location, submerged in a bucket of water to keep the seals from drying.
    • If you have fish, a small re-circulating pump or aerator that bubbles at the water surface is necessary to oxygenate the water. In all but extremely low temperatures, the bubbling of the pump will also keep a hole open in the ice to allow for a gas exchange, keeping your fish alive. It is not necessary to oxygenate the water or keep a hole open in the ice if you don't have fish.
    • If your area experiences long periods of extremely cold weather, you may consider adding a floating de-icer. Controlled by a thermostat, the unit only runs when the water temperature is at or below freezing, heats the water to just above that, and then shuts off again. Ask your installer or local supplier for products to help your pond during the winter.
    • If you use a floating de-icer, place it away from the bubbler. The movement of the water from the bubbler can move the heated water away from the de-icer, making it run more than necessary.
    • You can also choose to keep the waterfall running. This will require a little babysitting to make sure an ice dam does not form, which could cause water to run out of the waterfall’s basin. You will also still need to replace water loss so the pump can continue to function properly. This extra effort during the winter will reward you with the most beautiful ice formations and patterns around the falls and stream beds.
    The most important thing is to have fun with your water feature all year long. Keep some of these key maintenance issues in mind, and it will be smooth sailing. 
    that bubbles at the water surface is necessary to oxygenate the water. In all but extremely low temperatures, the bubbling of the pump will also keep a hole open in the ice to allow for a gas exchange, keeping your fish alive. It is not necessary to oxygenate the water or keep a hole open in the ice if you don't have fish.
  • If your area experiences long periods of extremely cold weather, you may consider adding a • If you're fortunate enough to live where it stays warm all year-round, you're set for the winter.
    • If you live up north where the surface of the pond freezes, you'll need to prepare for winter by deciding whether you want to keep your pond running or shut it down.
    • To shut your pond down, first unplug your pump and pull it out of the water. The pump should be stored in a frost-free location, submerged in a bucket of water to keep the seals from drying.
    • If you have fish, a small re-circulating pump or aerator that bubbles at the water surface is necessary to oxygenate the water. In all but extremely low temperatures, the bubbling of the pump will also keep a hole open in the ice to allow for a gas exchange, keeping your fish alive. It is not necessary to oxygenate the water or keep a hole open in the ice if you don't have fish.
    • If your area experiences long periods of extremely cold weather, you may consider adding a floating de-icer. Controlled by a thermostat, the unit only runs when the water temperature is at or below freezing, heats the water to just above that, and then shuts off again. Ask your installer or local supplier for products to help your pond during the winter.
    • If you use a floating de-icer, place it away from the bubbler. The movement of the water from the bubbler can move the heated water away from the de-icer, making it run more than necessary.
    • You can also choose to keep the waterfall running. This will require a little babysitting to make sure an ice dam does not form, which could cause water to run out of the waterfall’s basin. You will also still need to replace water loss so the pump can continue to function properly. This extra effort during the winter will reward you with the most beautiful ice formations and patterns around the falls and stream beds.
    The most important thing is to have fun with your water feature all year long. Keep some of these key maintenance issues in mind, and it will be smooth sailing. 
    Controlled by a thermostat, the unit only runs when the water temperature is at or below freezing, heats the water to just above that, and then shuts off again. Ask your installer or local supplier for products to help your pond during the winter.
  • If you use a floating de-icer, place it away from the bubbler. The movement of the water from the bubbler can move the heated water away from the de-icer, making it run more than necessary.
  • You can also choose to keep the waterfall running. This will require a little babysitting to make sure an ice dam does not form, which could cause water to run out of the waterfall’s basin. You will also still need to replace water loss so the pump can continue to function properly. This extra effort during the winter will reward you with the most beautiful ice formations and patterns around the falls and stream beds.
  • The most important thing is to have fun with your water feature all year long. Keep some of these key maintenance issues in mind, and it will be smooth sailing. 
     
Arrange Pond Netting
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Pond Patience Please!

4/19/2019

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Springtime Pond Changes
 

Although bacteria and plants don't start growing properly until water temperature reaches 55°F, there are still some simple steps you can take to maintain a crystal clear, trouble-free pond.
We recommend using  Aquascape Maintain for Ponds.   We have been using this 3 in 1 (Beneficial Bacteria/ Phosphate Binder for Algae/ Pond Flocculent for cloudy water) Pond Water Treatment in our own Display Ponds for over two years and are thrilled with the way our ponds behave!  We started recommending it to our pond clients in 2018 and they have been similarly pleased with the results. 
 
SAB™ and EcoBlast™  water treatments  may also be used early in the season.  SAB contains a powerful phosphate binder to help maintain clear water and EcoBlast is an extremely effective algaecide.  Both of these products can be used throughout the season, but they are especially effective helping maintain optimum water conditions until water warms up and the beneficial bacteria and aquatic plants have the opportunity to kick in.

Fertilizing pond plants is also an important step toward balancing your pond. Strong healthy plants quickly utilize excess nutrients. Aquascape has two fertilizers, one short-term and one long-term. For optimal results use both fertilizers. The short-term fertilizer will jumpstart your plants in the spring and the long-term fertilizer will continue to feed your plants for one full year. Not only will you have beautiful vibrant lush plants, you will also have crystal clear water quality without the need to use potentially harmful algaecides that will not only disrupt the balance of your pond, but can also have harmful effects on fish, plants, and invertebrates. This short-term gain certainly comes with long-term pain.

Algae don’t mind cool water, but for the rest of your pond’s ecosystem, 55 ° F is kind of the magic number. The plants and bacteria don’t jump into action, in the battle of the green monster, until the water temperature reaches, and consistently stays, around 50° to 55° F.  At this time they start growing and are then able to use up the excess nutrients that the algae would otherwise be feasting on. This is the reason for the feared spring algae bloom.

The Plants
While growing, aquatic plants absorb a lot of the nutrients in the water, and this helps combat algae growth.  Until they are actively growing, they have no use for the natural fertilizer lurking in the pond.  But as they begin growing, they will naturally start to out-compete the algae for nutrients, the algae will be starved, and the pond water will become clearer.  Another benefit that plants provide, particularly water lilies, is that they shade the surface of the water helping to keep the water cool all well cutting down on the growth of string algae as well as green water.

The Bacteria
Bacteria also need warmer water to begin growing and colonizing, helping to provide crystal clear water quality as well as reducing maintenance.  You can help jumpstart the pond in the spring by adding supplemental bacteria such as Aquascape Beneficial Bacteria for Ponds, and providing it with a place to colonize.  Since bacteria like lots of nooks and crannies, having rocks and gravel in the bottom of your pond will help provide surface area for bacteria to grow.  If you can’t, or don’t want to add rocks and gravel to the bottom of your pond, you’ll have less surface area for bacteria to colonize.  A biological filter containing a filtration media like Aquascape BioBalls®, with lots of surface area provides optimum conditions for biological filtration in the smallest space possible. The more surface area available for bacteria to grow, the more efficient your biological filter. Providing crystal clear water quality creates less problems, thereby lessening maintenance, which leaves more time to enjoy the pond and less time spent maintaining it.

Fish
Fish are also sensitive to water temperature, and as it warms up, you will see more activity, and be tempted to feed them.  You’ve missed your fish all winter, but until the water temperature is consistently at 55° F, don’t feed them.  Their metabolism is still in slow motion and they are unable to digest the food properly. If you do feed them and food cannot be digested, this can result in food starting to decay in the body of the fish causing fish to become sick and possibly resulting in their death.  When you do start feeding them, begin with small amounts of a quality fish food formulated for colder water temperature, such as Aquascape Premium Coldwater Fish Food Pellets for all pond fish. 

Pond Patience Please…
You need “Pond Patience”.  If you’ve stocked your pond with plenty of plants, the temperature’s just right, and you’ve started supplementing with Aquascape Maintain for Ponds, your pond will quickly balance. Beneficial bacteria need to be added to a consistent maintenance routine to obtain optimal results. Resist the urge to add traditional algaecides as your pond will never become truly balanced, and often ponds become dependent on their use. Help support Mother Nature with use of natural products -your pond and the environment will thank you!


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When Your Pond Starts to Thaw in Western MA and Northern CT

3/24/2019

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Here in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut, your pond might be showing the first signs of thawing … or it may be several weeks or so before that happens. No matter your geographic location, here are some tips to follow when your pond begins to thaw.

  • Remove any leaves and debris left over from the previous season.
  • It may also be a good time to do at least a partial water change or add water to the pond or perform a more thorough "drain and clean". Make sure to condition tap water with Aquascape Pond Detoxifier which makes tap-water safe for fish and plants.
  • Time to get the pond running; if you have removed your pump for the winter, simply make sure it is clean and ready for operation. If your pump has been left in the pond over the winter months, it’s probably due for a good cleaning. Remove any debris surrounding the pump and also clean the impeller. Depending on what type of pump you are operating, it is also a good idea to remove the impeller and clean inside the impeller opening. Most pumps that don’t start immediately in the spring can be easily fixed with a good cleaning. If the pump doesn’t run right away it can be soaked overnight in a mild, acid-like white vinegar or CLR. Rinse off the pump and it should be ready for operation. Remember … never to run the pump dry. It must be submersed!
  • Don’t worry if you see a lot of unwanted string algae as it’s normal to have string algae in the spring. Unfortunately there’s nothing utilizing nutrients being produced by decaying organics and/or fish populations. Don’t panic! Plants will soon start to grow and beneficial bacteria populations will quickly reestablish themselves taking care of excess nutrients.
  • Coldwater Beneficial Bacteria can be added all winter as it has specially formulated strains of bacteria that work in cold water temperatures up to 60°F, with a peak performance between temperatures of 35°F to -40°F. Once temperatures are above 60°F you can transition over to  Aquascape Maintain for Ponds.
  • Your fish may look like they need to eat and even come to the surface looking for their first spring treat, but don’t do it! Wait until the water temperature will remain over 50 degrees. (If you feed them now, your fish may not be able to properly digest the food causing future health problems.)
  • Patience Please…
    You gotta have patience.  If you’ve stocked your pond with plenty of plants, the temperature’s just right, and you’ve started supplementing with Aquascape Cold Water Bacteria for Ponds, your pond will quickly balance. Beneficial bacteria need to be added to a consistent maintenance routine to obtain optimal results. Resist the urge to add traditional algaecides as your pond will never become truly balanced, and often ponds become dependent on their use. Help support Mother Nature with use of natural products from Aquascape, your pond and the environment will thank you!


 

 
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Visit Awesome Fish Pond Displays Booth #301 Western MA Home Show March 28-31 in West Springfield

3/13/2019

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Spring brings robins, longer days and, of course, our fish pond and water garden displays at the Western Mass Home Show 2019 (March 28-31).  Stop by and visit with the “pond guys”  at Booth 301 in the Better Living Center on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. 

We will be showing off a new 360 degree Fountainscape and, of course, our eco-system pond complete with fish and aquatic plantings.

Home and Garden Shows provide a great opportunity for you to get new ideas to help make your indoor and outdoor living spaces more enjoyable for you and your family.  Learn more about the Western Mass Home Show  here

You will also enjoy meeting members of the Pioneer Valley Water Garden & Koi Club in the Home Building.  Learn more about the Club, monthly meeting topics and information about our annual Pioneer Valley Pond Tour!

Happy Pondering!

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The "Science" of Wetland Filters

2/20/2019

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OR EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WETLAND FILTERS, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!

​When a fellow pond builder asked Ed Beaulieu (inventor/designer of the Aquascape Constructed Wetland Filter) for the explanation of how our wetland filters work, he provided the following in-depth response.  Ed, Chief Science Officer for Aquascape Inc., was in Bogota, Colombia at the time and crafted this response on his phone!  Ed LOVES science -but is hardly a science nerd- and as you can see by the last paragraph, has a sense of humor!
​ (Ed's response, in its entirety, follows verbatim)
​"You may want to grab a beverage of your choice before reading..... This should answer his questions: Thanks for questioning the function of this filter, you clearly understand the importance of a well designed and built Biofilter.
The Constructed Wetland Filtration System is a very simple yet effective Filter.
It’s a combination of controlled water flow rates combined with a sedimentation chamber and specific grades of River rock that will provide the necessary surface area for microbial colonization.
But before I describe the functions of the Wetland I need to stress the importance of a Mechanical Prefilter such as a Skimmer or Intake Bay both of which will remove large organic compounds from the water before it reaches the Wetland.
If this simple device is not in place the Wetland Filter will not function properly for two reasons.
1st the leaf debris, uneaten fish food, etc.... will overload the sedimentation chamber over time.
2nd reason is due to dissolved oxygen which we all know is critical for a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
In this particular instance the skimmer or Intake Bay draws the surface water from the surface of the pond during operation.
The surface water will have the highest dissolved oxygen level because the water is in direct contact with the atmosphere.
A healthy Wetland Filter consumes oxygen through a variety of biological processes, the greater the fish load the more critical this becomes, the mixture of sediments, fish waste, dissolved nutrients and oxygen will allow flow into the bottom of the filter. With that out of the way we can discuss the actual Wetland Filter in detail:
Let’s start at the bottom of the filter where the water is discharged into the wetland from the skimmer/Prefilter.
The bottom of the filter uses a patented water distribution system(Snorkel vault and Centipede modules) this modular design allows us to customize the filter according to the goals of the project.
Example:
High fish loads,
Existing pond with high benthic nutrient deposits(eutrophic System)
Swimming pond,
Excessive runoff from the area surrounding the pond, etc..... We have an initial 93% reduction in water velocity as the water enters the Centipede module, this allows the larger sediments(sand and small gravel) to settle out in this first chamber.
The water then flows up into the main sedimentation chamber which is comprised of our Aquablox water matrix units. When the water enters this chamber we have an additional drop in water velocity creating a hydraulic residence time of 10-15 minutes within the sedimentation chamber depending on the actual flow rates of the filter(Total Dynamic Head) this allows the finer sediments(fine organic compounds, fish waste, silty clays, etc....)with the necessary hydraulic residence time to accumulate within this zone.
The Aquablox have a series of internal baffles within them which eliminates laminar water flow, these baffles create a gentle mixing of the water which allows the fine suspended sediments and particles to literally bump into each other, these particles have a weak electric charge so when they bump into each other they’ll stick together in larger clumps when the flow rate permits.
The larger clumps have a slightly higher specific gravity than the water so they sink to the bottom of the sedimentation chamber.
This process is very important because if the fine sediments are not removed(precipitated out)they’ll adhere to the river rocks which will change the surface area for the beneficial bacterial colonies causing a shift in the specific species that can live in the filter.
Our goal is to establish the colonies directly on gravel not on sediments stuck to the gravel..... From here the water flows up through a minimum of 18” of River rock comprised of three distinct sizes/layers of stone.
The bottom layer has the largest gravel made with 3”-5” River rock, 8” thick.
The second layer is 2”-3” gravel 8” thick and the final layer located at the top of the filter is 3/4” gravel 8” thick.
The top layer of 3/4” gravel is perfect for planting aquatic plants.
The declining nature of the gravel diameters will keep them separated because the interstitial spaces will not permit the migration of the rocks down into the lower levels, does this make sense???
3”-5” rock will have void spaces of 1”-1.5” maximum this will not allow the 2”-3” gravel to migrate.
The other reason for the different grades of gravel is because they each have different surface areas(large rock has a lower
Surface area to volume versus small gravel which has a higher surface area for its volume) this allows for different levels of colonization to occur within the different river rock layers.
As the water continues it’s path to the surface/top layer of the filter the water flow will split into smaller and smaller pathways(interstitial spaces)by doing this we expose the flowing water to the diverse colonies of bacteria, fungi, biofilms and countless aquatic species of copepods, rotifers, tardigrades, etc....
Every living organism on our Planet is competing against other similar organisms for food, a home, sunlight, etc.....
This competition is fierce!
You wouldn’t realize this because it takes place on all trophic levels
From large vertebrates all the way down to the microscopic/nano level.
Bacteria and fungi compete for space within the filter bed.
The reason that I bring this up is that this filter only functions properly when it’s “seeded” with the right strains of bacteria, we use a specific formula that has been developed to consume nitrogenous wastes generated by fish and other aquatic organisms along with allocthonous organic compounds such as leaf debris and lawn clippings.
Without the proper mix of bacteria added to the pond your leaving it up to chance that the right beneficial microbes will just happen to show up?!?!
That’s not to say that it can’t happen because it can but if you want consistent results then this is the only way to insure it!
I apologize for the long explanation but I felt that it was relevant to explain some of the details of the system before answering your actual questions. How do you clean it, very easily, Once per year we recommend the Wetland Filter to be thoroughly cleaned.
This is accomplished by placing a solids handling sump pump into the snorkel vault which goes to the lowest elevation within the filter(sump) turn the filter pumps off and turn the solids handling pump on.
This pump should have 50’+ of piping/tubing connected to it to allow the sediment laden water to be discharged into the surrounding garden beds or turf grass.
The dirty filter water is filled with organic compounds and is a great source nutrients for the plants.
Once the filter is completely drained place a second pump along with the associated piping into the pond, discharge the pond water on to the top of the filter bed.
Move the water around to actively back-flush the gravel bed sending the fine sediments and water down through the entire filter.
Continue pumping the dirty water out of the snorkel until the water being discharged into the Landscaping is sufficiently clean(it doesn’t have to be perfect!)
The top of the wetland is typically planted with a wide variety of marginal aquatic plants which will further aid in the removal of Nitrogen from the system.
These plants should be cut back at this time and thinned to encourage new plant growth.
More plant growth=greater nutrient removal. Aeromonas and Pseudomonas are not a problem if the filter is installed and maintained properly this is due to the efficient water distribution system combined with high dissolved oxygen levels throughout the filter bed; this is not the desired conditions for those organisms.
This combined with the highly competitive nature of the beneficial microbes that are added to the system will literally starve them out because they will not be able to get a foothold in the filter(everyone competing for food and a home) Fish waste is kept in suspension within the pond due to Bioturbations from the fish(constantly feeding on the bottom of the pond) along with underwater jets that will push the waste towards the Prefilter.
Large waste will be removed in the Prefilter and the finer compounds will pass through the pump where they’re agitated and broken into finer particles to be distributed through the Centipede modules and Sedimentation chamber, this is similar to the Solids Chamber on a Septic System if your familiar with that technology?
The remainder of the fish waste is ammonia secreted from the gills during respiration.
This dissolved form of nitrogen will be subjected to the nitrifying bacteria living within the filter bed. As you can see there are several factors that need to be accounted for outside of the actual filter that allows the system to function properly, if one of the other steps is not done it will have an impact in the water quality.
I hope my response helps you to more fully understand the inner workings of this Revolutionary Filter System that was created by my Mentor: Ed Beaulieu the Grandmaster of Pond and Water Feature design and construction.
Without his knowledge and understanding of aquatic ecosystems this would not be possible.....
I look forward to hearing back
from you!"

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Winter is for Pondering.....

2/20/2019

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If spring and fall are the seasons when most pond lovers are actively working on or playing in their ponds, then the long cold winter months of winter are the time of year when many of us sit back and think about the kinds of things we can do next season to transform our beautiful aquatic paradise into an even more special place.

Winter is the season for dreaming                                                                                                                                       
So sit back, close your eyes, put your feet up, take a deep breath and picture those places you’ve experienced that come closest to perfection.  Have these experiences taken place along side a raging river or thunderous waterfall in Colorado, Montana or the Adirondacks of New York?  Do you picture a more tropical locale like Jamaica, Bermuda or Key West?  
Most importantly, what can you glean from these images that you can now take and duplicate in your own back yard, in order to create the paradise of your dreams?  

Size Matters
The possibilities are endless, but the first thought for many pond owners is increasing the size of their pond.  The most common pond owners complaint about their existing pond is that it’s too small  As a matter of fact, industry statistics show that, on average, water gardening lovers have three different ponds in their lifetime, each larger than the last.  If this sounds like you and your pond, the initial question has to be: “Is there enough room in my yard to expand?”  Other points to ponder when thinking of enlarging your pond are the size of your biological filter and the volume of water your existing  pump can move. 

More Splash in Your Life
What if your pond is as big as the yard allows?  The part of the pond that always gets the most attention is the waterfall and stream.  Will reworking the current waterfalls and streams give you a more dramatic or more natural feature?  Would you prefer to add another waterfall or stream to make things more interesting, more exotic and just a little closer to perfection?
Another possibility is to rework the pond edges.  Do you picture larger character boulders or a “sitting rock” where you can relax while enjoying your fish and plants?
As your koi grow, are their fish caves large enough to provide shelter from herons and other hungry predators?

Light Up Your World
Most of us are well aware of the importance of landscape and pond lighting in making a great pond even more intriguing.  Will additional lighting provide you with an even more dramatic experience?  Consider the use of low voltage, LED or fiber optic lighting as a way to upgrade your landscape.

The Missing Ingredient
Maybe your quite content with your current feature, but would like to see and hear moving water in another portion of your yard or from another window in your home.  A second pond or a pondless waterfall may be the answer.  Now is the time to plan for this new project.  Make a list of everything you love about your pond and also include things you would do differently the second time around.
If your pond is perfect just the way it is, what is the missing ingredient?  Do you envision a stone patio contoured along pond’s edge as a place to spend quality time?  Would a bridge or decorative bench complete the picture?  Is a gazebo or pergola the answer for a cool spot out of the searing summer sun?  Would a new landscape featuring plants that attract song birds and butterflies or  plants that create a more private, quiet spot for you and your family to escape the demands of our modern world be the answer?

Remember, you have to dream it before you can build it, and winter is for dreaming!

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Given up on Spring?  Don't despair...Come to the Original Western Mass. Home & Garden Show!

3/14/2017

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 I am taking a short break from digging out of the “Blizzard of 2017” to let you know that Picture Perfect Ponds will be bringing Spring to Booth# 301 in the Better Living Center at the Eastern States Exposition March 23-26.

​Come relax on our teak bench and watch colorful koi swim gracefully by while being soothed by the cascading sounds of waterfalls and bubbling fountainscapes. 

Blooming daffodils and landscape plantings frame our low-maintenance rock and gravel pond.  Aquatic plants and lilies highlighted by our energy efficient LED lighting will make you forget the snow and cold outside.

Our pond professionals will be happy to show you how we will “build you the Pond of your Dreams” in your very own Backyard Paradise.

Can’t wait for next week - check out our Portfolio of some of the awesome ponds and waterfalls we have created for folks like you in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut at:  http://www.pictureperfectponds.com/backyard-pond-projects.html   

​Happy pondering,

​Jeff and the Rock Artists at Picture Perfect Ponds

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It's Spring Pond Cleaning Time in Western Massachusetts

3/3/2016

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Spring is just around the corner here in the Western Massachusetts & Northern Connecticut region of the northeast, and before you know it you will be outside enjoying the weather and all the wonder and excitement of your beautiful pond again, which brings us to the topic of preparing your pond for Spring and the upcoming season.  We recommend that your pond receive a full professional cleaning at least once, on occasion twice per year to help maintain its low maintenance and beautiful appearance. Failure to perform an annual clean out could result in increased maintenance or fish health issues. 

All customers receive a custom price quote for their clean out. If we have serviced your pond in the past or if we installed your pond we can give you a cost for your cleaning once you have contacted us. If you are a new customer we will require a Pond Profile to familiarize ourselves with your pond and to give you an accurate Spring Pond Maintenance price. If you would like to hire Picture Perfect Ponds to perform your spring maintenance services, please fill out the Pond Maintenance Form to receive your clean out Pricing, or a Pond Profile.



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On Pond clean out day, be sure to have your garden hose outside, waterfall pump(s) and other components readily available and your water garden electrical outlet turned on.

  Picture Perfect Ponds now gets down & dirty with your water feature! We will drain the water (temporarily housing the Fish if you have them). The next step is to give the water feature a quick pressure washing and rinse (we don’t want to remove every bit of the beneficial Bio-Film). Once washed down they will trim back and fertilize aquatic plants, check and replace underwater light bulbs or fixtures, re-adjust rocks & gravel and finally install the waterfall pump.  When all of this is finished, they will begin refilling the water feature (and re-introducing your fish if you have them).  Any requested water treatment products will be left for you.

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    Jeff Paquette is the owner and Chief Dream Maker of Picture Perfect Ponds.

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