Great and amazing ideas for your water garden | Morris County NJ
What is it that makes one water garden really great and another just…ordinary? Well there are a lot of things, but we’ve chosen a few to inspire you to personalize your water garden. We visit water gardens everyday and the ones that stand out all have one thing in common: their people spend time enjoying them! Whether you enjoy a beverage by the pond, yoga, frog catching, or a family gathering we hope these ideas will inspire you to spend more time relaxing in your outdoor space.
PATIO BOWLS
Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference. Patio bowls add an architectural element to your pond or waterfall. Striking ribbon falls fall elegantly from the bowls edge spilling into one another and back into the pond. The bowls themselves provide the perfect environment for aquatic plants. Plant marginal varieties that you want people to take notice of. Add just one, a pair or a trio to your pond.
Click play below to watch us add spillway bowls and an new stream to a 14 year old pond
Stepping Stones
Stepping stones make a great way to interact with your pond. Stepping stones bring you into the middle of your pond allowing you to stroll through your water garden, feed your fish, practice yoga, or… the possibilities are endless. If your pond is small consider a threshold stone. A threshold stone is simply a large flat stepping stone that sits on the edge of the pond–like the threshold in a doorway it is the divider between two worlds– the terrestrial and aquatic and invites you to step closer to the pond.
FOUNTAINS & SPITTERS
Fountains add a focal point to your water garden, whether you choose a simple spitter or a more elaborate setup like the stacked slate spheres. Fountains can be added an existing pond or waterfall or can be installed on their own basin. Spitters work well on their own, larger fountains work best in odd numbers (1,3,5) of varying sizes. Fountains can also be added directly in the pond. Fountains in the pondscape have the added benefit providing more aeration for your pond.
LIGHTING
Lighting changes everything!!! If you work a 9-5 you may not get to enjoy your water feature for many hours before the evening darkness settles in. Adding energy efficient LED lighting to your yard creates a candlelit ambiance and extends the hours you can enjoy your outdoor space.
SEATING
Seating invites you into the water garden to stay and relax a while… does it really get any better than that???
So what does a water feature cost? Good question. Check out all our water features and their prices on our Project Planner. Yeah, What Does A Water Feature Cost?
When the weather turns cold, you have two choices for handling delicate and tropical pond plants – you can either bring them inside for the winter or treat them like annuals and replace them each spring. However, what many pond owners prefer to do is plant cold-hardy perennials that go dormant beneath the snow and come back to life in the spring.
If this is the sort of setup you want, consider including the following pond plant species in and around your backyard water feature:
Hardy Water Lilies: Most hardy water lilies should be planted in 12”-24” of water to make it through the winter. Shallower plantings may freeze and deeper ones take a lot of the plant’s energy just to reach the surface of the water, decreasing the number of blooms that you see each year. Hardy Water Lilies come in nearly every color imaginable, white, pink, yellow or red and now even purple.
American lotus: You’ll find this dazzling beauty in natural lakes as far north as Ontario and as far south as Florida. Hybrids like the “Empress” and dwarf “Momo Batan” are some of the most eye-catching varieties. Flowers come single or double in a wide array of colors: white, yellow, pink, “red”, “blue” and bi-colors. We recommend growing lotus in pots for easy maintenance. They require regular feeding through the growing season to support their large leaves.
Arrowhead plant: Named for its arrowhead-shaped leaves, the tall, graceful stems of this perennial will add great interest to your hardy water garden. If you have a small pond, contain this vigorous grower in a pot. Corkscrew rush: Plant this robust, upright grower in one section of your pond to mimic the quality of old-world reeds. These are great for creating a beautiful natural setting. Purple Pitcher plants: A native plant and one of our favorites. Choose this low-growing perennial if you have a pond in full-sun. It takes a couple years to really take off, but when it does it is a remarkable specimen. We recommend planting marginal plants like pitcher plants in groups of 3-5. Pickerelweed: The carefree growth habit and bold, upright foliage of this pond plant make it a popular choice for pond owners. Beautiful lavender blooms in summer will return year after year.
Lizard’s tail: This is a breathtaking addition to the edge of a natural pond. Characteristics include compact, upright growth and spiky, slender flowers that resemble a lizard’s tail. Cardinal Flowers: A biannual (grows foliage one year and flowers the next) is a fantastic tropical looking native plant that adds color to your pond side. It blooms late summer into the early fall at a time when many other perennial aquatic plants have retired for the season. The cardinal red blossoms are also attractive to hummingbirds. Acorus: Plant this hardy perennial in the boggy areas around your pond. The sharp clean cut leaves resemble that of an iris and come in a number of attractive varigations. Marsh marigold: This brief bloomer from the buttercup family will delight you in spring. One of the earliest flowers with lovely yellow blossoms. Plant it in marshy areas around your pond.
Whatever hardy perennials you choose for your water garden, they still need a little care every fall. Remember to trim off yellow or brown foliage. Lotus pots should be moved to a deeper section of the pond for winter.
For more advice when selecting pond plants, or for help caring for your perennials, please contact Atlantis Water Gardens at 973.627.0515. We provide full-service pond design, pond maintenance and cleaning in Northern New Jersey.
Atlantis Water Gardens – Denville, NJ / Northern New Jersey (Morris County and surrounding areas)
973.627.0515
Recognized as an industry leader (Certified Contractor of the Year 2010, Artist of the year 2014 and Businessman of the Year 2018 and #1 Aquascape Retailer 2016 and 2018) With projects on three continents and across the country Atlantis Water Gardens has the passion, experience and expertise to help your bring your water garden dreams to life
If you have fish that you wish to winter over in your pond it’s necessary to use a pond aerator. A pond aerator or small recirculating pump that agitates the water’s surface will oxygenate the water. Why do you need to oxygenate your pond in winter? When people drown, their bodies are deprived of oxygen because their lungs fill with water rather than air. Fish obtain their oxygen from air that is dissolved in the water in which they swim. … Oxygen diffuses into the fish through their gills, without aeration your fish will drown! (Well…technically speaking suffocate may be a better term.)
If you don’t have fish in your pond a pond aerator can still be beneficial as it will help to continue to break down nutrients from leaves and debris in your pond and keep the water from becoming stagnant and foul smelling, but is not necessary.
Other options for winter aeration: a small recirculating pump may be used instead of an aerator. It will pump water up to the surface of the pond an agitate the surface (which adds oxygen to the water.)
Click the play button on the YouTube link to see what went wrong in my pond when I went out of town for a few weeks last winter….
A recirculating pump such as the one pictured above can be used to provide necessary oxygen to your pond in winter in place of an aerator.
Pond Aerators provide oxygen to your pond in winter and are necessary for keeping fish alive through the winter
Will a pond aerator alone keep my fish alive in winter? No. An aerator adds oxygen to the water. If the temperatures drop you still need to be able to maintain a hole in the surface of the ice for gas exchange. What is gas exchange? Your pond slows down over the winter months, but it never completely shuts down. Leaves and debris continue to break down too, just at a slower pace than during warmer months. The process of the plants and debris breaking down creates methane gas. When the ice is allowed to completely cover the surface of the pond methane gas builds up and harms the aquatic life in your pond -including your fish. To prevent this use a simple deicer. The better ones are thermostatically controlled so that they consume electricity only when the temperatures drop. The deicer keeps just a small ring around the unit melted in the ice and allows the harmful gasses to escape. When installing a deicer for the winter be certain that it is placed a good distance from the aerator as the movement of water by the aerator may make it run more often than necessary.
De-icers keep a small hole in the ice allowing for gas exchange in Winter.
If you have questions about how to properly winterize your pond please don’t hesitate to call our pond shop (973)627-0515. We have the knowledge and supplies you need for proper pond winterization. Still feeling uncertain about how to winterize your pond? Just ask and we’ll winterize your pond for you!
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At Atlantis Water Gardens, we are often asked by our clients, “Do I need to clean my water feature this year?” (Water Feature can mean a pond, waterfall or fountain) There are certainly many factors that could bring about a yes or no answer to this question.
Typically, many of the concerns people have before purchasing and having a water feature installed revolve around the topic of how much maintenance will be involved. To be completely candid, from years of trade shows, garden tours and other events, when I am face to face with potential clients the first reaction when they see a water feature of any kind is, “That looks like way too much maintenance for me.” The good news is they are usually less maintenance than the lawn or garden they replaced. Better yet, manufacturers like Aquascape, Inc., have developed and tested many revolutionary tools to reduce the already low maintenance.
The topic of this article often creates a level of confusion because two terms are often used to describe the maintenance performed in the Spring months. One term is cleaning and the other term is opening, so lets dive into this a little deeper.
Picture of the Tranquility Elite Pond Package offered by Atlantis Water Gardens in Morris County (Denville), NJ. Shown with backyard fish pond, meandering, natural stream and boulder style waterfalls.
WHAT DOES A POND, WATERFALL OR FOUNTAIN CLEANING ENTAIL? We define the cleaning of a water feature as the process by which we restore the overall functionality similar to when it was originally installed. The cleaning of your pond, waterfall or fountain may include the following:
-Drain the feature completely, remove the wildlife (Fish, Frogs, etc.) and safely place them into a holding tank. -Wash the feature with a heavy spray of water (sometimes a power washer is required) -Vacuum loose debris from the feature and trim back aquatic plants -Move gravel, check lighting and install original supplied equipment -Begin refilling the pond -Safely acclimate and release wildlife -Leave a detailed Water Feature Assessment for the customer.
What does a pond, waterfall, or fountain opening entail?
The opening of a water feature is usually a much simpler process than a full cleaning. Technically, the opening process is included in the cleaning process. The opening of your pond, waterfall or fountain may include the following:
(Pond debris being removed by hand during a pond drain & clean by Atlantis Water Gardens)
-remove debris from skimmer, pump chamber, or waterfall vault by skimming with a net -install equipment and check lighting -turn system back on and check the overall performance -trim back aquatic plants if requested
There is less involved with the pond & waterfall opening as compared to a full pond cleaning. The water is not drained and any wildlife are not handled during the pond opening service. Usually customers choose the full cleaning unless the water feature was just recently installed or there was no debris in the bottom.
REASONS FOR CLEANING YOUR POND, WATERFALL OR FOUNTAIN
There are a multitude of reasons that customers request to have their water feature cleaned. Usually, the number 1 reason is that they’d like it to look as good as it did the year before and having it cleaned is normally something done at the beginning of each water gardening season. Here are some other reasons that you would want to clean your water feature. (Picture of filamentous string algae)
-The water color is brown from the breakdown of leaves or other organic debris (Looks like a giant cup of tea) -The water color is green throughout from excess nutrients causing an algae bloom (Looks like pea soup) -The water color is almost black with very little visibility, possibly from the death of wildlife (Looks almost like cola) -When standing by the pond you smell a noxious odor similar to ammonia -It was a very harsh winter and all wildlife, including your fish have died -The size of the water feature has seemed to have shrunk from either excess plant growth or too much debris build up on the bottom of the pond -You are constantly having to remove debris from your pump or filter media -The flow of water in you fountain, waterfall or stream seems weak. -You prefer to have an annual cleaning to keep the maintenance of the feature during the season as low as possible. -It makes you feel much more comfortable to have a professional clean the pond, waterfall or fountain each year to make sure the equipment is functioning properly, the feature is in good condition and to fix an issues before they become much worse. -You would like a new look, maybe redoing a waterfall or changing out some rocks -And as stated above you really like when the pond, waterfall or fountain looks like it was just recently installed.
REASONS NOT TO HAVE YOUR POND, WATERFALL OR FOUNTAIN CLEANED
(Small backyard fish pond with waterfall covered by green moss.) There are many good reasons to have your pond or water feature cleaned each Spring, but admittedly there are also a few reasons why you might want to forgo a cleaning this year. Let’s take a look at a few scenarios that might deem it unneccessary to have your water feature cleaned this season:
-The pond or waterfall was installed late in the season the previous year and it just isn’t very dirty. -The weather is too warm (Usually July & August) and it would not be worth the risk of handling your fish. Potential loss is possible in this scenario if special steps aren’t taken. -You have a very old liner pond and stepping on the liner may potentially cause damage due to it being brittle. -The cost of the cleaning is too much
Some of our clients choose to have the cleaning done biannually instead of annually. We offer our best recommendations for the water feature and then the rest is up to you. We keep detailed records of all our water features and the factors that may change the ability to keep the maintenance low.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO HAVE MY POND CLEANED AND WOULD RATHER HAVE IT RENOVATED BY A POND, WATERFALL OR FOUNTAIN PROFESSIONAL?
https://youtu.be/I3T9_LwbYX4
Each and every year we are contacted by homeowners that have owned a home or just purchased a home with a pond, waterfall or fountain and seek us out for guidance. The typical inquiry that we get is, “Help! we have this water feature and have no idea what to do.” So here are some helpful tips to get you started with our consultation services.
1. Take pictures of the pond, waterfall or fountain for us to see and fill out our ONLINE CONTACT FORM where you can upload your pics and tell us a little about your water feature or space. (Typically we like a couple wide view pictures from different angles, shots of equipment, the closest electrical outlet or water faucet. Take as many as you think will be helpful for us to see.) 2. Try to take some measurements of the feature or be able to relate the size to something familiar. (i.e. It’s about the size of a mini van) 3. Try to have some measurements of the distance between the water feature and the power source and or water source. 4. Let us know what the access to the pond, waterfall or fountain is like so we know how easy it is to get to your water feature. (Do we have to pass through a gate? If so, how wide is it? Are there stairs to go up to access the area?) 5. The more information you can provide to us the better we will be able to advise you whether or not we would be a fit for your situation.
Owning a pond, waterfall or fountain certainly doesn’t need to be difficult, so be sure to contact us to see what we can do to educate you and set your mind at ease. For more educational information be sure to check out more of our Learning Hub or for more inspiration visit our Facebook page and start following us!
At Your Service, Jaak & JoAnn Harju Atlantis Water Gardens
Thanks for visiting our learning hub. As always, we hope you found this helpful. Please feel free to comment below.
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Often when a contractor comes to your home and gives a presentation about a backyard fish pond service/installation they are offering it elicits feelings of excitement and anticipation of what this water feature enhancement that is being added to your home will provide to you and your family. Beautiful pictures or videos of completed projects can have you dreaming of spending time out by the water, enjoying your new aquatic paradise. Typically, the sales process is a pleasant experience for the homeowner and when the water feature project is completed the customer is usually not disappointed, but issues would continually arise during construction that would require last minute adjustments and this can be frustrating for the homeowner, construction team, neighbors or any one else involved.
Common Problem This issue is not unique to water feature companies, or for that matter any firm that attempts to sell and install anything. One of the most difficult challenges to overcome with any construction project is creating a system that allows for a smooth transition between the sale of the commodity and its construction. When this breakdown occurs on a Water Feature project the problem manifests itself in several of the following ways:
From the Client’s perspective: -Last-minute surprise expenses like retaining walls, hauling dirt in/out, etc. -Loss of confidence in the builder -Frustration -Unnecessary Delays
From the Contractor’s Perspective: -Unforeseen material/labor cost -Last minute layout changes -Double work -Last minute rush orders that result in extra shipping charges -Strained relationship between construction and office staff -Strained relationship with subcontractors -Concessions to the client resulting from embarrassment
Typically, if I have a friend in the industry that is dealing with a scenario like mentioned above, I’ll ask
“Are you having a construction planning meeting with the client?”
“Well, kind of” they’ll say, “one of the guys goes out to the job the morning we start.”
I immediately identified the problem and explained the system we employ at Atlantis Water Gardens and how well it has worked for us.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of a thorough planning meeting between whoever is ultimately responsible for the construction of the project and the client. Sounds like common sense right? Well, we all know that common sense is not always common practice.
This is not a difficult thing to do! In fact it’s a lot easier and less stressful than the alternative. When conducted properly, the construction planning meeting will eliminate most, if not all of the stressors mentioned above.
I understand that last minute changes occur on any project. Buried stumps, large rocks, utility lines and other underground obstacles inherently pop up when excavating and are not usually able to be anticipated beforehand (unless the homeowner has detailed knowledge of the site). These things always pop up and this won’t change regardless of how many meetings you have. But this isn’t about change orders, it’s about preparation.
So whether you are a potential pond buyer or pond contractor here are several tips to ensure this critical planning meeting is effective:
Tips for scheduling the Planning Meeting: -Have it as soon after the sale as possible -Never rush the meeting. My average meetings last 1-2 hours -Make sure there’s good weather. Uncomfortable conditions will lead to a rushed meeting and/or lack of focus -Make sure all decision makers are present
Ok, now we’re there on site…..builder and client. What do we need to discuss to insure this project runs smoothly? Basically, we need to discuss two things. First we need to set expectations: what exactly is going to happen in your yard over the course of the project; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Second, we need to discuss what I call the nuts and bolts of the project; more of the technical/logistical side of things. Let’s break each of these down into some specifics.
Setting expectations: -The impact the project will have on the yard/landscaping -The impact the project will have on any neighbors -Thorough discussion of the construction process including rough timelines -Review payment process -Review potential unforeseen expenses (groundwater, rock, etc.) -Overview of materials used -Communication process employed by builder
Nuts and Bolts: -Site access (how we’re getting in/out) -Dirt hauled away/staying, put where? -Where any trucks & equipment will be parked during construction -Review water feature layout and paint on ground for final review -Location of utilities, septic system, well, irrigation, etc. -Determine who will be fixing any lawn/landscape/driveway areas upon project completion -Discuss elevation of pond and patio (if applicable)
This is certainly not a comprehensive list, but it gives you a concept of what we do. At Atlantis Water Gardens we have 100’s of clients on our reference list. A lot of good things have to happen on a regular basis to consistently provide that level of top notch service. It takes the best people, systems, and frankly the best customers. But I’m here to tell you that without an effective construction planning meeting none of that would be possible. So builders, please consider doing this if you’re not already; and potential water feature customers, make sure your water feature contractor does this. It will save you both a lot of stress, time, and possibly money.
Thanks for visiting our learning hub. As always, we hope you found this helpful. Please feel free to comment below.
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Atlantis Water Gardens originated from a love of creativity. Building water features, and becoming a nationally recognized design-installer of natural looking ponds and water features.
The Atlantis Water Gardens Story
“We’re not a water feature company, we’re a customer experience company.”
Taking raw materials like boulders and rubber liner and turning them into living works of art in people’s backyards is a special feeling, especially once the pumps are plugged in and the cascading water comes to life. That feeling pales in comparison to the elation felt when a new pond owner comes outside to see how their new water feature has added a tremendous sense of tranquility to their backyard environment.
Landscaping with water and stone presents a wealth of design opportunities. A tranquil pond, a cascading disappearing waterfall, a meandering stream, or a bubbling fountain – each of these possibilities offers aesthetic and environmental rewards. The concept of the garden as a peaceful, private sanctuary has inspired new interest in water gardens, although the pleasing accents have been incorporated into home landscapes for centuries.
Our design approach is to incorporate the relaxing properties of water into a new or existing landscape so that it becomes a seamless component of the landscape surround, complementing the desired lifestyle, the Water Garden Lifestyle. Honing our craft over the past 2 decades as water feature artists has given us the opportunity to work on some truly unique, custom projects.
Until now, we haven’t offered a wide variety of smaller, more affordable water feature options. Seeing that we have been neglecting this important segment of our industry for some time, we concentrated on creating several, affordable water garden packages to include ponds, disappearing waterfalls and fountainscapes along with the ability to offer financing to go with them. Making a professionally installed water feature available to anyone who wanted one in their landscape was our focus over the last few years and now it is finally a reality.
Simply utilize our Package Pricing page on our website to find the type and size water feature that will best fit your lifestyle. Being able to see how much a pond, disappearing waterfall or fountainscape might cost at the beginning of the buying process has been a great tool to help people realize their dream of owning a professionally installed water feature of their own.
After you’ve done your homework on our website, the next step would be to visit our Water Feature Garden Walk in Denville, NJ to try one of our water feature packages on for size. Seeing the variety of installed ponds, disappearing waterfalls and fountainscapes for yourself can help you visualize what each might look like in your backyard environment.
At Atlantis Water Gardens, we live the water feature lifestyle ourselves, so we know what a difference having the magic of water at your home can mean for a family that wants to re-connect and relax in their own backyard.
Come Home To Paradise
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It seems we never have a shortage of emails from people with stories about bad experiences with contractors they hired to install their backyard fish pond, disappearing waterfall, fountainscape or water feature.
Whether it’s a concrete pond, a liner pond with rock and gravel, or even a plastic tub pond– having only one chance to pick the right contractor to install your water feature should be well thought out and researched
Yet, sometimes we still make the wrong decision.
Previously, I wrote some pieces about how to properly choose your pond contractor, but this article is geared toward one particular recommendation that will make all the difference for pond shoppers if followed.
REFERENCES.
I know, it seems simple but many of us still fail to ask for references or simply don’t know how to go about asking for them. Want to know the easy way to do this?
How to Properly Ask Your Pond Contractor for References of Previous Work Say you have a pond contractor in your home who is giving you a quote on your water feature project. Instead of asking for a reference list, ask this simple question first
How many ponds did you install last year? It’s really an easy question, but you will probably be met with a very quick answer from the pond contractor, possibly even embellishing the number of ponds installed to seem more qualified. Once the answer is given, your next question is going to be
May I see your reference list from last year then? If you were given a statement saying there were 25 ponds installed last year and you only receive 12 references, that probably means one thing
Only half of their clients were satisfied? Do you feel good that only half of the customers that had their pond installed by the contractor were willing to endorse them or give honest feedback on their experience? Speaking with customers about their experience with pond shopping, it surprises me how many times I’ve heard people say, “The contractor said they’re not allowed to share the referrels because of privacy issues.”
Sounds like Shenanigans… Atlantis Water Gardens has been building ponds & water features for almost 2 decades and over that time we’ve only had a handful of people ask us not to share their names because of privacy. That’s literally only a couple out of hundreds and hundreds of clients
Trust your instincts and go with your gut. Please, if you will be choosing someone to build your backyard oasis that may include a fish pond, disappearing waterfall, fountainscape or some other form of water feature, use the suggestions I have provided here to make sure you are picking the pond contractor that is right for you. If it doesn’t smell right and they are unwilling to provide you with the references you’ve requested, don’t ignore the red flags because you know what you have to do – WALK AWAY
Do your research, follow these steps, and choose that pond contractor that is right for you and your home. Surely there is someone in your area that is willing to be honest and transparent with their business.
This should be an enjoyable experience and it’s up to you to protect your investment and make the right buying decisions.
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If you are seriously considering a backyard fish pond, you’ve probably discovered there are a lot of decisions to make!
At the top of this list stands one glaring question:
HOW DO I SELECT A REPUTABLE POND BUILDER?
This question is so important because the expertise and integrity of your pond builder will play a huge role in determining the final outcome of your project. To assist you in this process, we at Atlantis Water Gardens have put together a checklist to help you do your homework on potential pond builders. This checklist is based on our experience of not only working with over 1,000 pond and water feature customers throughout New Jersey, but also from helping hundreds of folks who found us through the internet find reputable pond builders in their area.
So, regardless of where you live or whether you are looking for a rubber liner, concrete or plastic tub pond this checklist will help you identify various criteria to look for when selecting your pond builder.
1. Business Information and Experience – The company is licensed (if applicable in your state) and insured. Note: ask if the name on the license is the same as the company name. If not, find out why. – Find out how many years the company has been in business – Years in business: _______ Note: 43% of contractors fail within the first three years after start-up
2. Customer References Ask the following questions of the pond builder: -How many ponds have you installed since in business? _________ -How many were installed last year? ________ -Of those installations, how many references can you provide? ________ Note: if the pond builder provides less than half of their customers as references we consider this to be a red flag. Our experience has been that the vast majority of people when asked are willing to go on a reference list. In our opinion, providing less than half of the customers as references equates to less than a 50% chance of being happy in the end.
Call at least 5 references
3. When Calling References Be Sure To Ask The Following: -If you could do it over, would you use the pond builder again? -What did you enjoy about the experience? -What was least enjoyable? -What pond/water feature, options, and accessories did you choose? -What would you do differently? -How did the pond builder handle challenges and problems when they arose?
4. Reviews and Ratings -Collectively, the pond builder has at least a 5:1 good review to bad review ratio -They responded reasonably to negative reviews when possible
5. Products Used By Pond Builder -The products the pond builder uses have good reviews in the marketplace -The customer references you called gave the products used by the builder positive ratings -The products are backed by competitive warranties
6. Workmanship Warranty Note: a workmanship warranty would cover issues that could arise such as pond movement, plumbing leaks, structural problems, etc. The minimum workmanship warranty by law in most states is one year.
-What is the duration of the pond builder’s workmanship warranty?_______________________________ -What specifically does the pond builder’s workmanship warranty cover?__________________________ -What happens in the event that a repair is needed? (who pays to replace water, repair yard, etc)?_____________________________________________
7. Installation Practices -Does the pond builder have any installation or construction practices that distinguish them from the competition?_________________________________________________ -Are these practices relevant and in accordance with manufacturer’s specs? ____________________________________
8. Design and Project Planning The Pond Builder will convey a plan to you before the project begins showing the following: -exact pond location outlined in spray paint in your yard -location of pump and filter system -the elevation (or height) of the pond in relation to your existing yard -access lane for construction -retaining walls if applicable -yard drainage if applicable
8. Pricing & Contract -Whenever possible, the price for all work is included in the contract or at the very least as a formal quote. -Estimated completion date is listed on the contract -All “throw-ins” are listed on the contract
9. Things That Are NOT All That Important -The size of the company: great pond builders come in all sizes 🙂 -In-house construction vs sub-contracted work: at the end of the day, great pond builders get it done either way and make sure you are happy in the end. -Website and Marketing: Shiny brochures and updated Facebook posts are nice, but not necessarily an indication of integrity or expertise.
We hope you will find this helpful on your quest to finding the perfect pond builder. If you have any questions or comments feel free, as always, to leave them below.
If you live in Northern New Jersey and would like to RECEIVE A QUOTE for one of our backyard fish ponds, disappearing waterfalls or fountainscapes, click here.
Each year, we at Atlantis Water Gardens, meet with well over 100 households in the Northern New Jersey (NJ) / Morris County area with respect to their backyard fish pond or water feature installation. And because so many folks know our thoughts and feelings (from this website) on all things “pond construction,” they often ask us who are some of the other builders and competitors we have in the area.
We’re never ones to shy away from being blatantly honest with respect to competition, and we want our customers to be as informed as possible. Here is a list of some of the companies that have a pond building history in the Northern New Jersey (NJ) / Morris County area.
1. A Frog’s Dream A Frog’s Dream Aquatic Services is located in the Long Valley area, and is a full service Pond contractor & Pond Maintenance landscape company specializing in naturalistic water features. A Frog’s Dream was founded to fill a need for a full service water feature company that truly cares about the details of every project and service.
2. Auburn Sky Landscaping Located in Augusta, Auburn Sky Landscaping, LLC. is a complete property maintenance company that has been creating beautiful, affordable, and easy to maintain landscapes across Sussex County and Northern New Jersey since 2000. They also build ecosystem water features and fountainscapes.
3. Full Service Aquatics FSA designs, installs, maintains, and consults on koi ponds, water gardens, natural ponds, waterfalls, and all types of water features. FSA is recognized in the pond industry as a leading designer of unique water features that will compliment and add value to your real estate and your lifestyle.
4. Premium Aquascapes Premium Aquascapes, located in Bergenfield NJ, provides Pond & Water Feature Installation, Maintenance & Repair services to Northern New Jersey and surrounding areas. They specialize in the Design and Construction & maintenance of Eco System Ponds, Pondless Waterfalls and Streams, Fountain Scapes and RainXchange Systems.
5. Mountain Landscape Contractors Since 1989 Mountain Landscape Contractors, Inc. has been servicing northern New Jersey with all encompassing commercial and residential landscape services. Mountain Landscape Contractors, Inc. offers a full complement of landscape services, including water features, providing everything you need to improve and maintain your property with one professional relationship.
So, there are 5 companies to consider if you’re getting quotes for your Northern New Jersey (NJ) / Morris County backyard fish pond installation project.
You may like to take a look at some of these great resources:
Finally, we thought you’d like to know about our Water Feature Experience Park located at 3017 Route 10 – Morris Plains, NJ… A place where you can actually see several finished ponds and water features, experiencing it for yourself instead of basing this huge decision on a piece of paper or computer screen.
It’s only a little over a 15 minute drive from the Morristown area and most everyone finds it worth the trip
Or check out our Project Planner below to find pricing from the comfort of your couch.
Below is a letter reporting the life-saving outcome of our last trip to Ghana, West Africa in 2014 with the Aquascape Foundation and International Needs:
Click here to like our Atlantis Water Gardens facebook page and get the latest info on this life saving project: Atlantis Facebook Link
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International Needs Ghana Outcomes Report AQUASCAPE RAINXCHANGE INSTALLATION Kanuwloe, Ghana, West Africa September 2016
Background Kanuwloe is a community located in the North-Tongu District of the Volta Region. It has a total population of approximately 800 people and is about 120 km from Accra; the national capital. Cattle herding and peasant farming are the predominant occupations of the people of Kanuwloe.
In the year 2002, International Needs Ghana (INGH) planted a Church in Kanuwloe. This was INGH’s first intervention in the community of Kanuwloe. Kanuwloe has since benefited from other interventions: a Basic school (Kindergarten to Grade 9), International Needs Child Assistance Program (INCAP), community-wide medical outreaches, water filters, and in the year 2014, a rain water harvesting system.
Prior to March, 2014, the Kanuwloe community did not have access to potable water. INGH had constructed a 6,000 gallon rain water harvesting system at the school but the water was not purified and the community had no access to this water. The main source of water for the community was a marshland; a source they shared with the cattle they herded. The cattle contaminated the water through their fecal matter and urine. The water was therefore far from safe for consumption. The residents were therefore greatly exposed to water-borne diseases. This is reflected in the disease pattern and the cases treated during the periodic medical outreaches to the community. The dominant cases presented for treatment include; bilharziasis, scabies and schistosomiasis. The low access to water also had negative effects on education and the social and economic lives of the people.
In response to these challenges, the Aquascape Foundation in collaboration with International Needs USA constructed a 25,000 gallon rain water harvesting system. The system is comprised of a reservoir and a maintenance room with an ultra violet reverse osmosis and sediment filtration system.
Two years after the project, great outcomes have emerged. The project has contributed immensely to tremendous changes, both at the community and individual levels; physically, socially, etc. This report is supported by statements from community members demonstrating the positive outcomes of the Aquascape water project.
Emerging Outcomes Access to potable waterThe project has resulted in a tremendous increase in access to potable water in the Kanuwloe community as well as the nearby communities such as Kpoviadzi and other farm hamlets. There are no economic barriers to access as the water is free of charge; neither is distance a barrier, as the system is on the school compound and is close to both the school and the households within the community.
“The water is very close to us now. Even we, the old women are able to walk there for clean water.” – Ablah Ahuda, a 75+ year old woman from Kanuwloe
As a result of the proximity of potable water to the community members, there is now less fatigue associated with fetching water, as heavy containers do not have be carried over long distances as was the case before the installation of the water system.
“Our struggles are over now; fetching water used to be a very hectic task for us but now it is less tiring.” – Minua Agobo
As a result of the water project, the community now has access to water, all year round, not seasonally any more. The marshlands normally did not provide water for them during the dry season and even if they did the condition was extremely poor; but after the installation of the water system, potable water is easily accessed at any time, throughout the year. Also due to high temperatures, children drink water more frequently in the afternoons. In the past, medical outreaches to the community often found many cases of headaches among children in the afternoons. However, as a result of the availability of water, these frequent headaches were not observed at the medical outreach to Kanuwloe this year.
Educational Outcomes The access to and proximity of potable water has further contributed to an improvement in school attendance, punctuality and teacher-pupil contact hours in the Community School. Children missed a lot of contact hours as a result of the long distances walked to fetch water in the morning. They got to school late and tired and struggled to concentrate in class. Some even missed school days due to water-related diseases
“There were times that school had to close early so the children could go out in search of water or allowed to go home to drink water (untreated). Children now stay in school and do not go home just to drink water, as was the case before.” – Erica, Nutrition Officer at the Kanuwloe School
“Children stay in school longer and school attendance has improved.” – Pastor Justice Wudugah, Kanuwloe
“Now our children are stronger. They stay in school; they do not come home when classes are in session because they have access to water in the school.” – Millicent
“Punctuality has improved since we got this water. Pupils come to school earlier than they used to.” – Erica, Nutrition Officer at the School
Physical Health OutcomesGenerally, there have been improvements in the health of the populace; both young and old. The community members also testified to a reduction in morbidity in their homes after the water project.
The project has over the period contributed to a reduction of the prevalence of water-borne diseases in the community. Some people who suffered from bilharzia and continuously got re-infected after treatment, testified of their freedom. There has not been any re-infection after treatment since they started consuming the potable water. “I no longer see blood in my urine since I started drinking this water.” – Naviwo Avakpornua “Our children no longer fall sick frequently …” – Holy As a result of the project people now drink water more frequently and with joy. This is because the water is pure and has no bad smell or taste like what they used to consume. “I now drink water with joy and more frequently because the water is pure and has no smell. I drink to my satisfaction. Before, the water had a bad smell. The condition of the water we drank then was unbelievably bad.” – Comfort Agobo
Access to potable water in the community has positively complemented INGH’s School Food and Health programs. The project made potable water available and accessible right on the compound of the Kanuwloe D/A Global Basic School for the preparation of meals for children once each school day. “Now, cooking is easy with the access to potable water on the school compound. We no longer spend time and energy filtering water and waiting for sediments to settle.” -Erica, Nutrition Officer at the School Kitchen
The School Health Program focuses on effecting positive behavioral changes or preventive health habits in children such as hand washing, the practice of good personal hygiene, and good environmental sanitation. The presence of water has created the enabling environment for the children to practice these positive habits and live healthier lives. The water system has therefore contributed to nutritional growth and positive behavior change for health which the School Food and Health Programs seek to achieve respectively.
Social Outcomes The project has yielded social outcomes as well. The water project has contributed to community members having higher self-esteem. They are very confident about the state of their water. “When we serve our visitors from other communities this water, they ask where we got the water from. In fact this water has taken our shame away.” – Daniel Gasoe, community leader in Kanuwloe
In a typical traditional setting like Kanuwloe, social events like funerals and festivals are very symbolic. They are moments of reunion and socialization for families and the community as a whole. The sense of joy, fulfillment and prestige of every community during such periods, among other factors, lies in their ability to provide some basic comforts for their guests, including potable water. The presence of potable water undoubtedly gives the guests a more comfortable stay. Pastor Wudugah, a member of the community had this to say, “During festivals and funerals, visitors feel comfortable staying in our community because they are assured of clean drinking water.”
Child Protection Outcome The project has also played a great complementary role as far as Child Protection is concerned. Prior to the project, pupils had to leave school in search of water. This sometimes resulted in the physical and verbal abuse of some of the pupils by adults from whose homes or areas the children went in search of water. Now with water right on the school grounds, children receive their water in a safe environment. “Children went to fetch water and were sometimes verbally or physically abused…” -Erica, Nutrition Officer at the School Kitche
Conclusion In conclusion, it is worth noting that Kanuwloe has not merely benefited from the project but has also become a ‘center of hope’ for other neighboring communities whose children attend school in the community to come to the Kanuwloe community to fetch water for consumption
“This project has been very beneficial. Even people from neighboring communities come to fetch the water…” -Torgbui Wudugah
The change that has resulted from the provision of the water system is being felt in Kanuwloe as well as Kpoviadzi and other farm hamlets.
The water system has changed the story of Kanuwloe and provides joy and hope for a community that previously suffered from acute water scarcity.
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