Adding a pond to your yard can be one of the most fulfilling things you can do when it comes to home improvements.   

With every new pond that we create, we watch the magic begin to occur.   Even before we are done, we start to spot the dragon flys.  It is alomost as if they know.  Not to mention the birds and other wildlife that will be thanking us for creating a fresh water source for them.  This is not to say that you will have to share your pond with all of the animals in the jungle, but you will have some visitors.

We have certain requirements when building ponds depending on your circumstances.  Some of the requirements are that we create a stair down effect for your pond.  This creates safety because you can just walk out of the pond like you are walking up stairs.  If we are creating a Koi pond, usually we will create a shallow plant shelf around the edge, then drop the pond off deeper.  Also it is recommended that a pond go into a fenced in backyard to reduce any liabilities.  We need to create your pond properly depending on if you will have no fish, turtles, goldfish, or koi.  Which ever is your desire, we won't make it look like a contraption.

 

If you are planning on having no fish, you will have the least amount of maintenance to worry about.  I always recommend to our pond owners that want no fish to add some inexpensive feeder goldfish to the pond to help the pond's ecosystem.  As long as you don't over do it, they will pretty much take care of themselves.  Even if you don't have the desire for fish, we will still add a biological filter and at least a good sized fish cave.  If you ever sell your house, the first thing the realtor will want to tell the potential new home owners about is the beautiful fish pond.

 

A turtle pond is a great idea, except turtles aren't very loyal.  Turtles need little beach areas, maybe some driftwood, and outcroppings to rest on.  Sometimes you have to block the skimmer box so they don't get sucked in.  The biggest thing with turtles is that you have to "turtle proof", the edges.  The edge of the pond needs to have at least a 6"-8" verticle wall around it so the turtles can't escape.  Even then it is not guaranteed.

 

If keeping Koi is your desire, then your pond has to be properly designed to create the safest environment for your Koi. See our Koi page.