How Much Does A Koi Pond Cost?

August 31, 2024 by Ben Bowen

Koi ponds aren’t cheap, and here is why….

Ross NW Watergardens builds koi ponds that start around $17K, for a modest pond with one simple fall. This would be a koi pond that could fit in your front yard or a courtyard off your primary bedroom. Larger koi pond, with more substantial streams and falls, quickly pass $30K. Our most extensive koi water features have been $100K+.

What are you getting for all that hard earned money?

A beautiful water feature. When Portland’s most famous public garden needs a repair on their water features, they turn to us. Why? Because we build ponds, streams, and falls that are first and foremost naturally beautiful. Large boulders, fully finished streams (not just a bunch of river rock dumped over the liner), planting pockets, and the movement of water combine to create something that should be the focal point of your garden.

Robust filtration. Our koi ponds are designed for someone who wants to enjoy having koi, without it taking over their life. If you are a koi aficionado, keeping rare koi and doing weekly water swaps… then our features are probably not for you. We build filtration into the bottom of our pond, into the skimmers, into the top bowls of our streams, and occasionally externally as well. The goal is to give you a koi pond that stays clear with minimal input and no cleaning.

Rock solid build. We utilize 8oz geotextile fabric, EPDM liner or a concrete shell, bulletproof pumps, and stones that are secured with mortar to create a feature that just works. Our ponds rarely leak, even as they age, because of the way we build them.

Ongoing support. Ross NW Watergardens has been specializing in water features for over 25 years, and we plan on being around for at least another 25. Ben and Joe are happy to offer advice and help when your pond needs it.

And while we don’t ever service water features that we didn’t build, we will always be there for you and the koi pond we create for you. If we can’t personally get to your water feature quickly, then we also have trusted referrals who probably can.

Ready to discuss your koi pond dreams? Contact Ben today for a free initial consultation.

Large Koi Pond Gallery

Renovating A Property Destroyed In Portland's Winter Storm

August 10, 2024 by Ben Bowen

Just one month earlier they had a garden they loved, a mature woodland garden anchored by dozens of mature fir trees. But ice and wind had combined to bring many of the trees down. The ones that didn’t fall were so badly damaged they had to be removed. What to do with all that space now?

Lake Oswego Estate Landscape Designed By Lynn Wolfstone

May 14, 2024 by Ben Bowen

Starting in fall of 2018, running though most of 2019, we were part of a team that transformed a sloping double lot on the lake in Lake Oswego, OR into one of the area’s most ambitious private gardens. Read about the team and see pictures from this Spring.

A Stream And Pond For A Modern Home's Garden

March 16, 2024 by Ben Bowen

The design is anchored by a dramatic water feature with a 25’ long stream and a series of falls that culminate in a 4’ drop into a pond that sits right at the driveway. It makes a statement while drowning out noise that comes from the home above.

Portland's BEST Landscape Companies For YOUR Project (2024)

January 11, 2024 by Ben Bowen

Best Portland Landscapers? My goal is to help you decide which landscaper is right for your garden, property, family, and budget. The list is broken up into three main categories (small, medium, large), with a couple bonus niche categories (organic, irrigation repair, low voltage lighting).

Now, you might be thinking, why would you put this list together?

How We Design Landscape Lighting Systems

October 16, 2023 by Ben Bowen

What do you want out of landscape lighting? You want it to look beautiful and maybe make your house a bit safer and more secure. It’s not rocket surgery.

But how does it get there? Not by accident, but by design. Each one of the lighting systems we install is unique, but there are a number of principles that guide their design.

Planting Bamboo In Portland (3 Things To Know)

October 15, 2023 by Ben Bowen

No other plant can give you instant height while taking up so little space. Bamboo can be a focal point or a backdrop, a sharp exclamation point or a soft accent. And if you are leaning modern or Japanese with your landscape design bamboo will fit right in. But it can also be as scary as any plant you might use here in Portland- so be sure you do it right!

So how to do bamboo right, right?

Should You Have Landscape Lighting? The Pro's and Con's:

September 23, 2023 by Ben Bowen

You have a to-do list for you home that is a mile long, a dozen projects you could choose to do. If landscape lighting is one of them you may be trying to do a cost-benefit analysis. But that can be difficult to do if you have never had one. I design and install landscape lighting and have a system myself. Here is what I suggest you consider before moving forward with a new landscape lighting system.

My Favorite Winter Plants For The PNW

September 16, 2023 by Ben Bowen

At some point this winter all the leaves will have dropped, grasses will have been cut back, annuals have died and perennials are dormant. Does that mean your garden has to be sad all winter?

Nope! Here in Portland there are a plethora of fantastic plants that offer winter color, texture, even blooms. Here are 10 of my favorite:

The Biggest Mistakes People Make With Their Landscape Lighting

September 13, 2023 by Ben Bowen

No one has ever regretted enjoying there landscape in new ways, for more hours, for a fraction of the total cost of the garden. Even poorly designed LED landscape lighting is better than no light.

But we don’t want poor lighting, do we?

Here are some common mistakes to avoid (or fix if you already made them).