We’re happy to announce that Ecoyards owner Andy has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program to promote water-efficient landscapes and help consumers save water outdoors. Andy is a certified landscape irrigation auditor through the Irrigation Association.

Andy has undergone testing and achieved certification for landscape irrigation auditing with an emphasis on water efficiency, through a program labeled by WaterSense. 

WaterSense irrigation partners certified through a WaterSense auditor program are able to identify water systems that distribute water inefficiently and determine how to improve an irrigation system’s performance. By partnering with the program, Andy has committed to promoting efficient landscape watering practices and staying up-to-date on the latest practices and technologies to save water.

The EPA estimates that more than 50 percent of commercial and residential irrigation water use can go to waste due to evaporation, runoff, or over-watering. WaterSense partners like Andy can help customers save water and money while reducing stress on water systems and maintaining a beautiful landscape.

We’ve blogged in the past about the many ways we help our customers save money and water, including installing a smart, water-efficient irrigation system, fixing water leaks inside and outside the house, upgrading inefficient sprinkler systems, and conserving water through smart landscape design.

WaterSense is a  public-private partnership program sponsored by the EPA. Visit EPA WaterSense to learn more about how to save water and money

At Ecoyards, we pride ourselves on our professionalism, knowledge, and high standards in the landscape industry. This year, owner Andy took the extra step to become a Landscape Industry Certified Manager through the National Association of Landscape Professionals. On Sept. 21, the National Association of Landscape Professionals announced that Andy has successfully earned his certification. He is now a nationally-certified landscape manager in Seattle. the National Association of Landscape Professionals is an international association serving lawn care professionals, maintenance contractors, installation/design/build professionals, and interiorscapers.

To get his certification, Andy underwent an exhaustive written examination that tested his knowledge, skills and theory in all aspects of working in the landscape industry. He had to demonstrate mastery of seven topics covering leadership and corporate citizenship; production operations/horticulture; sales and marketing; strategic planning; human resources; risk, law, and contracts; and corporate financial management. The program requires that he maintains certification through mandatory continuing education.

For our customers, it means you can expect the same high quality and professionalism that you’ve come to expect from Ecoyards. Andy’s certification, however, means he’s taken the extra step to validate his skills and knowledge in the industry.

For more information, visit landscapeprofessionals.org. 

Recirculating waterfall in West Seattle by Ecoyards

Recirculating fountains are a great way to add a self-contained water feature to your backyard. You get the benefit of a cascading waterfall – and the relaxing sounds – without the hassle of hooking the fountain up to a dedicated water source such as a garden hose or other outdoor plumbing.

Recirculating fountains rely on an electric pump that sends water from a small reservoir pan at the base throughout the entire system. The pump continues to recycle the water as long as it is turned on. The fountains are constantly recirculating water so they don’t waste much water. Occasionally you’ll need to replenish the water that’s loss due to evaporation, but otherwise these recirculating fountains are typically low-maintenance. And because it does not need to be hooked up to pipes or a garden hose, recirculating fountains are a very flexible landscape option.

There are many different choices of recirculating fountains. They can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. You can construct a fountains out of stone, rock, concrete, ceramic or even wood. They can be a tiered system of boulders, or a single basalt column with water cascading from a single hole at the top. Bubblers are nice in that they require even less space than a pondless waterfall, yet they still provide movement, sound, and interest to your landscape. Contact Ecoyards and we can help you decide the right fountain for your landscape.

Disappearing waterfall in Seattle

Water features are a dynamic way to add movement, sound, and interest to your landscape. Fountains, ponds or a small babbling brook can add tranquility to an outdoor living space, in addition to attracting birds and other wildlife. There are a variety of water features that go beyond the traditional koi pond, and homeowners now have a plethora of options that don’t require excess maintenance or take up too much space in the backyard. Pondless waterfalls, or disappearing waterfalls, are a great low-maintenance option, and are currently all the rage — with good reason. They allow you to enjoy the benefits of a cascading waterfall without having to deal with the excess maintenance and safety concerns associated with open ponds. No pond means no fish to take care of, no green slimy mold to clean out, no mosquitoes, and no water to refill. They’re becoming increasingly popular among our Seattle-area clients.

Our recent pondless waterfall project in West Seattle.

So how does it work? Water flows from the upper falls, and instead of being held in a still open pond, it pours into a lined basin that is dug in the ground and filled with rocks and gravel. The water is pumped from the bottom of the basin up to the top of the falls, creating a continuously recirculating flow of water.

Ecoyards recently installed a pondless waterfall at a West Seattle home (pictured above and left). The homeowner didn’t have a lot of space in his backyard, and didn’t want to bother with having to clean a pond. We created a natural landscape in a corner of his property with large boulders, small river rocks and some native plantings. Contact us if you want to learn more about how a pondless waterfall might fit into your landscape.