Help them pick the perfect spot

South Pleasantburg Nursery/Photo by Michelle Simakis You’ve heard it before … location, location, location. This saying definitely applies to your customer’s backyard pond. Where they place the pond can mean all the difference in their success or failure as a pond owner. How do you help customers navigate such a difficult decision? There are several questions they need to answer before you can help them decide on a location for the pond.

1. Do you know where you’ll want to enjoy your pond? Is there a spot you spend most of your time but that won’t interfere with backyard activities or systems like heating, ventilation and air conditioning?

2. Do you have a shady spot in your yard that isn’t under many trees? Trees will provide shade, but they also produce debris.

3. Do you have any low-lying areas? Avoid placing your pond downhill. It will attract debris and flooding during rainfalls.

4.  Do you want a waterfall? A sloped ground would be ideal in that case.

5. Do you have areas that experience more sunlight than others? The pond should get sunlight, but not direct rays.

6. Do you have an area that has access to electricity and water? Placing ponds near electrical outlets is essential.

7. How large do you want your finished pond to be?

8. How much are you willing to spend on a backyard pond? Certain locations may require a larger investment.

Once you've helped them narrow down an area in their yard, encourage customers to use a mirror to represent the pond and have them place it in different areas around their yards. Mirrors can help them visualize how the pond will look in their yard because of its reflective quality.
 
Information courtesy of Pondliner.com. For more, visit www.pondliner.com.