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9/12/2023 Pond Restoration: A Practical Guide to Transforming Your Pond into a Low-Maintenance Fish Paradise The pond featured in the video below was in need of an overhaul. After years of dealing with a malfunctioning pump, the water feature had become difficult to maintain and was causing stress for the owner. The pond was home to massive, healthy koi fish, but it had some major issues that needed to be addressed.
Today, we will take you through a step-by-step process on how to rebuild an existing koi pond. Like any water feature, these ponds require periodic maintenance to ensure they function correctly and look their best. However, without proper attention, things can get out of hand, leading to serious problems. Fortunately, this pond owner noticed that something was wrong and reached out for help before her fish were affected too badly. Do you dream of a serene backyard escape complete with a crystal-clear koi pond? Maintaining a koi pond can be both rewarding and challenging. One of the most frustrating problems faced by pond owners is dealing with the dreaded "pea-green soup" water, which can obscure the beauty of your pond and make it difficult to enjoy your fish. In this blog post, we'll delve into the journey of a dedicated pond owner who reached out for help and asked us to restore the tranquility of his backyard oasis.
Would you swim in a pool without chlorine? Would you swim in a pond with natural filtration? Today, we're diving into the world of recreational ponds, specifically one that's naturally filtered, making it safe and enjoyable for swimming without harsh chemicals. In this blog post, we’re taking a look at the step-by-step construction of a naturally filtered rec pond in Gloucester, Virginia, offering you an enchanting escape into the beauty of nature while enjoying a chemical-free swimming experience.
 In today's world, where environmental consciousness is on the rise, planting a pollinating garden has become a popular and responsible trend. By creating a habitat that nurtures our local pollinators, we not only help them thrive but also contribute to the overall health of our ecosystem. There are a few valuable insights I want to share on how we can make our gardens and landscapes more welcoming to pollinators, and I’ll be emphasizing the importance of focusing on the right food sources, trees as host plants, and year-round considerations. So let's dive in and discover how we can play a crucial role in supporting our local pollinators.
 Recently I was hanging out with Fred, our trusty mannequin friend, and we stumbled upon a conversation about Shaq's pond. Now, let me tell you, it was a bit one-sided and honestly a tad boring. But then we had an idea! We thought, maybe you guys haven't seen the full glory of Shaq's pond and its surroundings. So, we decided to take you on a little adventure to show you what went into constructing this magnificent pond and some of the headaches the team faced along the way.
In the heart of Georgia, legendary basketball player and philanthropist Shaquille O'Neal found himself in need of major help. After an unsuccessful attempt by Shaq's team to build a second pond on their own, Aquascape answered the call for help. The project, completed in just ten days, required a massive workforce to meet Shaq's tight schedule. The dedicated team of Certified Aquascape Contractors set out to create an epic recreational pond in time to surprise Shaq for Father’s Day, but heavy rains and erosion threatened to ruin all of their hard work...
With a ticking clock and the pressure to impress, this is the story of how we came together with Aquascape to build a monumental pond fit for the big man himself—a Shaq-sized pond. We’re taking a look at our top five favorite backyard transformations and sharing some of the coolest features from each design. We’ve got everything from a tropical paradise with a poolside waterfall, to a modern oasis with lots of clean lines and an epic plunge pool. Keep reading to find out more about our favorite backyard makeovers.
When we first stepped into this backyard in Hampton, there was nothing in the space. Before the transformation, the homeowners were never really out here. The yard was basically just the place where they came to walk their dogs, and that was it! There was nowhere to sit, nothing to do, and there since there wasn't a fence in place the dogs couldn’t even run around. Well, they decided it was time for a change!
When we got the call about working on this job, we found out that this homeowner already had a pond installed not once, but TWICE in his backyard. We would be the third contractor to try and get this pond moved and situated, and we wanted to make sure that we would be the last!
4/6/2023 The Backyard to Beat Them AllHave you ever had that feeling that something was missing, but you just didn’t know what it was? That was definitely the case for this homeowner, Ray.
You see, we had already completed phase one of a backyard transformation for this homeowner. We started in his barebones backyard, I used my trusty can of spray paint, and we made a plan that we thought would bring all of Ray’s wishes and hopes for this space to life. Back in 2018, my business was struggling a bit. I still needed to learn how to actually operate and run a business. Enter: The Contractor Fight. The funny thing about The Contractor Fight was that this group was made up largely of a bunch of pond builders, and suddenly I got to be a part of that world. While we had already built a bunch of water features at that point, we definitely weren’t doing it at the same caliber as these people. I immediately loved the camaraderie that this group had, and the tribe that The Contractor Fight had built. I started getting introduced to different builders around the country, and ended up at Aquascapes Pondemonium event, where I met April (aka “Queen of the Lady Pond Builders”) from American Waterscapes.
This backyard was a blank canvas. As you can see from the before shots below, it was more or less nothing but dirt. While it wasn’t much to start with, the lack of pre-existing elements gave the homeowner freedom to dream up and create his ideal outdoor space with us, and that’s just what we did.
This backyard makeover was truly one for the record books, but in the midst of all that we did, our biggest challenge by far was moving a 22,000-lb. plunge pool from the street into the backyard. With limited driveway space, houses surrounding the one we were working on, and lots of power lines in the mix, we were all a little nervous.
It took two trucks and a giant crane to try and attempt this incredible feat and get it done in time for Christmas to surprise the homeowners... 3/4/2023 Backyard Cigar Lounge in ToanoThis homeowner had one simple request: to make his backyard better than his neighbor's yard that we had finished before! We started brainstorming exactly how to do this. First we started out with different paver textures that creates a subtle visual appeal to the whole space. The landscaping is filled with plants of different heights that bloom at different times so the foliage and shrubbery will look good all year long. Finally we added on a water feature with low-voltage lighting to complete the back.
As some projects go, the design began to evolve as we continued building the project. We added a few different elements, moved a maple tree, and lit it up in a big way. As we incorporated a lot of different elements, the front yard began to stand out - tastefully, of course - in their neighborhood. To cap it all off, we had one final thought... 2/24/2023 Backyard Pizza Oven in SmithfieldThere's not much that hasn't changed about this backyard! When the wetland buffer was moved the possibilities opened up, and we've made quite the transformation at this home in the Cypress Creek neighborhood of Smithfield.
First up is the Forno Bravo pizza oven, which required some interesting modifications to keep the inside as hot as possible and insulated well. Supply chain delays are a dreaded part of our post-2020 world that continue to impact us today and while we try to finish projects as quickly as possible, sometimes the situation is out of our control. That was the case for this Yorktown home, but our main focus was to make the backyard one worth waiting for...and thankfully we were able to deliver!
Some of our projects are in big, wide-open spaces...and then some are like this one in Newport News, Virginia, which boasts a grand total of 750 square feet in the backyard. We knew it would be challenging to create a full design in a tiny space, but we also had some big ideas and a lot of experience making seemingly impossible dreams come true.
This homeowner was, quite simply, tired of staring at the same old giant plot of grass in his backyard day after day, month after month. He's in the same situation a lot of people find themselves currently: working from home full-time. While there are some awesome perks of working from the home office, there are some definite drawbacks. After all, who wants to get tired of being in their own house?
The good news is that we had a massive plot of land and a built-in beautiful water view at this space in Lanexa to create something spectacular. We began to hatch a plan... 1/11/2023 We Surprised WAVY 10!When we started working on the outdoor set for the Hampton Roads Show at WAVY TV 10, we knew there were three critical elements: the fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, and of course some lighting and landscaping to complete the look. After talking with the producers, though, we decided to surprise them with one more addition...
We're incredibly excited for this next project, because we get to build outdoor TV set for WAVY10! They will use this new space to host the Hampton Roads show, present weather in real-time, and report the news outside when possible. So what's in this exciting new area? Let's take a look...
12/23/2022 The Whole Backyard Package in Suffolk!When the heavy rains come to Virginia, they can really wreak havoc on the backyard! Fortunately we had a lot of grading to do anyways, so all the extra mud will be cleaned out and we can leave everything back in its perfect condition.
This was a very complete project so it took some time to make everything not only look good but flow smoothly throughout the space, and we actually finished with a walkway leading to the backyard from the front of the house so there would be an easy way to get to the good stuff. And if you're wondering, there was a LOT of good stuff to get to... 12/8/2022 A Whole Backyard EcosystemWe started out with nothing but a hole in the yard, and now we have a complete backyard ecosystem nestled away in the Running Man neighborhood of Yorktown. It's incredible what is tucked away back here, and we want to walk you through the whole space.
It all begins with a rain barrel, where water falls into an Aquascape skimmer box then enters a rain garden filled with perennials that will soon become a spot of beauty when the plants begin to bloom. Any excess water overflows into a dry well and eventually drains out to the street in case of excess water. And that's just the beginning... A few years ago, we had the pleasure of installing a patio in this backyard in the Running Man neighborhood of Yorktown, and we were thrilled to come back to add some beauty and excitement to their outdoor space. Being environmentally conscious is important to these homeowners, and they wanted our new installation to line up with their values that were already reflected in their backyard setup.
So how did we make sure their new water feature and pond was environmentally friendly? Keep reading to find out! Pond has a few unique features: downspout that will constantly replenish the pond. Excess water will flow into a rain garden to re-use all of our natural resources. 10/25/2022 How Does Your Backyard Sound?As much as we love how our projects look, one often-overlooked component is that sound that a water feature can create in a backyard. Just close your eyes and listen to the sound of flowing water, then imagine what it would be like to hear that every time you open your back door. It's one big component of our desire to allow people to live life outdoors!
For this Williamsburg home, we were working to create two separate spaces for enjoyment. There was already a fire pit with a seating wall, but the flow of the yard wasn't quite right, and we had to add a water feature as well. Here's how we made the transformation. 10/12/2022 A Backyard Pizza Oven? Yes, Please!We covered some of these details in Part 1, but this is a project that we have been involved with for much longer than we anticipated! Long story short, when the wetland buffer behind the Cypress Creek neighborhood in Smithfield got moved, the possibilities opened up for these clients, and we all got right to planning what we would add to a beautiful backyard pool.
One big change we started with was the actual pave color. Instead of having to apply new stain themselves, we suggested these homeowners opt for a new, chocolate border around the pool to make the space pop. At the same time, though, we needed to make sure Phase 1 and 2 were cohesive. Nobody wants to look at a backyard and see exactly where one project ended and another one began! Plus, there was one more key element to add... |
About Easton OutdoorsWe started out as the neighborhood lawn boys – a group of high school friends trying to make some pocket change. It soon became more. We realized how much we enjoyed landscaping. Over the years, we've transformed hundreds of properties, beautified countless landscapes, and made many homeowners proud. This has become our passion! Categories
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- Wildlife Oasis Pond - Virginia Beach
- Trip to Cancun - Windsor
- Ultimate Backyard w/ Hot Tub - Toano
- Backyard Rescue & Rehabilitation - Carrolton
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- Hanging Out in the Corner - James Landing
- No More Erosion - Settlement at Powhatan Creek
- Colonial Garden - Williamsburg
- It's Too Shady - Yorktown, Virginia
- The Complete Package - Kingsmill
- Built Just for Hanging Out - Suffolk, Virginia
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- Let's Create
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Our Work
- From Dust to an Aquascaped Oasis
- Backyard Waterfall in Norfolk, Virginia
- From Pond to Pondless - Smithfield
- Contemporary Koi Pond - Toano
- Wildlife Oasis Pond - Virginia Beach
- Trip to Cancun - Windsor
- Ultimate Backyard w/ Hot Tub - Toano
- Backyard Rescue & Rehabilitation - Carrolton
- Private Oasis - Ford's Colony
- Sunken Patio - Yorktown, Virginia
- Hanging Out in the Corner - James Landing
- No More Erosion - Settlement at Powhatan Creek
- Colonial Garden - Williamsburg
- It's Too Shady - Yorktown, Virginia
- The Complete Package - Kingsmill
- Built Just for Hanging Out - Suffolk, Virginia
- Learn
- Let's Connect
- Trusted Partners
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