Ponderiffic Services
Landscape Design
Ponderiffic Adventures brings over 20 yrs of experience to the landscape industry and is a second generation landscape builder. Ed also brings experience from the field of agriculture as a Certified Crop Advisor and possesses a Masters degree in Plant Science. Ponderiffic has assembled a crew of determined landscapers to assist him in the design and construction of Koi Ponds, lakes, wetlands, streams, fountains, waterfalls, pondless waterfalls and water features of all sizes. Ponderiffic Adventures has been involved in the design and creation of projects ranging in size from small backyard ponds to 5 acre ponds.
There is no project too big or small for our team of trained experts. We have the expertise to design and build virtually anything our customers can think of. Equally as important, we have satisfied customers all over Southern Ca who will invite you out to look over their project for reference. Feel free to look over our galleries and see for yourself if the quality of our work is in line with your own expectations for your project. Call Ponderiffic today for a free estimate on your next project. 951-368-8614 or use the Contact us to set up an appointment.
Ponderiffic Irrigation Services
Ponderiffic's landscape team offers irrigation design, installation and maintenance services for residential and commercial turfgrass, perennial and annual planting beds, drip irrigation and raised bed gardening. Our irrigation team is continually receiving training in the areas of irrigation installation methods in the form of in-house workshops and seminars at local suppliers as well as in depth training at the annual CA Landscape industry show . Our landscape knowledge does not stop here but also extends to advanced smart water controllers and injection systems for drip irrigation systems. We have designed and installed numerous irrigation systems throughout southern CA and serve the following counties: Riverside, San Bernadino, Orange, Imperial, Ventura, San Diego and L.A.
Some of the basics of equipment we install and have experience with are provided below. There are two basic types of sprinkler heads used in irrigation systems and they are spray heads and rotors. They distribute water in different patterns and over different distances and spaces.
Spray Heads
Spray heads distribute water in a circular shape. Different nozzle attachments for the sprinkler can set it to a half-circle pattern or full circle. Spray heads are the most commonly used head in areas where the space to be irrigated or sprayed with water is less than about 22-25 ft in any one direction. They are the most common head used in residential irrigation systems.
Rotors
Rotors rotate streams of water over the landscape. Typically rotors are used for sprinkler spacings from 18 feet to 55 feet apart. There are rotors available that can be spaced closer than 18 feet but they are generally not cost effective, as a spray sprinkler will work well at this spacing and cost less. There are also rotors available for spacings farther apart than 55 feet but they are typically only used for golf courses. Most rotors require a lot more water pressure to operate than spray-type sprinkler heads. Rotors can be further broken down into impact and gear-driven rotors. Impact rotors move back and forth while sending out bursts of water. Gear-driven rotors distribute water similarly but are quieter, lower maintenance and smaller.
Water Pressure
Spray heads require less water pressure than rotors because they are placed closer together. They only need 20 to 30 PSI (pounds per square inch) of water pressure. Rotors require a higher water pressure than the number of feet separating sprinklers (35 PSI for 35 feet).
Anti-Siphon Valves
An anti-siphon valve is a device that prevents liquid from returning to the line from which it came in the event that a siphon action occurs. An anti-siphon device is frequently required on outdoor irrigation systems to prevent possibly contaminated water to be drawn back into the water supply lines if water pressure decreases in the water supply line. Anti-siphon valves are not the same as check valves. A check valve allows flow in only one direction, and requires pressure to function. An anti-siphon valve opens to the atmosphere when there is reduced or no pressure in the line. Ponderiffic uses anti-siphon valves from Rainbird, Toro, Hunter and Irritrol. Anti-siphon valves are installed above ground or below ground in access boxes protected from the elements.
Smart Water Controllers
Ponderiffic installs several smart water controllers that offer savings on your annual irrigation costs. Many irrigation controllers will now take into account many variables in calculating an irrigation interval or session. These factors include sprinkler type, precipitation rate, efficiency, plant type, root depth, slope, sprinkler location on slope, soil type, micro-climate, and usable rainfall. Other systems such as Hunter's Solar Sync controller, continually gather on-site solar and temperature data to be used in the calculation of evapotranspiration ET and then a determines a water requirement from the ET. This system automatically calculates water requirements and adjusts your watering requirement according to geographic weather characteristics.
Injection Systems
This technique of applying products through the water is called "fertigation". Ponderiffic designs and installs several makes of fertilizer injection systems or fertigation systems. Fertigation systems offer a distinct advantage over lawn fertilizer spreaders as calculated nutrients can be delivered to various irrigation zones or blocks. This reduces the chances In the case of low flow drip irrigation zones, mild phosphoric acid solutions may be added or injected to reduce calcium carbonate or limestone buildup in the lines keeping them clear for effective irrigation. We have fertilizer injection systems suitable for the smallest home garden, to entire residential or commercial landscapes, to city parks, sports fields or acres of crops.
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is a great way to water your plants and conserve water at the same time. Drip irrigation is an irrigation method that conserves water and fertilizer by dripping water directly into the root zone. A simple drip watering system consists of a hose that carries the water, an emiter that controls the drips and a timer that controls the release of water. Great advances have been made in drip irrigation in the last 30 years.
When properly designed, installed and managed, an irrigation drip conserves water because there is less evaporation than with conventional sprinkler systems and water can be applied directly to the root system of the plants. There isn't as much runoff and possible erosion as there can be with a sprinkler system. A dripping irrigation system is especially useful in Southern California, where we have seasonal water rationing. With a drip system, a little water goes a long ways because it is applied directly to the roots of the plants.
Ponderiffic landscape Construction can install a new drip system from the ground up or we can replace your existing sprinkler system to save you money. Give us a call today for a free estimate and we can let you know what we can do to help you water your yard with a drip irrigation system.
Sprinkler Repair
repair is a natural ingredient in a recipe of a well-functioning sprinkler system. Sprinkler heads wear out and break and trees grow and rupture pipes. Any number of small catastrophes or accidents can occur with a sprinkler system and that makes sprinkler repair necessary. If the sprinklers on your property aren't working correctly, there may be many reasons. They may become clogged with debris, require sprayer adjustment or lose their alignment. In many instances the remedy for repair requires only a simple adjustment. These adjustments may include changing the sprinkler radius, arc, distance or water flow. There are however, instances where sprinklers are damaged beyond repair and need to be replaced or a defective anti-siphon valve may need to be replaced. Other times the problem may be with the controller.
If you need to replace your sprinkler system, ask us about ways you can conserve water with a new system. New sprinkler valve technology, smart water controllers and a focus on sustainable landscaping have provided new tools for our team to use that use less water than older systems. Fixing sprinkler s doesn't always have to be difficult. Sometimes you can fix your sprinkler yourself. But sometimes you need to call in the professionals. If you need sprinkler repair services, contact Ponderiffic Landscape Construction for a free estimate. You can call us at 951-368-8614.
Water Savings Tips for Irrigation Systems
Most people probably never realized that a correctly functioning irrigation system can actually save them money? While the act of watering anything is a cost or overhead to any operation, a well designed, installed and maintained irrigation system can save in the long run and preserve the value of the landscape. Here are some practical tips and advice to help ensure that you have a lush, green and healthy landscape.
- Avoiding Overwatering. The single greatest water waste comes from applying too much water and too often. Quite often, much of the water is never absorbed. Rather than watering for one long session, reprogram your controller to water a few times for shorter periods and take 15-minute breaks in between each session. This will allow water to soak in, while minimizing runoff. In addition to avoiding the runoff to surface waters, you are also preventing the leaching of fertilizers into deeper ground waters, wells and aquifers. A very useful publication for determining water needs can be found by accessing this very important link. (Irrigation needs)
- Watch your clock. A great strategy is to water between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. -- when the sun is low, winds are calm and temperatures are cool. Watering during the mid-day tends to be less efficient because of water loss due to evaporation. In addition, windy conditions are often greatest during the day. Evening irrigation is also a bad time for watering as leaves can remain wet overnight which is an open invitation for fungus to grow. Watering in the morning, allows for leaves to have a chance to dry out during the day.
- Divide by zones.
Different plants need different amounts of water. Dividing your landscape areas or acreage into separate irrigation zones so that grass can be watered independently and more frequently than groundcovers, shrubs and trees will reduce overwatering effects for the latter. In some instances we are able to combine both sprinkler and drip irrigation areas irrigated from a single anti-siphon zone valve. However, we prefer to have dedicated zones where we are keeping our drip zones separated from our drip zones. Another way to view precision irrigation is from a water use standpoint and involves the term "Hydrozone". The word "hydrozone" is used to describe the practice of grouping plants that have similar water requirements. Hydrozoning is a key component of any water-efficient irrigation system and landscape design. Effective and efficient hydrozoning requires an thorough knowldege of plants, the rate in which water moves into and through the soil (infiltration rate), the soil type and texture, landscape design, irrigation, drainage, slope, sun exposure, and weather conditions. Hydrozones divide a landscape irrigation system based upon individual plant water requirements, plant height, and planting density. Plant species with similar needs are selected and grouped within each hydrozone. It is also effective to create microclimate zones so that plants with higher water needs are closest to the house and plants with lower water needs are on the perimeter of the garden or landscape.
Each hydrozone will contain plants that will be irrigated on the same schedule, using the same irrigation method.Generally, each hydrozone is served by one valve or control zone (although more than one valve may be required to service an area due to flow and water pressure). By using controllers with multiple run times that are able to support low-volume systems (cycle and soak) and by dividing the landscape into hydrozones, each area will receive the amount of water it needs without puddling or runoff. The result of hydrozoning is improved plant health and less water use. - Water your greenery and not your street. If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, check that the sprinkler heads are adjusted properly to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways. A properly adjusted sprinkler head should spray large droplets of water instead of a fine mist to minimize evaporation and wind drift.
- Consider drip irrigation. Drip irrigation is the choice for watering individual trees, flowerbeds, potted containers, or other nongrassy areas. Drip irrigation systems apply water directly to the roots and preserve moisture for them as they avoid the watering of unwanted weeds that zap the desirable plants water supply. This will reduce water waste through evaporation or runoff as well.
- Perform routine inspections. As most lawns lawns and gardens are watered in the early morning hours, defective spray patterns and leaks may go unnoticed when leaving home. Therefore, a problem may not be discovered until it is too late. We've received many thank you's from customers where we have re-programmed their timers so that the front yard stations run during the time when the customer leaves the home and they spotted a broken head while pulling out of the driveway. Periodically check your sprinklers to make sure everything is working properly. A clogged head or a ruptured sprinkler line can cause many problems within the landscape and water bill.
- Be rain smart. Adjust your irrigation system as the seasons and weather change. Even better yet, install a shut-off device that automatically detects rain or moisture. These devices are inexpensive and enable you to take advantage of the water without having paying for it. All major irrigation equipment manufacturers now offer advanced equipment that senses rainfall for sprinkler override and most are not incorporating ground moisture sensors for irrigation based on ground moisture levels.
Ponderiffic Horticulture Services
Ponderiffic offers horticultural services to our customers with the following areas of specialization.
- Plant Selection and design
- Vegetation and softscape installation
- Raised bed gardening with an organic focus
- Tree pruning and removal
- Pest Control Advisor (CCA)
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Precision Ag Solutions
- Site specific soil and weather monitoring
Plant Selection and Design
Ponderiffic offers design services for our customers utilizing Gardensoft software for plant selection and Dynascape's built-in library of plant selections. We follow the UC guidelines for plant selections in all landscape designs and have access to a wide variety of plant material from nurseries around Southern CA. Most of our work focuses on designing landscapes that utilize native CA plant species in the landscape design. We work extensively with Armstrong Garden Centers throughout the area as members of Aquascape's Water Garden Excellence Program and enjoy many referrals from Armstrong that come to us through this affiliation. We follow USDA hardiness zone recommendations as seen in the Sunset Western Garden Book.
Vegetation and Softscape Installation
Our crews that install vegetation are all aware that we guarantee all plantings for a minimum period of 90 days post planting according to CA landscape Contractors guidelines. Therefore, great care and caution are exercised in the handling and planting of each 1,5, 15 gallon or boxed container from the time it is delivered to site until the plant is properly resting in the soil. Our planting process begins with a soil sample taken on site and often a water analysis for large gardens or orchard plantings.
Soil Testing
The soil test provides us with valuable information about the soils pH, structure, texture and nutritive content for plant growth. All samples obtained are sent to agricultural laboratories for scientific evaluation and results are sent to us within days for quick consultation with our customers. Having a Certified Crop Advisor license and background in crop monitoring gives Ponderiffic a big advantage in knowing what to plant and how to create the right conditions for optimum growth. Ponderiffic will review the soil conditions with the customer and evaulate the planting schedule for the project and look for specific plants which may be affected by a particular soil type. An example where our testing pays big dividends is in landscapes where we are planting Azaleas or Rhododendrons where the soil type must be slightly acidic. Here, our ph test results help us to know how to amend the soil to get the best results for these plants.
Ponderiffic utilizes the soil and water test results to determine the appropriate soil amendments to add such as: gypsum for heavy clays to enhance water infiltration, sulfur for high ph soils, calcium carbonate (limestone) or dolomite for acidic soils and sphagnum peat moss helps here too. In addition to these amendments, Ponderiffic recommends several choices of products which incorporate humic and fulvic acids into the mix for proper soil conditioning along with blends of mycorrhizae (soil fungi) which assist in nutrient cycling and help to establish better root systems. After analysis of pH and how to adjust the soil to correct levels (near nuetral for most plantings) we examine the nutrient content of the soil and make a recommendation for fertilization which will address soil nutrients that are considered deficient.
Fertilizer Recommendations
Fertility recommendations for the landscape can be a tricky subject. There are as many different fertilizer options to choose from as there are plants to grow. While growers in nurseries need a quick and lush plant sure to survive life on the garden center shelves, homeowners, are typically more concerned with the long-term maintenance of the plant. And, while there is often a temptation to over-fertilize in the hopes of producing an even healthier, larger or more beautiful plant, we are quite careful of over-fertilizing because when you force a plant beyond its natural growth rate by over-fertilizing, you can cause it to grow too quickly. This can result in structural problems, predispose the plant to insect or disease infestation, and reduce tolerance to drought or temperature extremes.
As mentioned above, the soil test conducted will tell us the condition of the soil and how to deal with pH. In general, most plants in a landscape setting require more nitrogen than they get from natural sources. One reason is due to the loss of nutrients that could have been cycled back into the soil had the leaves not been raked and removed. Most landscape professionals would agree that most ornamentals will benefit from 2 to 6 pounds of applied nitrogen per season. The exact amount, and ratio of other nutrients, depends on the type of plant and fertility of the existing soil.
Guaranteed Analysis and Cost
Every fertilizer has a guaranteed analysis that represents the concentration of plant nutrients. Some products are more concentrated than others and organic fertilizers will fall behind their synthetic counterparts in % nitrogen contributions. Most natural organic fertilizers contain about 3 to 5% nitrogen while synthetic organic or mineral fertilizers may contain anywhere from 15 to 30% nitrogen. You need eight times as much of a 3% product to supply the same amount of nitrogen as a 24% product.
As far as cost is concerned, assume that in the example we just examined that both products cost $18 per 50-pound bag. The 3% product would provide a total of 1.5 pounds of nitrogen in the bag, and the cost per pound of nitrogen would be $18 / 1.5 or $12.00. At 24% nitrogen, with 12 pounds of nitrogen in each bag so the cost is $18 / 12, or $1.50. The 3% material is actually 8 times more expensive and thus would require 8 times as much to get the same amount of nitrogen.
Fertilizer Quality
Fertilizer quality is a function of particle size, consistency, lack of dust, and other physical characteristics. In most instances, we equate quality to the amount and type of controlled release nitrogen. Of all nutrients, nitrogen is the most critical to control in order to provide an extended feeding. In some instances potassium may also be provided in a slow release form. A slow release formulation is most desirable because it feeds plants for a longer period of time and avoids the time and effort required to make frequent repeated applications. There is less chance of problems arising from over fertilization since the nitrogen is released slowly. In addition, plants are able to use more of the nitrogen and thus, less is lost to leaching or volatilization. This is often referred to as nitrogen efficiency and can also apply to other nutrients in slow release form such as potassium.
Low Salt Index and Slow-Release Nitrogen
When Ponderiffic chooses an ornamental fertilizer, an important consideration for us is the salt index. We use fertilizers with a low salt index, which is a measure of salinity that a fertilizer contributes to the soil. Nearly all fertilizers have some salinity, but too much salt can prevent the plant from pulling moisture into its roots. This type of injury is often referred to as fertilizer burn, but it is reality a form of induced drought stress. Typically, less expensive fertilizers will have a higher salt index. When the plant being fertilized does not have a well-developed root structure, such as is the case with a new transplant, it is very susceptible to moisture problems that may be exacerbated by a high soil salt content. We have found that IBDU isobutylidene diurea to be an excellent source of controlled slow release nitrogen and it also has a low salt index. IBDU releases by hydrolysis so it relies on moisture, but is less dependent on temperature. This makes IBDU a great source for plants that grow in cooler soils. We have found that using slow release nitrogen fertilizers offers a fertilization approach that works great under a wide range of conditions for ornamental plants, shrubs and trees.
Raised Bed Gardening
Ponderiffic also offers garden installation services for raised bed gardening and larger row crop gardening. Working with our customers, we offer gardening solutions that take into account on site characteristics such as soil conditions, sunlight availability, water access for irrigation and drainage. Our team will install a raised bed garden based on the available space and desired plant population the customer wishes to monitor and grow. We include all materials for the installation including gopher wire, redwood or cedar, irrigation pipe, soil amendments, seeds or transplants to start the garden and offer tips and information on watering intervals, fertilizing and pest control and harvesting.
Tree Pruning and Removal
Ponderiffic also offers horticultural services of pruning trees and complete tree removal with stump grinding. We utilize normal rope and harness gear for maximum safety of workers and property. We maintain workers compensation and liability insurance coverage and will at request, name the customer as an additional insured for any project we complete where structural damage is a concern. Ponderiffic removes all rubbish from site and leaves each property site only after a thorough cleanup of all construction debris.
Integrated Pest Management and Pest Control Advisor services
Specific services offered from Ponderiffic are in assisting customers to establish safe pest control measures. Whether the pest is a nuisance weed infesting a garden or a population of aphids that are persistent on the flowering roses. Ponderiffic has the experience and credentials to recognize a specific pest and to make a safe recommendation for control of the pest that incorporates a judicious use of pesticides and relies in organic methods or the use of bio control agents where possible. Ponderiffic maintains a Pest Control Advisor (lic #073041) license through the CA Dept of Pesticide Regulations <and brings several years of prior experience as a crop monitoring specialist to their customers to offers the latest and safest pest control services and advice to their customers. The specific areas of specialty are insect pests of gardens and ornamentals along with plant diseases and the vectors that transmit them. Ed Brown, owner of Ponderiffic, has a MS in Plant Science and completed his thesis on pesticide efficacy in controlling greenbugs in row crops and thus is well qualified to offer the best advice on how to control any pest you may face in your garden or landscape.
Landscape Lighting
Ponderiffic is a factory trained lighting expert with over 10 yrs of experience in the design and installation of outdoor lighting systems. Ponderiffic has received in the field or factory training from the industry's best lighting companies including: FX Luminaire, Unique Lighting Systems, and Vista and Focus. The lighting crew at Ponderiffic designs and installs the following lighting systems:
- Spot and Flood Lighting
- Garden Light
- Tree Canopy Lighting
- Pathway Lighting
- Aquatic and Submersible Lights
- LED Lighting
- Step and Deck Lighting
- Column and Pilaster Lighting
- Wall Lights and Sign Lighting
- Rope and Tubular Lights
- Paver Lighting
- Bar-B-Q Lighting
- Fiber Optic Lighting
- Solar Lighting
- Pagodas
- In Ground Lighting
- Address Sign Lighting
Ponderiffic is able to design and install a low or line voltage lighting system and offers all customers a full one year guarantee that all lighting systems will function without failure (bulb failures not included) or the repair cost is completely free. They are able to offer this incredible warranty due to the outstanding quality of fixtures installed and the quality of craftsmenship in wiring and attention to detail of every facet of the project.
Ponderiffic has the extensive lighting experience to offer lighting projects from average operating expense as seen in most halogen lighting systems, to ultra low operating costs with the newer LED systems and 24 volt transformer systems as offered by Unique Lighting System. While many DIY stores offer simple to install solar lighting packages which last only a year or two, many other outlets offer equipment of a higher quality and are easily installed by the average homeowner or handymen. For those who have little time for such projects and desire only for excellent lighting service, give us a call as we service most all of Southern CA. Call us at (951) 368-8614 or contact us with our online form.
Hardscape and Misc Projects
Ponderiffic has partnered with block, stone and general hardscape suppliers across Southern CA and can deliver rock, gravel, pavers, blocks, custom fountains and virtually any hardscape material in the industry to your site to complete your project. Our expertise in hardscape is not only limited to use of natural rock and stone found in our water features, we also offer expertise in the following areas:
Hardscaping Projects
- Flagstone pathways and patios
- Paver installations
- Block Wall Construction
- Cement walkways and patios
- Fire Pits
- BBQ Island Installations with full utilities installations such as gas lines, water lines, electric and drains.
Misc Landscape Projects
- Hauling and Bobcat services
- Trenching
- Roto-tilling
- Tree pruning and removal
- Weed abatement services
- Drainage: French and whole yard drains, complete with curb core drilling.
- Spa installations
- Custom benches, wood or block/rock
- Arbors and Trellices
- Synthetic grass
- Preventive Maintenance Agreements-Commercial and Residential
There is no project too big or small for our team of trained experts. We have the expertise to design and build virtually anything our customers can think of. Equally as important, we have satisfied customers all over Southern Ca who will invite you out to look over their project for reference. Feel free to look over our galleries and see for yourself if the quality of our work is in line with your own expectations for your project. Call Ponderiffic today for a free estimate on your next project. 951-368-8614 or use the Contact us to set up an appointment.
Waterfall Construction
Ponderiffic Adventures Inc. is a second generation landscape and contractor located primarily, in the Inland Empire. We specialize in the installation of Custom waterfalls that blend into the natural landscape. The sound of rushing water adds tranquillity, while its appearance provides the most beautiful feature in a water garden. Not only are they beautiful, but they also serve a valuable purpose in your ecosystem by aerating the water for your fish and holding the beneficial bacteria that keeps your pond algae free.
The Pondless Waterfall
At Ponderiffic, each new water waterfall, pondless waterfall or fountain construction project begins with a design of the project. A well designed project guarantees value and ensures that the project will be sustainable. Project design plans come from landscape architects, customer drawings, or are produced by our own design dept. When considering the design of a waterfall, careful evaluation of the site is necessary. The surrounding area must relate to the water feature. How would water flow through the property naturally? Or, what do we need to change to make a waterfall look as though it flows through the property naturally?
- Elevations and drainage
- Vegetation
- Hardscape materials, rock type etc.
- Lighting
- Utilities required for installation-water and electric
- Intended purposes for project
- Wildlife habitat suitability
- Filtration and Circulation Design
- Required materials and details of excavations
- Code and CA landscape Contractors guideline requirements
Ponderiffic Adventures is happy to evaluate your property and give you a free estimate on you backyard waterfall, or pondless waterfall. Contact Us today for your free backyard waterfall consultation!
Pond Construction
Backyard ponds add beauty to any backyard, transforming an ordinary backyard into a personal oasis. Ponderiffic Adventures brings over 20 yrs of experience to the landscape industry and is a second generation landscape builder. In addition to being a contractor, Ed Brown is an experienced wildlife biologist having worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service prior to his landscape career. He also brings experience from the field of agriculture as a Certified Crop Advisor and possesses a Masters degree in Plant Science. As president of Ponderiffic Adventures, he has assembled a crew of determined landscapers to assist him in the design and construction of Koi Ponds, lakes, wetlands, streams, fountains, waterfalls, pondless waterfalls and water features of all sizes. Ponderiffic Adventures has been involved in the design and creation of projects ranging in size from small backyard ponds to 5 acre ponds.
Prior to any construction project, Ponderiffic Adventures begins each project with a site consultation with a thorough analysis of the site conditions with which to work from. A standard site analysis will examine the following:
- Soil type
- Drainage patterns
- Existing vegetation
- Intended use and purpose of space
- Water availability and quality of incoming source
- Landscape lighting
- Location of various utilities
- Long term plans for entire lot
Ponderiffic Adventures is a full service company and can help you with any of your pond needs. When you’re ready to change your yard from the "average" into the "backyard paradise' gives us a call.
Water Quality
Ponderiffic Adventures builds every project with water quality in mind. There is nothing worse than a pond, fountain, lake or stream that is overgrown with algae. Past experience has shown that the key to great water quality lays in pond circulation, oxygenation of the water and good construction and design. Very early in the design and consultation stages our sales consultants ask the customer the single most important question in the entire interview, “What level of involvement do you intend to have with your water feature?” Our sales staff has been trained to ask this special question because we know that water gardening invokes user involvement and hence the word Gardening in water gardening. It is our goal to design a system that meets the customers expectations for maintenance. Because all gardening requires some level of participation by the owner, when we know the willingness to participate in this process then we can design a system that best fits the customers needs and abilities.
Pond Maintenance
Ponderiffic offers maintenance services for all of our projects and those water features that we did not originally build. Maintenance services are offered for ponds, water gardens, koi ponds, fountains, lakes and streams. We service and maintain ponds over a wide range including the following counties: Riverside, San Bernadino, Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego and Imperial. Ponderiffic offers the following types of maintenance agreements:
- Monthly Service Contracts
- Quarterly Service Contracts
- Bi-annual Service Contracts
- Annual Cleanouts
Not all of our customers have service agreements in place. Ponderiffic receives calls on a daily basis for some sort of maintenance issue for a given water feature project. A short list of the maintenance calls which we receive include repairs to the following:
- Defective pump
- Lighting repair
- Defective auto fill valves
- Defective or broken check or flow control valves
- Algae Control
Water Quality
- Check pH and adjust if necessary
- Check for excessive nitrates, ammonia and phosphorus
- Observe algae levels and determine species present in pond, whether populations are above average or not. Provide recommendations on appropriate, sustainable water quality control.
- Our trucks are stocked with all the common bacteria varieties and algae control products which Aquascape has to offer. Package sizing is available for the larger pond customers as well. See our online store for details on water quality control products.
- For larger ponds and lakes, a full scale Ag Water Suitability analysis is recommended.
- Also on larger lakes and ponds our crew tests for B.O.D. or D.O. these are respectively the Biological Oxygen Demand and the Dissolved Oxygen levels of the pond. More on these parameters below.
Misc Items (Leaks and Aquatic Vegetation)
Ponds, waterfalls and all streams are checked for leaks through several methods.
First step is a visual step where pond equipment is checked where external equipment is located. Ponds with skimmers and checked around the skimmers and any fittings adjacent to the skimmers. All wateralls are checked from top to bottom. Pertinent data such as water usage through water bills is crucial here.
The second step occurs when no visual signs of a leak appear after painstaking troubleshooting is complete. This step is commonly called the drain-down test. This is accomplished by having our customer turn off the waterfall and observing the pond water level. Water levels will change daily in a pond with no water fill device. Turn off the water fill valve and the waterfall and your pond will lose not much more than an inch of water daily in the summer and less in cooler times of the year. Losses in excess of this amount signal a leak. During the drain-down test, we observe with help of our on-site customer, the daily losses of water from a pond. When the losses drop to a suitable level then we assume logically that the water is leaking from the water feature at a level above the current water level before the water level stopped dropping. From here, all rock materials are removed from the pond and all edges are examined with a fine-toothed comb so to speak. We have great success with this method.
Once a leak has been identified, the leak is repaired. Ponderiffic is a Firestone Certified Liner Installer and capable of repairing any leak in a pond no matter how big or where it is located.
Aquatic Plant Growth
Our crew will examine the type of aquatic plants growing in the pond and either remove excessive vegetation or point out what needs to be removed. In the event that a particular water feature, lake, koi pond or water garden has an inadequate aquatic plant population, our crew will make recommendations on a proper plant population for the size and purpose of the existing project. We offer the service of planting aquatic plant populations in a project with the purpose of beautifying the project while enhancing the overall water quality of the pond as well. Ponderiffic cultures aquatic plants for re-sale and when we do not have access to a particular pond plant, we have access to virtually any pond plant known to exist through our extensive grower network. We can have almost any plant species onsite within a day or two.
Fish Health and Feed Examination
We will examine the health of fish in the water garden and this is effective on only the smaller ponds. We do not have the ability to track down every fish in larger ponds and thus often treat troubled fish in these larger ponds only when they surface nearby the edges for us to capture them and quarantine them in one of our ponds for off site care.
We offer suggestions on appropriate types of fish food and this varies according to the type of fish you are raising and the time of year when you are feeding them. There are cold weather feeds that continually meet the dietary needs of fish during cold weather. See our online store for more info and order your supplies today.
A Few Notes about: WATER QUALITY
Ponderiffic Adventures builds every project with water quality in mind. There is nothing worse than a pond, fountain, lake or stream that is overgrown with algae. Past experience has shown that the key to great water quality lays in pond circulation, oxygenation of the water and good construction and design. Very early in the design and consultation stages our sales consultants ask the customer the single most important question in the entire interview,
What level of involvement do you intend to have with your water feature?"
Our sales staff has been trained to ask this special question because we know that water gardening invokes user involvement and hence the word Gardening in water gardening. It is our goal to design a system that meets the customers expectations for maintenance. Because all gardening requires some level of participation by the owner, when we know our customers willingness to participate in this process then we can design a system that best fits the customers needs and abilities.
Designing a water feature that will offer good water quality is simple in most cases. The requirements differ as the pond increases in size as you move from small backyard ponds to lakes and golf course sized water features.
Characteristics or ingredients for great water Quality
Smaller ponds ( 2K gallons or less)
- Properly sized circulation pump-typically a submersible. See Aquascapes Aquasurge pumps in our on-line store.
- Properly sized filtration and Ultra Violet light (UV) system
- Ion-Gen System by Aquascape, available online at our store. Also click here for an informational video.
- Healthy plant population
- Bacteria and algae control products
- Pond skimmer or bottom drain
Lakes and Larger Ponds (10K and larger)
- Wetlands filtration system with extensive bog plantings and Wetlands filter media.
- Commercial Grade Aeration System capable of moving high volumes of compressed air through self weighted tubing. The compressors for these projects range in size from 1/3 hp to 3 hp or more.
- Floating and stationary fountains
- Maintenance plan using heterotrophic bacteria and algae controls.
