Ornamental Plantings
Bulbs/Perennials: Make sure to remove dead leaves from areas where bulbs and perennials are planted or they will become stunted. Also remove any dead leaves or debris from fall/winter, which may contain disease or insect eggs. Then when the bulb shoots are several inches tall you can spread the mulch closer to preserve moisture during the warmer months.
Roses: early spring is a good time to cut dead and diseased branches or canes so that new growth can occur and more abundant blooms. Always remember to cut back to “live” wood. Make sure to wear protective gloves and use sharp prunners or loppers, it’s important to have a clean cut.
Ornamental Grasses: Now that the winter is over, you can cut these grasses back to a few inches to make room for new growth. New shoots will start to appear in the spring and will continue until next winter comes. If it’s a dry spring, the more water these get the faster and fuller they will come in.
Butterfly Bushes: Most butterfly bushes flower from new growth so make sure to cut back these shrubs in late winter so that the new shoots can come up from the bottom of the plant.
Pond Maintenance for Ponds w/ Fish & Plants
You’ve just installed an “Aquscape’s Pond System” and the key to a low maintenance water garden is to keep your new system in balance.
Here’s six key elements work together to keep your natural pond working beautifully:
- *The filtration system (your Biofalls and Skimmer)
- *The circulation system (your pump and plumbing)
- *Rocks/gravel in and around the pond (even on the bottom)
- *Beneficial bacteria
- *Aquatic plants
- *Aquatic animals and fish
These elements work together as a team to make up your ecosystem and they must all be present in order for the system to work properly. Eliminate any of them (like the gravel in the bottom for instance or the fish) and you’re out of balance and asking for trouble.
Now these things must not only be present but they must be cultivated in proportion in order to work properly. In other words, it is entirely possible to have too many (or too few) fish, plants, gravel, or bacteria in your pond. And if you do your pond will be out of balance.
Every pond is unique to its surrounding environment so sometimes a little trial and error is needed. Your pond and its maintenance can be affected by nearby woods and trees, neighborhood and nature’s animals dropping by, and sometimes weather conditions and temperatures. Even humans enthusiatically overfeeding their fish can be a factor to maintenance. Be sure to keep on eye on your new pond for the first few months to observe its individual requirements and call us if you have any concerns..
Once you establish a balanced ecosystem it basically boils down to weekly or bi-monthly checking of the skimmer net for debris and tossing in a little bacteria (not chemicals) into your pond. That’s it. During the extreme heat of the summer and depending on whether your pond waterfalls and streams cause water evaporation you may have to add some water here and there once in a while. Now you are no longer a slave to your pond…you can relax and watch the fish swim by.
**With your pond you received an Owner’s Manual and Guide plus a new video and one season’s supply of bacteria. Make sure to take the time to read it and please do not hesitate to call us with any questions regarding your new pond or to order more supplies. We also offer our new customers a springtime pond cleanout service for those who don’t want to bother with it…call us during the fall or winter for scheduling and rates.
Maintenance for Pondless Waterfall or Pond Without Fish & Plants:
For those who choose not to have fish & plants in their water feature, maintenance is fairly simple. Similar to treating a swimming pool you can use chlorine tabs once to twice a month for instant clarity. Continue running your system as long as temperatures permit. Sometimes an initial double dose of tabs is needed for startup purposes or if the unit was shut done for a period of time. You should see results within 24-48 hours of treatment. Occasionally in the fall you may have to remove leaves and debris from the streambed to maintain proper water flow.
If you choose to shut down your system for any period of time, be sure to empty any pools of standing water in the top biofalls unit to avoid algae accumulation from stationary water. Remove any debris from streambeds and areas at the top and bottom of the water feature. If shutting down for the winter then remove any pumps and store them in a bucket of water to keep parts from drying out & cracking over the next few months until you reinstall the pump & start the system up in the spring.
More About Ponds & Water Features
“This is one of the projects that my customers get the most pleasure out of”
~ Ron Poulin, Owner, Picture Perfect Landscaping
Have you ever thought about putting a water garden in your yard or at your business? For lots of great ideas, view our website galleries to see the many options available!
Water features are today’s hottest trend in landscaping. Across America, high maintenance boring expanses of lawn are being transformed into beautiful, low maintenance water features. Everyday millions of people return home to a little paradise…their own backyards.
Imagine relaxing alongside a clear water garden and experiencing a tranquility that transcends today’s stressful world. Recuperate from your hectic day with free moments, listening to the soothing sound of a waterfall or bubbling stream. Join the many satisfied homeowners who readily profess adding a water feature to their landscape was the best investment they’ve ever made.
Environmentally friendly and completely customized water features can be installed anywhere similar to traditional landscaping. In addition, water features like other types of landscaping, mature with age increasing the value of your home more than most types of home improvement.
New! Pondless Waterfalls… Our Pondless Waterfalls can fit almost anywhere. They’re just a waterfall in which the water disappears at the bottom into a bed of stone, much like a Japanese garden. You get the benefit of the sound and visual of moving water that can just make an area come alive. Pondless Waterfalls are great for those who don’t want a pond because of child safety concerns or commercial settings where liability is an issue.
Attention Existing Pond Owners!
I’m sure that everyone has been enjoying their water feature this year and have now made it an interesting hobby. The fun thing about having a pond is that you can continue adding different elements to it each year. Now that you’ve had some experience with the pond here are some new things to think about…
1. Expand your existing pond/water feature with additional streams, waterfalls; or add another pond & connect them.
2. Rework the pond edges by changing or redesigning the rocks on the edges (larger stones to replace smaller character rocks to give it a different look); maybe add some new plants to soften the edges without disturbing the liner underneath. Add some color (annuals) that you can change seasonally…
3. Add a built-in protection for your fish; a cozy place to hide from predators or for them to hide from the sun in the summertime. The best time to install is during the spring cleanout…Create a “fish cave” with a section of plastic piping covered over with rock & gravel. Leave the two ends open for them to swim through.
4. Add something extra like a hardscape (patio area) or objects like a gazebo, bridge, or bench to better enjoy your pond this year now that you know the best viewing area you prefer or the side where everyone seems to congregate during your outdoor parties. Give them a place to sit & relax so that they don’t have to crowd around the same area and risk the potential of falling in.
5. Add some stonework or additional sounds to your oasis; gazing globes in the surrounding planting bed, stone figurines, Asian structures like stone tea houses and bridges, or water fairies, nymphs, and frogs or turtles that the children can pick out.
Pond Design
Picture Perfect Landscape uses the “AQUASCAPE SYSTEM”, which creates a self contained & low-maintenance ecosystem, ensuring you years of quiet elegance and pleasure.
Each pond that Picture Perfect Landscape installs is designed specifically for the customer and their home. Each pond is built on the spot, taking into consideration the existing landscape-no two ponds are identical. We can show you many photos of ponds and even have you visit a few near your home.
Some exciting options:
1. Waterfall, with or w/out stream, dropping into a pond with plants and fish
2. New! Pondless waterfall and/or stream-water simply disappear into a gravel bed with aquatic marginal plants; perfect for public settings where child safety or issues with the liabilities of a pond may be a concern!
3. Just a simple water feature, such as a fountain or bubbling pond without fish or plants -just chlorinated water- can be a very satisfying and distinctive landscape detail.
…the possibilities are endless!
Property Location:
1. A pond close to a patio or a deck is a particularly popular choice.
2. Keep the pond fairly close to your house so you can view it when you are indoors, too – especially during the wintertime!
3. Keep in mind where you would like to view a waterfall and/or stream. Marking-out this area physically can help to visualize the pond.
Early Design:
We suggest that you use either a garden hose or some landscape marking paint to define the shape of your pond. The garden hose is flexible and can be pushed and pulled into various shapes allowing you to view and evaluate the design of the proposed pond. Once you have decided on the shape, use the marking paint to outline the boundaries of your future pond!
Why should YOU choose Picture Perfect Landscape?
PICTURE PERFECT LANDSCAPE, LLC
A Quality Landscape Design Build and Maintain Company
serving Glastonbury, Hebron, Marlborough & surrounding towns for over 19 years…
“Simplify Your Life, Let Us Beautify Your Landscape!”
Since 1992, Picture Perfect Landscape has been servicing Glastonbury, Hebron, Marlborough, Manchester, and their surrounding towns. We strive to provide quality workmanship and offer our clients top of the line products in every aspect of our design, construction, and maintenance services. Click here to view the areas we service (link to highlighted service area map).
We encourage you to look through our online photo gallery and read testimonials from a few of our satisfied clients.
Contact us to discuss how Picture Perfect Landscape can help you create a landscape for your home or business to enjoy for many years to come.
Why should YOU choose Picture Perfect Landscape?
There are many landscape companies out there but if quality & value is what you want look no further. We work with you, the homeowner, to achieve your goals while keeping your budget in mind. We use a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and plants with for year round interest together with unique hardscapes that result in a landscape that is both functional and fits into the way you want to use your property…to relax, to entertain, and to enjoy!
It’s just as important to get expert advice and help with your landscaping as it is with plumbing, electrical, or carpentry work. The quality and experience of your contractor will affect the beauty and usefulness of your property for years to come. When it comes time to sell, a professionally designed landscape can easily add 15%-20% or more to your property’s value.We have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to handle most landscape projects, and if we don’t we will let you know up front, and point you in the right direction.
Allow us to create your personal paradise, using hardscapes, waterscapes and distinctive plantings. We take you from the initial designing and planning/budgeting stage through to project installation and seasonal maintenance. We specialize in simple, low-maintenance plantings for today’s busy lifestyles & budgets. We can make your dream become a reality!
Computer Landscape Design Services: Computer Generated Designs and 3D Imaging Software lets you see a finished landscape project’s appearance, including paver colors & plantings! Full Color & Drawn-to-Scale Dynascape® Designs allow you to get a Bird’s Eye View of your project. Vivid plant images allow you to see exactly what’s been proposed, and where it’s getting planted!