I'd like less pruning and more water features

[M.D. Vaden]

If you didn't see it written yet, I'd like to wind-down on pruning quite a bit, and do more water-features.

After 27 years dominated by pruning, I'm feeling like a change.

This is a partial view of last week's small pond install with 3 falls, 2 creek sections / moss and river rock.

About 2 & 1/2 tons of rock - 2000 gph pump (only 150 watts). On a timer, these only use about $5 of electricity per month.

It's by an entry driveway in a large sloped lawn. I'll need a ladder to get a better shot on a day that's not so cloudy.

Anybody else feeling like a change of work?

 

[SteveBullman]

its not that people dont love nature anymore. Its the whole convenience thing being carried over from the supermarket mentality. hard landscaping is easy, no maintenance, thats wha its all about. people on the whole are just too busy these days to spend time in their gardens.

 

[treeseer]

people on the whole are just too busy these days to spend time in their gardens.

If that is true, it is on us to work with the people that do like their gardens.

MD, if you're bored with pruning why not go more into diagnostics, disease management, planting etc?

Consult for fun and profit!

 

[Eagle1]

MD...maybe you are burnt or getting tired. Come down from the tree and be a boss or manager??

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

its not that people dont love nature anymore. Its the whole convenience thing being carried over from the supermarket mentality. hard landscaping is easy, no maintenance, thats wha its all about. people on the whole are just too busy these days to spend time in their gardens.

Yepo. That's why you see front yards paved with ashphalt, then painted green.

 

[vharrison2]

Nice job on the pond, it is beautiful.

 

[xtremetrees]

How can you ever get tired of spikeless climbing dude it rocks!

 

[M.D. Vaden]

I wouldn't want to get rid of all pruning. Even with pond installs, there is pruning, tree planting, etc..

The pond above included the installation of about 3 small trees and 30 plants and shrubs.

There are 4 types of aquatic water plants that were installed too. The thing about these water gardens - they are like little ecosystems.

When done right - few fish if any - proper water movement and plenty of aquatic plants means crystal clear water.

 

[Toddppm]

Is that an aquascape system?

I've only done one at a build a pond day, haven't got any serious inquiries yet although I'll be putting one on at my house eventually.

How are setting up a timer, haven't heard of that. I thought you pretty much have to be up and running 24/7?

Very nice job on the stone placement , looks very natural. Seen way too many that are just a pile of rocks.

 

[CaseyForrest]

I got into installing ponds in the latter part of my landscaping carreer. My first one was a "still" reflecting pool. It measured 15x7 and was 4' deep. The customer wanted to have fish in it, but keep the surface still, like a reflecting pool. It was QUITE a chore as this was in a sunken terrace, with grass around it. Hiding the skimmer into the edge of the pool, and finding a stone that was wide enough, but not to long so as to match the rest of the border took some time. We then got whats sold as "Mexican River Rock" here in MI, and covered the bottom, cool stuff, light grey when its dry, but pitch black when its wet. We also installed a pool filter to keep the water clean. Overkill I know, but that was the best way to filter the water thourghly without adding alot of agitation.

Second one was like the one pictured by MD, ornamental pond, with falls, and an island between the top and the pond, bridge and all. LOTS of plants in and around the water, and of course fish!!

I wish I still had pictures but left them in my desk at work when I quit!!!

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Is that an aquascape system?

I've only done one at a build a pond day, haven't got any serious inquiries yet although I'll be putting one on at my house eventually.

How are setting up a timer, haven't heard of that. I thought you pretty much have to be up and running 24/7?

Very nice job on the stone placement , looks very natural. Seen way too many that are just a pile of rocks.

I almost always add one of the $19.99 timers from Lowe's or Home Depot. The past month, ours - at home - has kept time to within a minute in 30 days.

In Beaverton, Oregon, where we lived the past few years until July 2005, we had 3 small ponds, each on a timer. None had skimmers, filters or UV lights. Just a pump (and it's screen) and the hose to circulate. All of them had clear water, with a few tiny fish.

There's a book by Nash and Hughes of Hughes Water Gardens in Portland. It claims that a properly running system with pond plants and some form of aeration should not need the bells and whistles.

It's important to avoid chemicals that kill the algea that coats rocks and gravel on the bottom. In fact, plenty of smooth rock on the bottom helps by harboring good microbes. The algae that clings to the bottom uses nutrients that would cause pea-soup water algae.

Since skimmers don't catch everything, I just clean mine out in winter or spring every year or two, by "stirring the pot" so to speak, and netting the crud.

Aamon Hughes is "the" name in water features in Portland, Oregon, so I'm treading in his footsteps primarily.

www.watergardens.com

The amazing thing about the water features is not neccessarily how they look, but how they sound. It doesn't take a big pump to get a good sound. Most people get a lot of relaxation from the echoing sounds.

I think that the 350 to 950 gallon per hour pumps produce the best flows for the most relaxing sound effect.

CaseyForest... I can imagine what you mean about finding a rock big enough to cover the skimmer. Big enough and thick enough.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

MD...maybe you are burnt or getting tired. Come down from the tree and be a boss or manager??

Reviving this thread, after comments like this came back to mind.

For almost a month solid, or a bit longer, my work was 95% water feature / pond work.

What I'm realizing, is that I'll be smart to offer a variety of water feature, pruning and planting.

I think if I just master the means to do less intensive labor myself, I'll prosper best as a multi-function professional.

There was an awesome piece of work last week that really hit home. A gated community in Brookings, Oregon, hired me to do a landscape design for a large common area. The 4 day design process coincided with the hottest weather of our summer. So I was indoors with air conditioning to draw this.

So I'm going to offer small pruning, ponds, design plans and planting and take what I can handle from year to year.