Backyard Ponds in Gilbert and the East Valley
The one part of a landscape that’s alive.
Morning coffee on the patio, the waterfall carrying across the yard, and the fish coming up to the surface when they see you walk out. A pond is the one part of a landscape that's alive. It changes through the seasons, it brings in birds and dragonflies, and it becomes the spot everyone in the house ends up.
Fernweh Outdoor builds natural-looking ponds and water gardens across Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek and the rest of the East Valley. Every pond is built with Aquascape materials, real biological filtration, and the depth and shade it takes to get through an Arizona summer.
What goes into our ponds
- Underlayment. beneath the liner to protect it from rocks and roots.
- 45 mil EPDM liner..
- Aquascape materials throughout. skimmer, biological filter, pumps and plumbing.
- Boulders and gravel. covering the liner, so the pond looks like it belongs in the landscape and the liner is protected from the sun.
- Options. UV clarifier, auto-fill, lighting, and the other upgrades listed in our pond packages.
Depth that fits the pond
Our standard water gardens are built 24 inches deep. Fish ponds are built 30 inches deep or more, because depth is what keeps the water cooler and gives fish room to grow.
Built for Arizona summers
Summer is the hardest time of year on a pond. We plan for it from the start:
- Depth. keeps the bottom of the pond cooler than the surface.
- Fish caves. give fish a shaded place to get out of the heat.
- Aquatic plants. inside the pond shade the water and help with filtration.
- Auto-fill (optional). tops off the water lost to evaporation, so the level stays right without you watching it.
Built by our own crews
Backyard pond desert plants — built by our own crews, right here in the East Valley.
How we build a pond
- Layout from your approved design.
- Excavation, with shelves cut into the sides to hold the boulders securely.
- Underlayment and liner.
- Skimmer placement directly across from the waterfall, so the current sweeps debris across the full pond and into the skimmer.
- Boulders and gravel set on the shelves to line the pond.
- Waterfall build-out, with the plumbing and biological filter installed.
- Options such as lighting, UV clarifier and auto-fill.
- Fill, test and run.
The shortcuts we don't take
- Stacks of small rocks. A pond lined with piles of small stacked rock looks built, not natural. We use larger boulders set on excavated shelves, the way stone sits in nature.
- No skimmer, with the pump sitting on the bottom. The pump pulls in debris, clogs, and leaves the rest to settle and rot. A skimmer catches debris at the surface before it sinks.
- No biological filtration. Without it, you get green water and stressed fish. Every pond we build has a biological filter.
- Concrete waterfalls. Concrete cracks and leaks as it ages. Our waterfalls are lined, just like the pond.
Pond or pondless waterfall?
Choose a pond if you want fish, aquatic plants and a living ecosystem in your backyard. If you mainly want the sound of moving water with the least upkeep and no open water, which many families with young kids prefer, a pondless waterfall may be the better fit. We build both, and we'll help you decide. See our Water Features page.
Our warranty
Every pond we build carries a 3-year workmanship warranty covering leaks and liner installation. Pumps, filters and other equipment are covered by Aquascape's manufacturer warranties. The workmanship warranty doesn't cover damage from wildlife, pets or tree roots, or changes made to the pond after installation.
A healthy pond needs some care over the years, and we're set up to keep yours running the way it did on day one. We offer ongoing pond maintenance. Contact us to talk through what your pond needs and how often.
Details that hold up
Backyard pond waterfall dusk — built by our own crews, right here in the East Valley.
What affects the cost
The easiest place to start is our pond packages, which range from small water gardens to large ponds with a meandering stream, each with a set size, equipment list and price. If your yard or your plans don’t fit a package, we also build custom ponds in any size and layout. Every pond is finalized after a site visit. The main factors are size and depth, boulder and gravel tonnage, the waterfall or stream, the options you add, and access to the yard.
Start with a free consultation
A pond is the kind of project people still talk about years later, whether they're hosting friends or sitting outside alone at the end of the day.
We'll look at your yard, talk through what you want from the water, and design your pond in 3D so you see the shape, stone and waterfall before we dig.
Recently built by our crews
Start with a free consultation
Free on-site consultation. Your 3D design ($279) comes after, credited toward your project.
Schedule a Consultation