Just like the interior style of your home can become dated with time, landscaping elements can use a refresh after a while. Such was the case for our client’s pond. It had worked well for many years but was now in need of a facelift, both aesthetically and functionally. Technology, materials and styles all evolve, and our clients felt their landscape and its resident Koi could benefit from the effort of rebuilding an existing pond.
Since the location of the pond was perfect as it was, we designed around the space it occupied. There are many considerations in pond placement– you want to be able to see and enjoy it from your exterior and interior living spaces while providing the most soothing water sounds we can muster without irritating the neighbors. We moved all of the existing stone, however, the main skeleton of the pond was left untouched. The “skin and muscle” were redesigned and reshaped to create what looks like a completely different water feature.
The existing pond was a nice width, however, the 1-foot depth was no longer functioning well for the Koi. The fish like to have deep places to hang out, as well as hide from predators. They also like tiered spaces with cubbyholes. We dug deeper and added three levels of rock inside the pond. Bill spent a lot of time adding a lovely mosaic look to the bottom of the water to bring additional visual interest as you gaze into the pond.
The prep for the pond rebuild was the most complex portion of the project. All of the fish had to be taken out carefully, which in itself is a task because they swim away constantly! Once we were able to catch them we placed them in a high-walled baby pool with a good pump to oxidize the water so the fish would not suffocate. This situation is stressful for our gilled friends, so our expertise in Koi helped ensure they fared well. We also medicated the water, since, like humans, stressed fish are more susceptible to diseases. While we cannot guarantee all will go well, we do our best to care for our client’s beloved Koi. Fortunately, each one now lives happily in their new, improved space.
Our clients took advantage of the changes in creativity, materials and mechanics to create a more aesthetically pleasing landscape for their enjoyment while offering their fish a safer and healthier place to live. Let us know if you have a portion of your landscape that needs an update. Send us an email or give us a call at (317) 997-4803.
