Portland's Water Feature Specialists
No other landscape element carries the same potential a water feature does. The potential for beauty, transformation of a space, for joy- for years to come.
What type of water feature do you want? We have over decades of experience designing and installing:
Streams and ponds
Koi ponds
Tsukubai
Bubblers
Natural plunge pools
We will work with you to design one to fit your life, yard, and budget. All of our water features are built with the skill and knowledge that comes from experience. Your finished water feature will be beautiful, reliable, and really work with the rest of your landscaping.
Large koi pond by Ross NW Watergardens
A recent water feature designed and installed by Ross NW Watergardens
Koi Pond Water Features
You can trust Ross NW Watergardens to create a true home for your koi. After all, we were one of the first landscapers in the Portland area to specialize in water features.
We will ensure that your pond is the proper depth and your koi have places to hide. Filtration will keep your pond clean and clear. High efficiency pumps will operate silently and last for years. An autofill valve protects your fish and pumps. And most of all- your koi pond will be beautiful!
Tsukubai
These authentic Japanese water features can be a focal point that delights for years. They are generally not large and only produce a trickle of water. This makes them ideal for an entry or small courtyard landscape design.
There are many versions of the tsukubai. For the basin we can use a basalt boulder, granite bowl, or man made pot. The spout can be bamboo, wood, or copper. The surrounding landscaping can be finished many ways.
Have a small area that you want to do something special with? A Japanese hand washing station could be the perfect solution!
Service Area
We design and install custom water features in the Portland-metro area (and occasionally beyond). This includes Portland, Lake Oswego, Dunthorpe, Wilsonville, West Linn, Clackamas, Tigard, Tualatin, Milwaukie, Happy Valley, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Oregon City in Oregon. In Washington we work in Vancouver, Ridgefield, and Camas. If your water feature project is outside our normal service area, but is challenging or unique, please let us know!
Water Feature Basics:
Water Feature and Pond Pumps
You shouldn't be able to see your water feature pump- but that doesn't mean any old pump will do. There are two types of pumps that are commonly used in ponds and basins.
The most common is a submersible pump. These pumps sit under the water. The initial cost of a submersible pump is relatively low. Despite this, many contractors will try to save a little money (for themselves) by installing the wrong kind. Pond pumps should always be continuous duty not a sump or garbage pump. A continuous duty pump is designed to run for long stretches of time, they never need to be turned off. A sump pump will not very long running in your pond- though it will probably work long enough to get your landscaper out of his warranty.
The second pump type to consider is an out of pond centrifugal pump. These are similar to pool or hot tub pumps. Centrifugal pumps are very efficient, last a long time, and can move a ton of water. For larger pumps (or large budgets) these are the way to go.
Water Feature Filtration
Some ponds need filtration, others do not. If your pond will be large, have fish, or be maintained without chemicals it needs proper filtration. What is proper filtration?
At a minimum, your water feature should have a skimmer (which has pads/brushes that filter) and a discharge filter. A bottom filter is the next step up and should always be included if you will have fish. Planting pockets in the stream and pond also aid filtration.
All of these offer bio-filtration. That means they provide a home for good bacteria, which filters the water as it passes by. With proper filtration a water feature will stay clear and healthy. What kind of filtration will your contractor install?
Waterfalls
Some water features have just one dramatic fall. Others may meander and drop for 20 feet before reaching the pond. Either way, the falls are key to the beauty of your water feature.
Some pond equipment suppliers have promoted a very simple and fast way of building water features. This method calls for using flat pieces of slate to make the falls. This results in a wide, flat, "perfect" fall. Unfortunately, this is extremely unnatural.
The correct way to build a fall is with small boulders- the same stones the rest of the feature is built with. This is the only way to create a gorgeous and natural cascade. Look at examples of a landscaper's work- what kind of stone do they use?
Pond Supplies?
We don't carry them, but this blog post will show you the best places in Portland to get them.
Don't all water features leak?
Many water features will eventually have a leak. A well built, very simple water feature, may go decades without losing any water. But a truly impressive water feature is not simple. It has streams, pools, falls, and a pond. The plumbing and filtration systems can be a source of leaks too. Does this mean you should not have a water feature?
Not at all. The key is to build quality water features and then maintain it properly. What is a "quality" water feature? An example that directly effects the possible of leaks involves the edges of the stream. The stream has a liner that holds water. Most leaks originate in the stream. The problem is almost never a rip or tear in the liner (that stuff is hard to cut on purpose!) The issue is usually water getting over the edge of the liner. How can this be prevented?
If the edges of the stream are merely hidden with soil or rocks they can slowly slide down or settle. We make a practice of securing all edges with mortar- which we then decorate or hide for a natural finish. The mortar bonds to the liner and keeps just where you need it. This simple step, which most landscapers bypass, eliminates most leaks! But even when everything is built correctly you can eventually have a leak. Water is a tricky foe and nature likes to help it out. Leaves can gather on a fall and raise the water level behind them. Squirrels or mice can burrow under a stream and cause settling. Freezing water can divert your stream right out of the pond!
Ok, so you have a leak. Is that a big deal? Usually not. Most leaks are diagnosed in a few minutes and repaired in under two hours. Is the prospect of a leak a good reason to forego a water feature? Only you can decide that. However, if you decide to include one in your landscape, please contact us. We would love to show you what we can do!