Ponds in Landscaping
 

We had a pond up north with plants and fish that was a lot of work to maintain. We wanted to have a water feature in our landscape but were a little concerned about having a pond for the reasons expressed by others on TOTV relating to the effort to maintain them as well as concerns about critters. We discussed this with our landscaper (Village Palms) and they explained that a simple pond with a waterfall would be easy to maintain if we do not put plants or fish into the water. They built a beautiful pond and waterfall for a very reasonable/affordable price. Maintenance consists of adding a chlorine tablet every few weeks. We have not had to add any water yet (we do not have an autofill) and evaporation has not been a major issue. They took care to slope the landscape and pond so that any overflow from rain runs into the surrounding landscape.

If you like the sound of running water and are considering a pond, I encourage you not to be worried about maintenance. We have had one frog but otherwise no critters. Wendy and Bill at Village Palms were wonderful to work with and we would highly recommend them.

I will try and see if I can post a picture.

One frog? Ok...who was it? Gracie, GeorgeT, Ritchielion? With all the neighborhood and village pools I'd have thought one of those more convenient than your pond.

Back on point, I look forward to your photos. I am thinking that the little landscape area inside the walkway of our gardenia would be a perfect spot for a water feature. The sounds would be heard from the b'fast nook area and, once weather permits open windows, throughout main part of the house much of the year.

Question .... Do you know if the pond can be drained and left dry during absences?

The pond can be easily drained and left dry.

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF7810.jpg

Hopefully this link should take you to a picture.

PM me if you want more information.

That pond is gorgeous. I definitely want one! We live on a golf course with a few tiny ponds at the bottom of a hill in back of our house. I wonder if there is any possibility that ducks who live on the "real" ponds would waddle up the hill to take up residence in a man-made pond.

I too have one of Village Palms' ponds and heartily indorse the original post. If you want to freshen up your landscaping with something different this is the way to go, or even start from scratch. The entire staff from Bill and Wendy on down is top notch, especially Whitey.

Another photo of a Villages Palms pond.

Your pictures are beautiful! What a great landscape with the pond - very inspiring.

Just to be fair, I have bumped this thread. I had written down Village Palms because of the posts on this thread and because I knew these posters to be reliable.

Does it happen to attract song birds or any undesireable critters?

I was talking to neighbors yesterday who just had their pond removed. They showed me a picture on their cell phone of a huge snake that had taken up residence by their pond and had babies. They think it was a water moccasin that was attracted by their water because some of the retention ponds in our area are drying up. I'm not saying this is a common occurrence. I think they had a lot of vegetation around the pond. I'm not afraid of snakes, they usually don't bother me, but this one was really big! :22yikes::22yikes:

pondless water features
 

I wonder, would a pondless system also attract things like snakes? Our neighbor just put one in that is beautiful and I was thinking of doing the same. Snakes, however, would never do for me.

Someone that I know found a water moccasin in her pool. Yikes.

That doesn't sound good. I have not seen any snakes around but I want to be careful with the plans I am making for our backyard. Snakes simply won't do.

We have now had the pond for several months and no critters have shown up. We have seen a few birds but our neighborhood is still rather new and the construction work in the area only ended about 6 months ago so wildlife is just moving back into the area. I do not know if the chlorine tablet in the water bothers snakes or other critters. We do have plantings around the pond but nothing in the pond. We do leave the waterfall running 24x7. The SECO rep said it does not consume much electricity vs turning it off at night. Don't know if this makes a difference to critters.

Yearly Update

Our pond, pictured earlier, has now been in place for over a year and still looks great. In that time Wendy and Bill from Villages Palms, have landscaped and paved the area between the pool and a pergola we had installd on that side of the house. They compliment ech other greatly. Very nice to set and read the paper, have a bowl of Cheerios, or whatever. The sound of the waterfall is so relaxing and my neighbors enjoy it too, as it is right outside their bedroom window. We have had a couple of ducks find their way over to the pond on occasions from the golf course across the street which has a larger pond. They also make their rounds of the neighborhood and I am told they had a new duck family this spring in the bushes of one of my neighbors but they disappeard as soon as they were big enough. The birds come around and get a sip or two of water all the time and they must not mind the chlorine. I do have to top off the water about once every ten days due to evaporation. Frogs came over from the gold course for the first few months, but they apparently disliked the chlorine. The pond and surrounding landscaping blends in to our corner lot very nicely and since we added the pergola we are very satisfied with its attractiveness and usefulness. Recommend for anyone.

kb:

I appreciate the update of your experience. If it is not an imposition, and if you feel comfortable doing so, would you please provide a photo? Thank you.

George