A while back we started on an interesting project on the south end of Northfield, designed by local landscape architect Spencer Jones. The clients had converted their existing garage into a workshop and had a new garage added on onto the front of the old one to take it’s place Because of the addition, the entry has been visually “pushed back” and is actually hidden from view when you pull in to the driveway. (see photo at right)

To solve the problem, the “hidden” entry needed to be expanded to have the eye drawn to it . Spencer decided to include a bluestone walkway and patio, and a limestone seat wall integrated with large field stone.

In the photo at left, you can see crew foreman Jason Larson installing the bluestone, with the limestone seat wall and boulder combination in the background.

The landscaping involved renovating the entire yard, including the removal of four large trees and removing 8″ of clay and having it replaced with a blend of sand, soil and peat so it would support the plantings and lawn. The entire driveway was removed and redesigned.

The project includes an interesting mix of fieldstone boulders, colored concrete, and a unique blend of exposed aggregate with large pieces of limestone embedded in it.

The embedded limestone (See photo at left) is is going to be very interesting, and combined with the bluestone work and limestone seat wall, will be (in my opinion) strong features of this project.

I really enjoy projects like this. It (especially the wall and the patio) requires a great deal of skill and attention to detail to turn out right. These projects always present a challenge, and usually involve a lot of problem solving as the work progresses.

Next week: Look for something very unique we did in this project and and may never get an opportunity to do again!

Written and posted by Doug Grove, Grove Landscaping, Northfield, MN

A quality job can take time. In my field, that means that a project can take a season and even more to complete. That was the case for a landscaping and construction project we did for a Northfield client. Landscape architect Spencer Jones came up with a beautiful landscape plan. It was an ambitious plan that consisted of retaining walls, a step system, an elaborate limestone patio, and a tree and shrub lay-out. It also involved partially dismantling two boulder walls and re-constructing them in four different locations. . We started phase I of the project in the summer and finished that fall. Phase II was completed the first week of June the following year. We had a deadline to meet for Phase II, because their daughter was having her high school graduation party that weekend.

During phase I, we constructed the limestone patio and did some backyard landscaping. The most ambitious part of the project was the installation of the custom-cut limestone patio.The patio was very labor intensive, because we cut each stone individually to give it a custom look. We also integrated 3 sitting stones into the patio. They will be planting annuals and perennials in a raised flower bed in the middle of the patio. (See photo. Click to enlarge).

Phase II saw us landscape the front, build the retaining walls, and finish the landscaping around the pool. The timing couldn’t have been better (or luckier!). As we were laying the last roll of sod and sweeping up the driveway on the Friday of graduation weekend, Grandpa and Grandma were getting out of their car and walking past the crew as they were finishing up the drive!

click photos to enlarge

Left:Jon Larson and Jordan Docken finishing up the tiered wall system. We put tarps and styrofoam insulation the steps to protect them from any possible damage
Right: That’s Mark helping with a boulder for one of the future walls

Written and posted by Doug Grove, Grove Landscaping, Northfield, MN

Location Many “pond ponderers” think they want the pond in a far corner of the yard, but that defeats the purpose. It needs to be up near the house where you can enjoy the benefits. In addition, try to locate where it can be enjoyed from the inside of the house. You can open your windows on a summer evening and enjoy the sounds of the waterfall, and even the wildlife that is attracted to it. Full sun is best, but I constructed mine (see photo at right) in light shade, and it is doing just fine. Having lights in your pond will greatly enhance your enjoyment in the evening when it gets dark.

Aesthetics We want all of the ponds and waterfalls that we make to look as natural as possible, as if they are spring fed. This is accomplished with boulders, burms, and washed gravel in the bottom of the pond, along with water plants Fish are also an important factor Ito consider, When you choose your Koi or goldfish make sure they look good from the top. Too many people see them in the store from the side but when they get them, they are darker on the top and are camouflaged by the gravel. Don’t use native fish, because you won’t be able to see them.


Key elements in a pond waterfall system

Mechanical and biological filtration. The mechanical filter take care of debris while the biological filter (which which is “good” bacteria that you add to the pond periodically) out competes the green algae for nutrients. Before

Pump and plumbing. The pump sits in a skimmer basket outside the actual pond,where the water has to pas through a filtering system before getting to it. The pump then circulates the water through a flexible PVC pipe to the opposite end of the pond, where it passes through another series of filters and into the biofalls (see photo above left) before creating the waterfall.

Liner and underlayment. The liner, 45 mm thick, prevents water loss while the underlayment protects the liner and also allows gases to escape from under the liner.


After

Rocks and gravel These elements are crucial to your system. They protect your liner from ultraviolet radiation, and provide a home for the bacteria to colonize. See photo above right.

Plants and fish. Plants remove nutrients from the water that the algae would ordinarily feed on, and provide shelter for fish.The fish control the mosquitoes and other insects and in turn fertilize the plants.

Eliminating any of these factors will result in an out-of-balance ecosystem, which will in turn will result in more maintenance and decrease the enjoyment of your pond!

Written and posted by Doug Grove, Grove Landscaping, Northfield, MN

A few years back, I installed a 11′ x 16′ pond with a waterfall in our back yard, next to our paver patio. It’s something that I’ve enjoyed immensely, and has become the focal point of the yard. Any water feature that we have installed for our clients has been become a real favorite spot for them to spend their outdoor time.
I thought I’d share with you some of the important features of a well-built system.The following is condensed is from an article I wrote for the Northfield News a while back.

The popularity of water gardening is growing rapidly, as back yard ponds are becoming a frequent landscaping feature. More and more mn. are coming home at the end of a stressful day and unwinding to the relaxing sound of a stream, the enjoyment of seeing the water lilies with their white to pink blooms, the colorful fish, and birds of every kind that are attracted to this little oasis that you’ve provided for them.

One of the most enjoyable of having a water feature is that each one is a totally unique creation. You are only limited by your imagination as to it’s size and shape. A good standard size water feature is 11′ x16′ with a 6′ stream and a waterfall. If you are thinking about installing a pond of your own, it is better to invest a little more time and a few extra dollars into a system that will give you the most enjoyment for the longest time.A well designed system is a biologically balanced, self-maintained ecosystem. It is totally chemical free so that it’s not harmful to the fish. Not only is there less maintenance involved, but the aesthetic differences are easily evident.

It is a common but mistaken belief that fish cannot survive a winter in in your pond. Fish can comfortably hibernate in a pond that is 24″ deep, if a hole is kept open in the winter so the gases created by the fish and organic matter can escape.. This can be done by an aerator or a floating de-icer, like you find in cattle tanks. Or you can bring them inside and put them in an aquarium.
What about mosquitoes? In a well balanced system the pond fish will eat the mosquito larvae and the moving water caused by the pond’s circulation system won’t be attractive to mosquitoes, anyway.
The nice thing about these pond systems is that they are almost maintenance free, with the exception of taking a few minutes each week to add a biological element that will control the algae (more about that later) and adding some water every now and then. (Or you can get an automatic fill valve so you don’t have to worry about it).

If you are thinking about having a water feature installed or if you want to do it yourself, it is better to invest a little extra time and money in to a system that will give you the most enjoyment over the longest period of time. You’ll find that it is well worth it. Not only is there less maintenance, but the aesthetic differences are very easily evident.
A well-constructed water feature will be a beautiful addition to your home. It will be pleasure to look at and listen to. It won’t be long before you are watching the fish multiply, shopping for the newest varieties of water lilies, or or arranging a special rock here and there to get that “just right” look!

Next week I’ll be going over the basic elements of constructing a new waterfall and pond system.

Written and posted by Doug Grove, Grove Landscaping, Northfield, MN