Pond and Waterfall in Asheville, NC

Our newest pond and waterfall creation in Asheville. 

Call us for a free estimate on your landscaping, patio, pond, lighting or retaining wall project. 

Thanks 

Living Waters Landscaping 

828-301-8017

Vanishing Waterfall Asheville, NC

Just finished this vanishing waterfall in Asheville this week. It was a fun feature to build. 60 ft long with 15 ft of total drop in the falls. 

We call this a vanishing waterfall because there is no pond at the bottom. All the water needed to run the falls is held in an underground tank. Approximately 1200 gallons for this system. 

The tank is buried near the bottom of the falls. We installed a 10,000 gallon per hour pump in the tank to recirculate the water. Whe the system is off all the water flows into the tank through a 4 inch line connected to the vanishing pool at the bottom of the system. 

This allows us a clean housing for the pump and easy maintenance for the system. 

Vanishing Waterfalls are great for our clients who want to enjoy the sounds and ambiance of a waterfall without the maintenance of a traditional pond system. 

Give us a call for more info. 

Jacob

Living Waters Landscaping 

828-301-8017

Asheville Custom Fountains

 

We just finished this custom fountain for our clients in Town Mountain in Asheville. 

It sits at the entryway to the house. Allowing a relaxing sound and feel as they come home.

Thanks to R Squared construction for allowing us to be a part of this feature. 

 

We will update this post with more pictures soon. 

Thanks 

Jacob 

Living Waters Landscaping 

828-301-8017

Asheville Water Feature

Here is a video detailing the construction of a large waterfall project we installed for our clients in Asheville, NC. 

The project includes a custom waterfall and a large bog filter/ intake bay. The big will soon be planted with a variety of marginal and filtering aquatic plants. 

We also installed a low voltage aquatic and landscape lighting system, an aeration system to help keep the pond healthy and full landscaping around the waterfall area. 

Enjoy!

Asheville Water Feature

 Just got this waterfall flowing today in Asheville. I am very happy with the outcome and so is our client. We work hard to build natural looking Waterfalls   

I'll post some more pics soon. 

Jacob

Living Waters Landscaping 

828-301-8017

Asheville Landscaping: Flagstone patio

We had kind of a slow week with truck maintenance and sourcing the right materials for our clients patio in Asheville. 

Today we got the edging done for the patio. We specialize in dry laid patios like this one will be. However, we will occasionally mortar in the edging of a dry laid patio. This particular project will have a 3 ft brick skirt. With a tumbled Kentucky grey stone in the center. 

The mortared edging for this feature will keep the dry laid brick and stone from eventually migrating outward. It is not always needed to have a mortared edge. A heavy stone edge or a plastic/ metal pre-fab edge would also work. 

However, for this patio we decided that a mortared edge would be the best fit and the longest lasting edge. We tend to over-build our features a bit sometimes. 

We also prepared the base material for the patio as you can see here. We use a 3/4 drain rock for the base with a screed of 3/8 crushed stone for leveling. This is not always a standard practice for ft laid patios. However, we have found it to be superior to the traditional sand and road bond installation. The gravel allows for a stronger and free draining base.
We also attempted to install this large stepper that will be the entry stone in the patio. However, at nearly 5pm on a Friday, we decided to wait for fresh Monday morning energy!
Check back for more updates. 

Living Waters Landscaping 

828-301-8017

#ashevillelandscaping

#flagstonepatios

Asheville Landscaping: Wolf Laurel Project

Here are some pics from our project in Wolf Laurel.
This was a fun project with lots of stone and a little water. One of my favorite projects this year.

The goal of this project was to create an entertainment area in the front yard of our clients house. We started off by installing a boulder retaining wall to support a flagstone patio. 

Both the wall and the patio came out great! 

We installed the patio using dry laid stone practices. This means there is no concrete or mortar in the construction. The patio stones are set on a bed of 3/4 inch compacted gravel with a screed of 3/8 inch crushed stone for leveling. This allows the patio to move a little when the ground freezes and thaws. The gravel under the patio also allows for great drainage. 

When we were designing the yard, we talked about adding a water feature of some sort. I suggested that we put a pondless waterfall flowing right into the patio, and our clients loved the idea. Adding water into your yard is a great way to create a welcoming feel to your landscape. The pondless waterfall is easy maintenance and adds a great value to your yard.

We also installed two stone stairways to access the patio and the front entryway. Both stairways were dry laid using large stone slabs. Difficult to install but beautiful as an end result.

We also installed a full low voltage LED landscape and aquatic lighting system into this project. 
This was avery fun project to work on and we are very thankful to our clients for letting us re-work their front yard for them.

Give Us a call for a free estimate on your landscaping project!

Jacob

Living Waters Landscaping

828-301-8017

Asheville Landscaping: Custom Fountain

We were contacted by our client to design a custom fountain for the center of their circular paver driveway in Asheville, NC. We came up with a custom design for a circular fountain that would give a 360 degree view. The fountain was constructed using large Tennessee Boulders set in a circle on a pondless reservoir. The pondless fountain will allow our client to turn the feature off and on as the please. Pondless fountains are nearly maintenance free, and do not require the pump to run constantly, like a feature with a pond would. 


We started of by lining the system with a 45 mil EPDM rubber liner. We then ran the plumbing to a center diffuser and started setting boulders.

We chose a 3600 gallon per hour submersible pump for this feature. The pump was set in a housing at the side of the feature. 

With all of the large boulders set, we detailed the top of the feature with waterfall rocks and capped it with decorative river rock. The pondless basin and pump housing were also covered with river rock.

We then landscaped the project area. This was a very fun build and our clients are very happy with the results.

Give us a call for a free estimate.

Living Waters Landscaping

828-301-8017

Stone Stairs

In the middle of a fun landscape construction project in Wolf Laurel outside of Asheville, NC.

Natural stone stairs, pondless waterfall, boulder retaining walls, flagstone patios and a fire pit. Should keep us busy for a while!

Check back for more pictures and project updates.

Thanks,

Jacob

Living Waters Landscaping

828-301-8017

Asheville Landscaping: Pond Paradise

When we build ponds and waterfalls, we try to design a space where beauty and function meet peace and tranquility. We work hard to create gardens and spaces where our clients can relax and enjoy time with their family. We enjoy what we do, building long lasting landscapes, stone work and water features for our clients in Asheville, NC. Part of our joy is working with our clients, spending time with them in their yard and taking the time to hear their concerns and questions. 

As we move forward in this trade, we find a deeper respect for nature and our clients as we serve them in creating artistic gardens and landscapes.

Feel free to give us a call anytime for a free estimate.

Thanks,

Jacob

Living Waters Landscaping

828-301-8017 

Asheville Landscaping; Dry Stacked Retaining Walls

When considering a retaining wall on your property the first question you should ask yourself is what type of material do I want to use for this project. There are many options including wood, concrete and stone. 
Wood walls tend to be cheaper than concrete or stone walls. However their life span is drastically shorter.
A concrete wall is very durable and will last for decades, if done correctly. However, if there is an issue with a concrete wall and it cracks or separates, the wall will need to be removed and rebuilt. I have worked and still work with all types of retaining wall materials. Yet I will usually recommend a dry stacked stone wall as the first option for my clients. Dry stack walling is an ancient craft, possibly the first form of soil retention. When built correctly, it can withstand centuries of weather. Dry stacked stone walls have got a bad reputation in many areas, mainly due to improper construction. 

A true dry stacked wall is constructed using stone of various sizes tightly fit on the face of the wall. Theses stones are backfilled with similar sized stones and gravel to create a structural and free draining area behind the wall. Most failed walls, like this project I am featuring today, are backfilled with only native soils. This creates a devastating amount of hydrostatic pressure behind the wall that causes walls to fail. 
Our clients for this project contacted us with concerns regarding the dry stacked walls they had installed by a local builder no more than 5 years ago. They had a series of walls built in their front yard that were beginning to collapse and wanted to have all the walls built correctly before there was a major problem. We took on the job and have reworked the area giving them new walls and added a pondless waterfall as a bonus feature.

Here you can see the structural backfill we installed when we were fixing the failed walls.

Adding large, tightly fit stone to the backfill, with some gravel and filter fabric behind, will allow any surface or sub-surface water behind the wall to drain freely without any pressure on the face stones. 

We were able to reuse some of the existing stone from the old walls for this project. However, most of the original stone was rather round and not good for stacking a wall.

So we had to import approx. 10 tons of stone from a local quarry to complete this project.

  The picture to the right shows the old failing wall on the top. The lower wall in the new construction using proper backfill and structural stone

We were also able to create some fun features in the new walls, including a stone bench and some inlays that gave this wall character.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or if you would like a free consultation for your project in the Asheville area.

Jacob

Living Waters Landscaping

828-301-8017

Asheville Landscaping: Landscape Design

Family Friendly Landscaping

When we are designing a landscape for our clients we always consider the wants and needs of the whole family. We try to design features and gardens that will allow our clients to relax and have a peaceful place for their families. The pondless waterfall, pictured above, was designed for our clients in Asheville, NC as a place for the kids, friends and dogs to gather and enjoy the garden together. This is the first priority in all our design ideas. Allowing a space for community and gathering together.

The pondless waterfall offers a peace of mind for our clients because it is low maintenance and easy to enjoy.

Let us know if you would like a free consultation of your yard, garden or commercial space.

Jacob

Living Waters Landscaping

828-301-8017

Asheville Landscaping: Pondless waterfall

Asheville pondless waterfall

Just finishing construction of this waterfall in Asheville. Landscaping and a flagstone patio will be installed next! 

Asheville pondless waterfall construction

Pond Maintenance Asheville

Spring is almost here in Asheville, Nc.
It's a great time to consider getting your pond or water feature cleaned out and ready for the warmer weather. In the winter, you pond will go dormant. Fish sleep and the active bacteria that helps keep your pond clean is less active. Aquatic plants are also dormant in cold weather.
Living waters landscaping offers a full service spring start ups for your pond and waterfall.
A typical spring start up includes:
-Detailed cleaning and leaf removal
-Filter, pump and skimmer box cleaning
-A professional check of the system for leaks and other potential problems
-Introduction of seasonal beneficial bacteria
-A smile and a good attitude while we work!

We offer one time, monthly and seasonal maintenance to fit the needs of your pond. We are highly knowledgeable in all types of water feature systems
Including:
-Koi ponds
-Pondless waterfalls
-Fountains
-Natural swimming ponds
-Traditional garden ponds

We can offer advice on additional filtration for your system as well as options to make your pond more energy efficient.

Call Jacob today for a free estimate.

828-301-8017

Asheville Pondless Waterfalls

Natural looking pondless waterfall in Asheville, NC

Living Waters Landscaping Asheville

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How to Build a Pondless Waterfall

Pondless Waterfall Construction

Here is a quick guide to building a pondless or vanishing waterfall in your backyard or garden area. The Pondless waterfall is a great addition to any landscape design. Simple and low maintenance, yet guaranteed to be the focal point of your garden. 
We will be detailing a Filtrific Vanishing waterfall in this post. 
To read more about the difference between a Filtrific Vanishing Waterfall and the traditional Pondless Waterfall go Here.

As with any waterfall or landscape design, I always recommend doing a drawing or having a professional designer draw out a plan for your project area prior to construction of your water feature. This will allow you to plan for future planting or hardscaping and make sure you are satisfied with the location of the waterfall before construction begins. 

The first step, after you have decided on the right location for your waterfall, (considering things like, the view from your house or seating area, and making sure the water flows from a naturalistic starting point.) would be to size your system. 
Your system size is the total amount of water that will be circulating through the waterfall and any point. 
Using the Filtrific sizing chart is a very useful tool, and will help you figure out how much space you will need to hold the total volume of water in your feature. This is a very important part of the project. You will need approx. 3 times the volume of water, flowing trough the waterfall or stream, in your holding tank or pondless basin. Do not under estimate this step! I have seen many projects gone wrong by not having enough volume of water to run the system.

The Filtrific system has two basic components. The first is the filter box and pump housing. This box will hold your leaf catch baskets, pump, overflow port and automatic fill valve (if you choose to use an auto-fill).
The second component is the expansion tank. This is only needed if your system has a greater volume then the filter box can hold. (See sizing chart).

Once your design, location and system size are set, you are ready for excavation. 
Dig out an area to set your filter box, as well as, a rough excavation for the waterfalls and stream. Give yourself enough room in the waterfall excavation to account for placing boulders and stone. Always make sure your excavation is 'cupped' into your slope to give the feature a natural look. 

Here you can see the installation of the Filtrific filter box as well as the expansion tank. 

Make sure to set you box to the level of your finished grade for it to flow correctly. 

Here is the box installed with the plumbing roughed in. You can see the overflow, pump discharge and auto-fill lines ready to be backfilled.

The best part of the Filtrific system is the fact that you can install the filter box in a remote location away from the bottom of the waterfall. This allows for easy access to the pump and can aide in the overall ascetic view of the feature.

Now that your box is placed and your excavation is roughed in, you can begin the construction of the waterfall. The first step is laying your liner out. Measure your length and width of the excavation area to be sure you have enough liner.

We used a 45 mil EPDM rubber liner with a 9 ounce Geo-textile fabric underlayment for this system.
Be sure there are no rocks or roots under the fabric that may puncture the liner.

Now you can start placing stone. 

Starting at the bottom of the falls, set your stone and boulders on top of the liner, using extra caution not to damage the liner. 

At each step, or fall, make sure you stop and backfill behind the liner to achieve maximum flow of water over the stone. You can use mortar or waterfall foam behind the stone to aid in this process. 


Stone placement is a very artistic endeavor, it can be tedious, but is rather rewarding in the end. 

Work you way up the falls until you reach your desired height.  At the top of the falls you can choose to install a waterfall starter box or just run you pipe from the pump into the stream or falls.

After you are satisfied with the waterfall you can move back down to the bottom of the falls and install the fixed skimmer.
The fixed skimmer allows for a small pool of water to gather at the bottom of the feature while it is running. When the waterfall is turned off, the pool of water drains into the filter box, leaving no standing water in the feature. A real maintenance plus!

Now you are ready to install your pump and get your new waterfall flowing! Trim the edges of exposed liner, leaving approx. 8 inches around the edge to compensate for settling. 

Using the Filtrific system when installing a vanishing or pondless waterfall will make the maintenance on your system much easier then the traditional
pondless waterfall system. Do some research on the different types of waterfall systems, or give us a call for a free consultation.

Thanks for reading this post and enjoy your new Vanishing Waterfall!!

Jacob

Living Waters Landscaping

828-301-8017