Pamper your property value with a pond this summer. Ben Gable, head landscaper and gardener at Gable Gardening, shares some gardening secrets.
In today's economic slump, more and more Americans are choosing to upgrade their homes with the latest organic facelift, the garden pond. With oil prices soaring, and the housing market on the back burner, homeowners are constantly on the lookout for ways to increase their home value, and that often means taking a closer look at landscape. According to the National Association of Realtors, "nearly 20% of buyers said they consider landscaping to be a ‘very important’ factor in their decision to buy a new house." In August 2007, The Wall Street Journal claimed “real estate agents say a nicely landscaped property can have a pronounced effect on the asking price of a home."
That said, we got down and dirty with Ben Gable, who shares some of his experience and know-how to better help homeowners understand the beautiful possibilities of a garden pond.
First, tell us a little about yourself and how you discovered your infatuation with gardening.
Well, as a little boy I would always watch my grandmother water her garden every Sunday. I loved the way the flowers would reach to drink the water and almost smile with life. One day she had a landscaper create a pond in our backyard. I would come home from school and rush out to play in our pond, watch my dog bark at the fish as they swam by, explore all the plants and critters that enveloped the pond. I was love-struck. I started working as a gardener on weekends and on school vacations and then later during the summers while in college. Then I eventually opened my own business, Gable Gardening.
How does one go about building a garden pond?
A backyard pond can be as easy or as intricate as you want. Beginners usually find it easy to just dig a large hole in the ground, cover it in pond liner, and stick in some pond plants. Adding pumps, water features, and fish comes next and can prove a little tricky for some. I say start with something simple and then continue to research and add elements as your passion for your pond grows.
Article comments
1 - Dr. Joseph S. Maresca
This is OK for adults. Deep ponds could become a problem for parents who have small children.