In-depth information into this recreational swim pond construction by Earth Works, Aquascape Inc., and contractors from around the country. This event took place in St. Augustine, Florida as part of an annual Winter Seminar coordinated by Aquascape Inc for the purpose of advanced training for Certified Aquascape Contractors.
Read Jason Duffney’s article on this recreational swim pond construction in the May/June 2021 issue of Pond Trade Magazine.
Brueggen Swim Pond 1 Year Anniversary of Installation
Jason Duffney met with Jenn and John Brueggen to get their thoughts after one year of their swim pond installation that was the featured build of the contractors in attendance at the 2021 Aquascape Inc. Winter Retreat.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Aquascape Recreation Swim Pond Construction Part 1 Behind the Scenes at the start of Earth Works of Jacksonville collaboration with Aquascape Inc. in the Aquascape Recreational Swim Pond for a Eastern Collard Lizard – Advanced CAC Build at the home of the St Augustine Alligator Farm Director John & his wife Biologist Jenn Brueggen’s home. John Brueggen discusses what they are hoping for and Earth Works team members Jason Duffney & Sean Duffney along with Michael Quatromoni discuss this event that will involve 100 Certified Aquascape Contractors participating here & at the Aquascape Pond and Fountainscape Build at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park with onsite participation & education with Greg Wittstock, The Pond Guy & Ed Beaulieu.
Aquascape Recreational Swim Pond Construction for a Eastern Collared Lizard Part 2 Ed Beaulieu, the Pond Professor, Jason Duffney, and Michael Quatromoni discuss progress and setbacks ahead of being joined by 100 Certified Aquascape Contractors participating here & at the Aquascape Pond and Fountainscape Build at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. Behind the Scenes at Day 2 of Earth Works of Jacksonville collaboration with Aquascape Inc. in the Aquascape Recreation Pond for a Eastern Collard Lizard – Advanced CAC Build at the home of the St Augustine Alligator Farm Director John & his wife Biologist Jenn Brueggen’s home.
Sneak Peek Teaser into Part 3 of the Recreational Swim Pond Construction Sneak peek into Part 3 in the video series about the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park Director John Brueggen’s swim pond build by Aquascape and Earth Works. This is serious business folks!
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Aquascape Recreational Swim Pond Construction Part 3 Jason Duffney, Ed Beaulieu, and Chris Hansen are back for the third update on the swim pond install at John & Jen Brueggen’s home in Elkton, Florida near the St. Augustine Alligator Zoological Park where they will also be conducting an Aquascape contractor seminar Wednesday, February 3rd – Friday, February 5th, 2021.
St Augustine Alligator Farm Sneak Peek Part 1 Jason Duffney takes us behind the scenes with Director John Brueggen, and Aquascape Inc’s Pond Professor Ed Beaulieu, and Chris Hansen at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park prior to the Aquascape Inc pond construction and Certified Aquascape Contractors 2021 Winter Retreat. Part 1.
St Augustine Alligator Farm Sneak Peak Part 2 St Augustine Alligator Farm Director John Brueggen provides a behind the scenes sneak peek to Earth Works Jason Duffney and Aquascape Inc’s Pond Professor Ed Beaulieu, Chris Hansen and Travis prior to the new pond construction and the Certified Aquascape Contractors training sessions and Winter Retreat. Part 2.
St Augustine Alligator Farm Sneak Peek FINAL Part 3 Final Behind the Scenes Sneak Peek at the St Augustine Alligator Farm. Tune in to interesting stories from around the world along with specifics on requirements for healthy wildlife habitats and maintaining exotic species with Zoo Director John Brueggen and Ed Beaulieu as we prepare for the Aquascape Winter Retreat and build Feb 3-6, 2021.
Welcome Team Aquascape to the St Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park Jason Duffney, owner Earth Works of Jacksonville welcomes Team Aquascape to the St Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park event and Winter Retreat! Wednesday, February 3-5, 2021!
St. Augustine Recreational Swim Pond Reveal Wrapping up collaboration with Aquascape Inc. for the Aquascape Recreation Pond Build at the home of the St Augustine Alligator Farm Director John Brueggen & his wife Biologist Jenn Brueggen’s home. John Brueggen discusses what they are hoping for and Jason Duffney and Greg Wittstock discuss the outcome of this recreational pond.
Fill ‘Er Up! Recreation Pond Final Details – Part 5
Bring in the reinforcements! The CACs are here for the regional build event to help with the process of finishing up the recreation pond for the Alligator Farm. John also takes me in to show me his Gila monsters and their habitat.
Replicating the Desert for a *GILA MONSTER POND* – Part 4
Bring in the reinforcements! The CACs are here for the regional build event to help with the process of finishing up the recreation pond for the Alligator Farm. John also takes me in to show me his Gila monsters and their habitat.
Answering Your Questions: Concrete or Rubber Liner? – Recreation Pond Part 3
I’m taking some time to answer some of the questions you have had about the recreation pond build. Specifically, the under liner drainage and the architecture of the wall.
Giving Life to a RECREATION POND – Part 2
Today is the day! We break ground in St. Augustine, FL on the recreation pond for the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. I’ll show you how important it is to get these recreation ponds designed and planned the right way!
Alligator Expert Gets a RECREATION POND – Part 1
I am so stoked to be in St. Augustine, Florida to design and build a restorative recreation pond for John Brueggen, director of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. Today, John gives us a tour of the farm which is such an inspiration.
*POND BUILD* for Florida Alligator Farm (Rec Pond Revealed)
Chris leads Build-a-Pond-Day at the historic Alligator Farm and Zoological Park in St. Augustine, Florida! Newbie attendees knock this 8′ x 11′ pond out in one day. Later, Ed reveals the reptile rec pond from the advanced build!
Wetland Filter for Reptile REC POND – Part 5
Groundwork on the reptile rec pond for our advanced CAC build continues. Today the crew constructs the wetland filter and Ed shares tips for excavation and setting boulders.
Cypress Log Edge for Reptile REC POND – Part 4
Establishing different elevations and grade levels makes all the difference on a flat property like this. Ed and Chris carve in a massive cypress log as a unique edging element for the reptile rec pond.
Groundwater Solutions for Reptile REC POND – Part 3
Ed and Chris implement groundwater solutions and install a 4-inch drain tile so they can create a solid base for their liner. The rocking of the reptile rec pond is now underway!
Intake Bay for Reptile REC POND – Part 2
Ed the Pond Professor arrives at the job site and notices we’ll need to make adjustments to our intake bay. The reptile rec pond comes in at a 30,000 gph requiring 500 gallons of water storage.
Reptile REC POND Design for Collared Lizards – Part 1
Chris joins the Earth Works team down in Florida to collaborate on a recreation pond for eastern collared lizards! The 20′ x 25′ reptile rec pond will utilize a tile drainage system to combat hydrostatic pressure from the groundwater.
Earth Works is proud to have hosted the 2021 Aquascape Winter build with Greg Wittstock, founder of Aquascape for Certified Aquascape Contractors from around the country. Participating CAC’s include:
Chris Pekarek | Poseidon’s Aquatic Designs
Stan Lepkowski | Delaware Water Features
Stan Lepkowski | Delaware Water Features
Greg Gill | Eastern Iowa Landscape
Bob Kerr | Gradex Company LLC
Zak Kladden | Majestic Water Gardens
Thomas Smith | Garden State Koi
Tim Dille | Garden State Koi
Enrique Gomez | Garden State Koi
Jason Borawski | Liberty’s Pavers, Ponds, & Water Features
Armando Amaya | Virginia Water Gardens
Charlie Ross | Virginia Water Gardens
Armando Amaya | Virginia Water Gardens
Crystal Urquizu | Virginia Water Gardens
Don | Virginia Water Gardens
Allan Schule | Sound Shore Pond Inc.
Bruno Maegerle | Pond Pros
Chris Ostrander | Living Water Landscape Service
Alex Oren | Landvista Aquascapes
William Seeds III | Seeds of Nature Watergardens
Brent Hullinger | The Pond Beyond, LLC
Yogi Davis | Bear Stone & Aquatic Design
John Griffith | Paradise Ponds
Patrick Kirby | AquaReale
Carl Petite | Columbia Water Gardens
Brad Cheney | Nature’s Image Aquatic Design LLC
Micah Miller | Easton Outdoors
Frank Council | Easton Outdoors
Evan Hamner | Easton Outdoors
Rico Rosa Arce | Easton Outdoors
Ethan Hammond | Amen Corner Ponds
Jeremy Vlcek | Vlcek Gardens
Jay McCormick | Aquatic Lifestyles LKC
Zachary Medori | Turpin Design/Build
Max Taylor | Turpin Design/Build
Dave DeGroot | Artisan Water Gardens
Martin V Dimitrov | Atlantic Ponds LLC
Cody Gilstrap | River Rock Water Gardens
Chris Sturdyvin | Chris’ Water Gardens
Mark Carlson | Chris’ Water Gardens
Franco Propato | Frank Propato Landscaping LLC
Greg Falvo | We Build. LLC
Sean Frost | Nature Scapes
Bubba Hogan | Dreamscapes Landscaping
Scott Anderson | Scott Anderson Design
Brad Fontaine | Florida Custom Aquatic Services
Adam Goit | Brookside Landscape and Design
Nate Shirley | Brookside Landscape and Design
Brad Fontaine | Florida Custom Aquatic Services
Trevor Gibson | Florida Custom Aquatic Services
John Underwood | The Pond Beyond
Matt Berry | Nature Scapes
Adam Klingenberg | Florida Custom Aquatic Services
Beth Roth | Triton Waterscapes
Kathy Rosen | Delco Ponds and Waterscapes
Jeff Norman | Great Lakes Pondscapes
Allison Norman | Great Lakes Pondscapes
Gunther| Six Flags Nursery Supply LLC
Stephen Perez | Stephens Landscaping of Clermont
Brandon Grope | PondScape LLC
Amanda Gunther | Six Flags Nursery Supply LLC
Jay Duke | Rivercrest
Greg Gill | Eastern Iowa Landscape
Steve Roth | Triton Waterscapes
Peter Donahue | GreenPete, LLC
Brian Rosen | Delco Ponds and Waterscapes
Aaron Cruz | Garden State Koi
Baldo Bautista | Garden State Koi
Kimberly Kontopodias | Across the Pond Aquascapes LLC
Maggie Hutt | Across the Pond Aquascapes LLC
April Dugan | April Dugan
Melanie Norman | Great Lakes Pondscapes
Brian Norman | Great Lakes Pondscapes
Lisa Ballantine | Ballantine
Ben Clark | Buddy’s Property Services, LLC
Garrett Wurzbach | Aqua Escapes LLC
Aaron Chico | Blue Lotus Waterscapes & Design
Zachary Watson | Site Pros Landscaping, Inc.
John Adams | Modern Design Aquascaping Inc.
Alissa Wells | Site Pros Landscaping, Inc.
Tim Wood | Aquatic Edge
Cameron Perez | Stephens Landscaping of Clermont
Tim Wood | Aquatic Edge
Casey Perez | Stephen’s Landscaping
Gabriel Botto | Island Aquascape Inc
Brad Birch | BBs Aquatic Service LLC
Robert Lofgran | Wasatch Ponds
Andrew Starkey | Aloha Landscaping and Services
Zoran | Zorancreative
Jerome Fischer Alabama Aquascapes
Kyle Brown | Modern Concepts Custom Outdoor Creations
Garth Price | Modern Concepts
Diana Cagle | Aqua Dreamscapes LLC
Pheonix Singleton | Ceto Waterscapes
Joel Lattimer | Lattimer Landscaping Inc
Luke Lattimer | Lattimer Landscaping Inc
William Adams | Lattimer Landscaping Inc
George Ruiz | TAMPA BAY PONDS & ROCKS
Carl Gennaro Jr | EnviroScapes Property Specialist, Inc
DAY ONE: Team Aquascape Winter Retreat 2021 It was a great first-day kickoff at Earth Works of the Team Aquascape Winter Retreat-St Augustine Alligator Farm pond builds. Aquascape, Earth Works, and contractors from around the country had been preparing for months for this week’s activities. The amount of energy and associated expense for all in attendance during these difficult times deserves recognition and praise.
Wednesday night was the kickoff for the event at the Earth Works garden center with meet & greet opportunities and an hour-long Q&A before the group between Greg, Mark Fechtel, and Jason Duffney about the thirty-plus year success story of Earth Works and its role in providing a wide range of outdoor living services including Aquascape water features and its core state of the art technologies that take the stress and strain out of water feature maintenance while providing high performance and client satisfaction.
The Tribe as the Aquascape gaggle of pond diggers is known is welcoming to everyone with Greg setting the tone with an outreached hand for those he’s had relationships with for decades, as well as first-timers to this Team Aquascape event. Over one hundred contractors attended including company owners, foremen, and reps that wear a myriad of other hats covering the wide range of duties achievers take on in building an idea into a successful business.
Greg espoused the benefits of sharing and learning from one another pointing out those members in attendance with five and ten plus years of experience with Aquascape. There are numerous Aquascape artists of the year and Jason Duffney is notably last year’s Aquascape Businessman of the Year. Greg encouraged tribe members to tap the knowledge base of those next to them as it is extensive among the tribe members in attendance.
The network of the Aquascape Tribe will doubtlessly strengthen this week. Aquascape contractors around the country will benefit as these technologies are installed at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park where thousands of guests pass through each year, and Zoo Director John Brueggen shares the success and potential of these applications with his international network of zoological society tribe members.
Plus, remember that for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden and landscaping need contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online and at 904-996-0712.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
In what some consider a Florida real estate post-pandemic gold rush, landscaping for curb appeal in Northeast Florida’s hot real estate market is more critical than ever, benefiting both higher resale value and improved homeowner satisfaction. Earth Works Landscape Designer John Cacchione showcases landscape design elements that improve property value and customer satisfaction at a new estate build.
HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET
Jacksonville home values have increased by 21%, the highest year-over-year increase among the top 40 metro areas in the nation according to Realtor.com’s Market Hotness rankings. This has occurred while Jacksonville remains among the most affordable according to the Boston Real Estate Times.
St John’s County property values and surrounding coastal communities are likewise in high demand as values steadily increase and the average length of homeownership increases post-pandemic.
“Homes on the market are selling quickly in St. Johns County,” reported News4Jax.com. “There is high demand and low inventory. “With resale, those are going under contract often in 24 to 48 hours, multiple offers over list price,” said Karen Zander, 97Park Real Estate owner and broker. “No one knows how much to offer.”
IMPORTANCE OF CURB APPEAL
According to the National Association of Realtors, over 70 percent of prospective homeowners consider curb appeal crucial to their home buying experience according to bankrate.com. “That first impression is important,” says Frank J. Lucco, managing director of IRR-Residential Appraisers & Consultants in Houston. “If they don’t like the looks of the front of the house, which is mostly landscaping, often they won’t even go inside.”
ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Personalizing your landscape design to suit your choice of plants and hardscaping materials if done right creates visual appeal. Whether doing it yourself or hiring a professional, the landscape design elements include considerations of color, form, lines, scale, and texture. Remote consultations do not impair the design process, for although client tastes vary, landscape design principles remain the same. Earth Works landscape designers consult with clients worldwide and often before their home construction is completed in Northeast Florida.
Earth Works of Jacksonville Landscape Design for Curb Appeal
Cacchione’s client for this informal landscape design built a large single-story sprawling home on an expansive lot with a concrete driveway that could accommodate two traffic lanes. The flower bed in the middle of the circular driveway includes green, blue, orange, and red with an outer ring of 50 perennial Blue My Minds followed by a ring of Ixora, and orange birds of paradise, all on an incline leading up to the centerpiece triple trunk Roebelenii palm. All flower beds in the front yard include red mulch that compliments the rich colors of the home. Tan River rock form a border around the house. These rocks protect the black iron fencing around the backyard and line the generator and pool equipment pads and courtyard’s flagstone. Color is a crucial component of landscape design involving the choice of plantings, rocks, and mulch in relation to the house.
The size and growth rates of plant choices are as important as their current appearance. The collective selection of plants involves decisions of proportionality in size and spacing throughout the beds in relation to the home. “That’s something you have to think about while you are planting, doing your design,” said Cacchione. “This plant is small now, but in five years, what’s it going to look like?” On either side of the front door, small plants dominate the flower beds, including foxtail ferns and salvia. Cacchione creates focal points with gradual increases in scale from the flowers to several 10′ Mule palms.
The driveway’s curving lines create an informal design that Cacchione alters with straight lines of hardscaping along the walls of the house that serve a practical purpose and visual appeal. “We did this clean edge around the foundation, then the gravel against the stucco,” said Cacchione. “That’s important, especially with stucco. Stucco is a permeable surface that water will penetrate if it stays wet too long.” Layering with clean lines with a mix of plants, edging, rocks, mulch, and pottery provides lots of visual interest.
The concrete driveway forms a vast flower bed in front of the house leading around the side to a garage and courtyard. “The builder had this pergola existing on the design, and I felt like we needed a way to get from the driveway to the garage door,” said Cacchione. “So this was just a cool addition. And we were able to use some of the flagstones we used in the courtyard.” For color and interest in this area the plan included:
The four walls of the courtyard with doors and window viewing vantages needed a focal point. “We knew this little courtyard needed something special,” said Cacchione. “And just to create the sound of water in here is perfect.” What happens during periods of rain, though, considering the myriad of pitches of the roof? “This water feature collects all the water from the downspouts from the roof in here and are channeled into our reservoir,” said Cacchione. “Another thing in here where we are thinking about permeability. So the gravel and flagstone will allow the water to penetrate, and that also goes into the reservoir.” In the event of an overflow from storms, the water is being funneled out through installed drain pipes.
A portion of the backyard incorporating the swimming pool, patio, and pergola is enclosed by black metal fencing lined with edging and tan river rock. Cacchione centered a triple trunk Roebelenii behind the pool that can be viewed upon entry to the home through the front door. A rectangular flower bed connects the pool pad to the raised pergola sitting area. Texas sage line the bed behind the pool on both sides of the Roebelenii. Pringle’s podocarpus surrounds the pergola and the Bahia sod base will green up nicely as the weather warms up in the Spring and Summer.
As half of our days are shrouded in darkness, the landscaping’s beauty is revealed in new ways with a complete outdoor lighting package including blade lights on steps, path lights, large lights on palms, and wall wash lights. Whether planning to improve your landscaping for curb appeal in a new or existing home in Northeast Florida’s hot real estate market, contact Earth Works for a design consultation.
And remember that for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden and landscaping need contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online and at 904-996-0712.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
Large-scale landscape projects and complicated hardscaping and water feature installs, benefit from a professionally prepared landscape plan. Have you ever done something and realized later that those actions had unintended consequences? Improving outcomes is a core benefit of planning. Most people don’t have the equipment or horticultural and regulatory knowledge to undertake large-scale landscaping projects successfully. Merely hanging a plant from your favorite nursery or installing a few pavers does not require an extensive landscape plan. Landscape designers have training and experience in multiple disciplines including horticulture, environmental science, engineering, and art. It is less expensive to do it right the first time with a properly prepared and implemented landscape plan.
For the do-it-yourself landscaper, the University of Florida provides helpful design tips to consider when making your landscape plan.
https://youtu.be/n4RELIPsl_w
As landscape plans become larger and more complicated, you may want to hire a professional firm to develop and implement the landscape plan. “Here at Earth Works our landscape plans are all-inclusive”, Jarred Taylor, Lead Landscape Designer said. “So our landscapes will include plants, hardscapes, ponds, water features, irrigation, and drainage. One of the benefits of going with Earth Works is the fact that we have the capability of doing the install ourselves.” Some landscape designers strictly provide the drawing that requires you do-it-yourself or seek another contractor that may or may not acquire the materials and install them as needed per the plan. Headaches and finger-pointing can occur when a third party is involved in implementing the landscape plan.
Earth Works schedules landscape design consultations where your designer meets with you to listen to your ideas and do a site inspection. The designer, with in-depth knowledge of the plants, hardscaping and water feature materials, and engineering and regulator considerations, prepares the landscape plan design drawing. Earth Works also provides a video describing what to expect when you schedule a landscape consultation and how to prepare for it.
Taylor noted that for landscape design drawings he creates, they only include plants and materials available and proper for use in that particular environment that meet code and regulatory requirements. “Here at Earth Works we have a collective understanding of a lot of the different Homeowners Associations (HOA), Architectural Review Boards (ARB), and the different municipalities here in Northeast Florida,” Taylor said. He further emphasized the value a properly prepared landscape plan has that adheres to permeability, setback lines, and a litany of regulatory compliance issues before presenting your proposed design to HOAs and ARBs.
“Here at Earth Works we pride ourselves on being able to provide a beautiful outdoor living space to any homeowner who wants it,” Taylor said. “And just really working with them to give them their dreams as their ideas come to life in a beautiful and cohesive landscape that is going to last for years.” Taylor concluded, “If this is something you are interested in feel free to reach out to Earth Works call in at the garden center or fill out the contact form online.”
Jarred Taylor, Earth Works Lead Landscape Designer
And remember that for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden and landscaping need contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online and at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
You’ve probably seen waterfalls you liked in nature, neighborhood entrances, or maybe a friend’s pond or water feature. And you’ve wondered about exploring options for having one built in your yard. Luxurious water features add that resort feel to any property. Yet, you wonder what questions you should ask when searching for your pond building contractor?
As with any contracted service, consider specifics about the company background such as: -Is the contractor licensed and insured? -How many years of experience do they have building water features? -Does the contractor provide candid client testimonials? -What are past clients saying in their google and other reviews? -How do they rate with the Better Business Bureau?
Those sorts of questions are an excellent start to narrowing the selection process in identifying a qualified pond building contractor.
Additionally: -Do they have photos and videos demonstrating the types of water features they typically build? -What is their design consultation process? Can they meet with you in-person, via an online app such as zoom if you are traveling or unable to meet in person? -Are they experts in applicable area building regulations? -Do they have expertise in the permitting process? -Do they own the proper construction equipment to complete a project of your complexity? -Do they have reliable relationships for acquiring the necessary building materials and equipment unique to creating a healthy ecosystem pond such as Aquascape Inc? -Have they received approvals from your Home Owners Association (HOA) for other pond building construction projects that they satisfactorily completed? -Can they complete your water feature when you want it for a price you can afford? -Do they provide quality guarantees? -How long before they start the pond building after you sign the contract?
Ponds, waterfalls, and water features of every sort imaginable are an investment that enhances your quality of life when appropriately built by experienced and reputable pond building contractors. We encourage you to shop around and consider contractors’ reputations, knowledge, experience, and generally if you like and trust them in deciding to have them build the pond of your dreams.
And remember that for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden and landscaping need contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online and at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
Earth Works provides quotes for annual winter pond clean out service for Aquascape ecosystem ponds we built and any pond system design whether it was a commercial or DIY constructed pond. Earth Works designs and builds low-maintenance ecosystem ponds that collect the majority of debris in the skimmer basket, but some debris settles to the pond bottom that requires periodic clean out. From our experience with unserviced pond debris buildup for water quality concerns, we recommend an annual winter pond clean out service.
“So we recommend once a year,” Jason Duffney, Earth Works owner said at recent Pond Clean Out Seminar. “That’s what we have found is the secret sauce. Don’t wait beyond three years.” Thus, when contacting Earth Works to schedule a pond clean out our standard quotations are based on annual service of your pond considering its size, equipment configuration and design. Pond clean out pricing increases for ponds that have multiple years of built up muck and debris.
Looks can be deceiving when trying to assess if your pond needs the clean out after year one, two or three. “It may not look that bad,” Glenn Stanza, Earth Works pond clean out specialist said. “You just wait and see how much dirt comes out of that pond (during clean out). The dirt settles, there is going to be sediment in the bottom of that thing. It’s bad. And if you let it go and let it go there is so much dirt in there that the pond can’t handle it. It can’t flush it out.”
Winter is the best time to schedule your annual pond clean out for the health of your pond ecosystem. ‘If you do a clean out like we are doing here in June, July, August, September you have to sign a waiver,” Jason Duffney said. “It’s too hot. We actually think it is very bad to do those clean outs that time of year. It’s just not good for the pond. So, once a year and do it ideally December, January and February are the best months.” As an incentive, Earth Works provides discounts on pond clean outs scheduled during the cooler months for the health of your pond ecosystem and to accommodate your year-long enjoyment.
And remember that for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden and landscaping need contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online and at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
The word “xeriscape” is derived from the Greek “xeros,” meaning dry, and “scape,” a kind of view or scene. Together, xeriscaping is landscaping with slow-growing, drought-tolerant plants to conserve water and establish a waste-efficient landscape.
Landscapes can be designed from the start to reduce the amount of resources needed to maintain them. By selecting the appropriate plants and efficient irrigation systems, a balance can be achieved to fit your aesthetic needs as well as reduce resource use. Benefits of xeriscaping include cost savings through lower water bills and a reduction in the labor needed to maintain your landscape.
Elements of Xeriscaping
Designing a resource-efficient landscape requires the incorporation of a few design elements.
• Zoning–grouping plants in the landscape according to their water requirements. For example, water-loving plants should be grouped separately from drought-tolerant plants. This allows for the proper amount of water to be distributed to the plants as they need it.
• Use of drought-tolerant plants–these plants require less water and are adapted to drought conditions and soils with low water-holding capacities.
• Drought-tolerant turf–Ask your local nurseries which grass varieties have excellent drought tolerance and will grow well in your yard’s soil type. Centipede grass is appropriate for most of the Southeast. In Florida, bahiagrass, bermudagrass, and zoysiagrass all have excellent drought tolerance and may be suitable for your area as well. During dry periods, allow the turf to go dormant. When the rain comes, these grasses will turn green again.
• Mulch, mulch, mulch–because mulch reduces evaporation, it is used extensively in xeriscaping to replace areas that require extensive watering. Mulch can also be used to create paths or walkways throughout your landscape.
A few great plants for xeriscaping in NE Florida
1. Fakahatchee Grass. A Florida native grass that is drought tolerant but able to deal with those rainy summer days here in N.E. FL. It is somewhat salt tolerant as well and likes full sun. Many kinds of grass are considered drought tolerant and are perfect for xeriscaping. Others include Pampas, Fountain, Muhly, and Cord grasses
2. Helianthus. Commonly known as the beach sunflower, this cheerful, low-growing plant has bright, sunflowerlike blooms. A mature plant can cover several feet in diameter, so it makes a great ground cover. It will attract many species of butterflies.
3. Sunshine Mimosa. This is also known as the powderpuff mimosa, because of its distinctive pink flowers that resemble little fiber-optic puffs. It has deep roots, so once you get it established, it requires very little maintenance. A healthy, mature plant can spread as much as 12 inches in a day, providing excellent ground cover. It can even be mixed with grass and mowed without damaging the plant.
4. Coreopsis. Its sunny, daisylike flowers are beautiful and great for butterflies and pollinators. Once it is established, it’s sun- and drought-tolerant. A mature plant will re-seed itself, which means you don’t just have it once, you have it all the time. Fun fact: The coreopsis is Florida’s state wildflower.
5. Gaillardia. Also known as blanket flower, it has distinctive bright orange and red flowers. It is highly salt-tolerant, prefers sunny locations, and it will seed itself. As an added bonus, the pretty blossoms can last a long time in flower arrangements.
2. Agave and Yucca Plants. Few plants can match the bold and dramatic landscape impact of agave and yucca, both excellent choices for truly low maintenance low water gardening. These amazingly tough plants endure the extremes, hot sun, sandy soil, dry conditions, and salty spots with elegance and style. Combine with landscape boulders for a finishing touch.
Most water gardeners are aware of the importance that good quality water plays in a pond habitat. Not knowing how to get or keep water quality can sometimes prove challenging. Your water may be clear, but your fish might be acting differently, which can signify that something might be a little off in your pond’s water.
With a little education and experience, you’ll become better equipped to solve whatever pond water issues you might have. For starters, follow our 7 tips below to help keep your pond water clean!
1. Maintain a healthy fish population
If you have more than 10” of fish for every 100 gallons of water, your pond is likely over-populated. Excessive fish waste can cause an imbalance in pond water. Consider finding some of them a new home. Many pond retailers and contractors will accept your fish.
2. Don’t over-feed your fish
When you feed fish more than they can eat, the uneaten food is left to decay in the pond. Be careful not to feed your fish more than once per day, and no more than they can eat in 2 to 3 minutes. Choose a quality fish food – preferably one that floats as opposed to sinking to the bottom of the pond if left uneaten.
3. Create a proper balance of plants
At season’s peak, you should have 40% to 60% of the surface area of your pond either covered or shaded by plants. Too many plants can cause oxygen deficiencies at night due to the photosynthetic process, when the plants take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. Your fish need the oxygen to survive (see tip #7).
4. Choose the right size pump for your pond
You should be circulating the entire pond’s water volume a minimum of once every hour. Make sure your pump’s flow isn’t restricted by debris in the skimmer or biological filter, and be careful not to pump water higher than it was intended. Every pump has its flow limitations. We’ve made it easy for you to choose the correct size pump for your pond and waterfall with our online pump selection guide.
5. Clean debris from pond before it has a chance to decay
Your pond skimmer will remove most of the debris from the surface of your pond, but you can also use a pond net to skim leaves and small sticks before they have a chance to descend to the pond’s bottom where they’ll decay. Decaying debris, combined with fish waste and leftover fish food, can cause ammonia levels to spike in your pond.
Ammonia can be harmful to your fish and should be addressed right away. If you see your fish jumping out of the water, you likely have an ammonia spike which can happen after adding an algae treatment. You can purchase an ammonia test kit at your local pet and aquarium store and if you find the levels are high, simply treat your pond water with Ammonia Neutralizer. Beneficial microbes such as Aquascape Beneficial Bacteria helps keep your pond water healthy and clean for your finned friends. Better yet, install an Automatic Dosing System to electronically dispense beneficial bacteria and other treatments to your pond to help with breaking down debris and maintaining a proper nitrogen cycle.
6. Choose proper filtration for your pond
Just like your pond pump, your pond’s filter should match the size of your water garden. Most pond filters are based on ideal circumstances, and if you exceed those, your filter becomes less effective. Always up-size your filter so that it can handle more than the capacity of your pond and remember to clean your filter according to instructions.
There are two types of filters in an Aquascape ecosystem pond. A mechanical filter, also known as the skimmer, removes surface debris from your pond water such as leaves and small sticks. The biological filter, or BioFalls filter, is positioned to create the beginning of the waterfall in your pond. This filter uses bacteria to break down pond wastes, converting them into less harmful compounds that can be absorbed as fertilizer by your aquatic plants.
7. Keep your pond cool during the dog days of summer
When pond water exceeds 75º Fahrenheit, it has a difficult time retaining acceptable levels of dissolved oxygen, which is critical for the health of your fish. This is why it’s important to have the surface of your pond shaded by aquatic plants (see tip #3) – to help keep pond water cool. Fish need oxygen to survive. If you see them at the pond’s surface gasping for air, add an aerator to help them during times of extreme heat.
Curb appeal comes in many different forms, and it can greatly improve your ability to sell your home quickly and for a great price. Even if you’re not thinking about selling just yet, it’s a good idea to consider your landscaping and other outdoor aesthetics, as they can significantly raise your home’s value. The lawn and garden are the main factors to address, but you can also paint your front door, replace your mailbox, or add some color to your porch.
It’s a good idea to think about how you can easily maintain your lawn area and how to take preventative steps to keep the front of your home looking great. This might include sealing a wooden porch against the elements or ensuring the gutters are sturdy and clean. There are lots of things to think about, so take it one step at a time in order to prevent becoming overwhelmed.
Here are a few tips on how to get started when you need to add curb appeal to your home.
Hire a Professional
Do you hate gardening with a passion? No problem. You can find a great gardening service in your area that will help you control weeds, plan out an easy-to-maintain landscape, and/or keep bushes and trees looking beautiful without wrecking your budget. A professional gardening service can also help you keep your lawn looking great all year round, which is essential for homeowners who live in parts of the country with unforgiving winters or harsh summers.
Repaint
Painting your front door, porch, columns, shutters, fence, mailbox, or garage door can liven things up a bit and give your home a pop of color without breaking the bank. There are a few different ways you can go about it; some people like to use spray paint because it allows them to control the area a bit more. But depending on the material, you can also use a paintbrush. Make sure you wipe down the surface carefully before applying paint, cover up any hardware with tape, and wait for the right time; for most of these projects, the weather will need to be just right.
Embrace the Details
There are many little things you can do to boost your home’s curb appeal, and focusing on these details rather than going big will help you save money. Update your welcome mat, replace lighting fixtures, add small flower pots to the porch, or add a new wreath to the front door. You can also find seasonal flags to hang that will offer a bit of color to the front of your home. Just be sure not to go overboard, as too much can be just as bad as not enough. Keep things symmetrical when possible, unify the color scheme, and make sure the lawn and porch are tidy.
Fix Up the Siding and Gutters
Especially important if you’re going to be selling your home, fixing up the roof, siding, and gutters can definitely help the house stand out. These things can be affected by the weather, trees, and extreme temperatures, and they can deteriorate even in just a year’s time, making it crucial for you to stay on top of them. Also, ensuring that there are no cracks, broken parts, debris, leaves, or mold can go a long way toward creating a better aesthetic for your home.
Boosting your home’s curb appeal doesn’t have to be a stressful job that costs a lot of money. With a bit of creativity, you can make some changes that will take your house to the next level and add to its value without spending money that you could be using for something
For those of us who keep our dogs in the backyard, we know it can be a challenge to keep them entertained back there. There aren’t many doggy toys that can survive the test of time, and aside from chew toys or rawhide bones, it can be difficult to come up with new ideas for keeping them entertained. Thankfully, there are a handful of backyard design ideas that a dog lover such as yourself can use to keep your pups happy. In case you’ve got some furry friends in your backyard, here are some of the best design ideas that they’re guaranteed to love.
1. Add Some Shade Most dogs have a lot of fur, so even in mildly warm temperatures, they can get uncomfortably hot. For this reason, all dogs love to relax in the shade. There are a few ways you can add some shade to your backyard, from putting up a small doggy tent to building a porch with a durable patio ceiling. Another option that many homeowners prefer is planting a beautiful tree that blends in naturally to your landscaping. Remember that plants native to your area will be the most steadfast and durable, requiring less upkeep. For any and all plant additions to your yard, be sure that they are not harmful or dangerous to your pet.
2. Build a Deck Adding a deck to your backyard provides some variety, and your dogs will enjoy the opportunity to hide their bones in a new spot. You can’t just build any old deck for your dogs though, it has to be especially durable to handle wear and tear. Depending on the size of your backyard and your dogs, you’ll need to do some calculations with a deck building calculator before you begin.
3. Add a Water Feature The only thing most dogs love more than shade is water. Adding a shallow pool, pond, or fountain for them to wade in will provide endless entertainment and just one more thing to occupy their minds. Alternatively, a pondless waterfall could be another great way to cool off your pup. You’ll want to include some paving, preferably of the permeable variety, around your pool. This will allow the spill-over from the pool to neatly drain away through the paving without causing mudholes and messy ruts.
4. Upgrade Your Fencing Fencing is important to have if you own dogs. Unless they are house-trained, most dogs will wander off if they aren’t fenced in. A good fence allows them to roam free while keeping them on your property. Depending on your preferences, surroundings, and the disposition of your dogs, you can either go with solid fencing or see-through fencing. You might also want to lay down some solid footboard around the edges of your fence so your dogs can’t dig under it. Trust me, they’ll try.
It’s Not Hard to Keep Your Dogs Happy A backyard can get boring fast for dogs. That’s why you should spice yours up with one or two of the ideas we’ve laid out in this article. From fencing to a shallow pool, a deck, and some shade, all of these ideas are sure to please your dogs and keep their tails wagging for the foreseeable future. You could even implement all of them and create a paradise that any dog would envy, it’s up to you.
Jordan Swift is a contributor to Innovative Building Materials. He is a blogger and a content writer for the building materials industry with an interest in landscaping and outdoor remodeling. Jordan is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value, improve sustainability, and create a warm and welcoming ambiance.
Earth Works designs, constructs, and provides support for people wanting water features of all sorts including patio-bowls, pondless waterfalls, water gardens, koi ponds, and recreation ponds. With weather events such as tropical storms and hurricanes, all these water bodies require specific care and attention before, during, and after the storms.
Fishless Water features: The biggest concern besides direct damage to a patio-bowl or pondless waterfall may be the standing water-attracting mosquitos after several days without electricity. • A simple solution is the mosquito dunks and bits available at large retail stores that will prevent mosquito breeding in these systems.
For ponds with fish: Water gardens, koi ponds, and recreation ponds have a more extensive set of concerns to keep those ecosystems and fish healthy in the event of storms and power outages.
• Reduce or stop feeding the fish several days before the storm to reduce their toxic ammonia output into the pond. • Go ahead and do any regularly scheduled water changes along with checking the filtration system, cleaning skimmer baskets, etc. • Assess the threat of pond water overflows and if that were to occur would it result in additional flooding issues or allow fish to escape? Might other hazardous materials enter the pond in flooding conditions? Sandbags could be useful. • Some pond owners will remove the fish and hold in a protected area to weather the storm. • If the threat of flying debris into the pond is significant netting or even sheets of plywood could be used for protection but must be safely secured.
• As filtration and oxygenation are critical for fish health backup generators are literally lifesavers! Battery-powered pond aerators are a quick, easy and inexpensive resource for situations where power may be out for only a few hours. • API 5 in 1 Pond Test Strips are invaluable for monitoring the critical pond water chemical parameters that affect fish health. We regularly stock these at our garden center. SEE OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO DEMONSTRATING USE:
• Be aware that the greater the number of fish and larger they are the greater their oxygen requirements and output of toxic ammonia into the pond. • EarthWorks carries a full-line of Aquascape Inc. products to keep your fish and pond healthy regardless of the critical situation they face.
