Backyard Tropicals Inc

Don easily exceeded my expectations. We had given him a challenge of fitting a pond in a certain location without exceeding certain boundaries. Boy did he deliver! Don not only stayed within the area we had, but the final product is far greater than anything I had ever envisioned. Our entire family is extremely excited to have a pond that we will enjoy for years to come. Don is a "pondmaster" and I would happily recommend him to anyone whom needed a pond installed or serviced.

Excellent Great Job

We purchased a house with a pond that had been badly neglected for 6+ years. We had our landscaper take out most of the leaves, but it had never been properly cleaned out. We didn't even know how deep it was because of all the debris on the bottom. The pond looked lovely enough last summer after placing some aquatic plants around the edges between the rocks and adding some trapdoor snails (no fish), but due to unexpected extenuating circumstances, I was unable to tend to the yard and pond in the fall. As a result, the pond filled with leaves again plus decaying water lettuce that had multiplied and filled the pond by the end of the season. I attempted to lift some of the leaves and muck out and knew within minutes that there was no way I could do what needed to be done. I searched online for pond services and wrote some down, then saw all the positive reviews for Backyard Tropicals and decided to send Don an email. My husband is very much an "I can just do it myself" type, so I knew the price had to be reasonable to get him to agree to a professional pond cleaning. Don replied immediately (within hours) and set up a time to stop by for the free consultation and estimate the following day. He was punctual and attentively listened to what I had to say about the pond and what I wanted done. He then inspected the liner and immediately told me that the liner was in excellent shape. He could have easily told me it was on its way out and we needed a new one and I wouldn't have known the difference. He then explained exactly what would be done to clean the pond and locate the source of the water loss. I asked him if it would be possible to save any snails that were left (raccoons had eaten many - possibly all - of them), and also not damage the aquatic plants around the edge. He assured me that they would save any snails found and the plants would be fine. The estimate was done Saturday, and by Wednesday at 8:20 (10 minutes early), Don and his helper, a nice, polite and hard-working young man - were working on the pond. They carefully sifted through tons of muck to look for my snails, and true to their word, my plants are in perfect shape. Prior to Wednesday, Don sent a detailed email going over everything that was to be done and re-quoting the price. On Tuesday, another email was received letting me know that everything was set for Wednesday. EXCELLENT communication! No holes were found in the liner, but Don showed me a spot under one of the large rocks where he suspected soil and roots were soaking up the water. He removed a bunch of the dirt, but there isn't much more we can do about the issue which is the fault of the person who built the pond (it was built by a landscaper, not a pond professional). Don also cleaned out the pond pump and waited around to refill the pond to make sure the pump that supplies the waterfall was working properly. It is very rare these days to find someone who is honest, communicative, professional, knowledgeable, and fair. Fair is an understatement; the job ended up taking twice as long as estimated, yet Don stuck to the price he had quoted us. The only regret I have is not having the funds to have Don completely re-do and expand my pond. Maybe someday!

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I called several companies to give me an idea on design and price for a pondless water feature. Don, owner of Backyard Tropicals, returned my call promptly. He came over the following day and spent about an hour talking about what could be done in the space I had in my backyard. Don came back several days later and showed me a drawing of what his vision was and gave me a price.
After talking with other companies, I decided to go with Backyard Tropicals and he exceeded any expectations that I had. Don was on the job all the time and did most of the work himself. He did have a helper who came as needed.
We went with a cinder block wall as a support structure and once the gravel and dirt was added Don performed his magic in creating a fantastic pondless water feature. He took his time placing the moss rock until his vision came to fruition. He listened intently to what we wanted and he delivered! After the feature was completed he then added a number of low voltage lights and shrubs which complimented both the water feature as well as the surrounding area. He then netted the pond to kept leaves and debris from clogging the pump.
The job was completed today, 10/19/15, and I could not wait until dark to run the pond and have the lights lit. It was beautiful. I could not have asked for anything better. My wife loved his work and several of my neighbors stopped by and said this was one of the best water features they have ever seen.
Don was a delight to work with taking time out to walk you through the process and answering any questions. He was pleasant, funny and very hard working. He gives you more than what you paid for. He is fully behind any project he completes and even tells you that you can reach him anytime if there are any questions and/or issues - which I expect no problems at all.
I would recommend Don and Backyard Tropicals to everyone. I hope that he posts a picture of his creation on his web site for everyone to see. I know that I will enjoy this feature especially next spring & summer while I am laying in my hammock with a glass of wine and listening to the serenity of the water flowing. Beautiful job Don - well done!
So if anyone wants any water feature, the only one to call is Don at Backyard Tropicals!

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From start to finish, Don was a pleasure to work with. He is professional, reliable and knowledgeable. Unlike the other companies I talked with, Don was willing (and enthusiastic) about doing the job that I wanted done, for a reasonable price and getting it done when I needed it. The others were very locked into their own approach and design, and not interested in my needs or budget. Don was able to get a good sense of what I was looking for, and was totally focused on meeting my needs from beginning to end. In fact, Don created more work for himself at various times throughout the project, as he came up with ideas to improve the look and functionality of the pond (and he did this while keeping the price the same).  I was very particular about what I wanted and insisted on being present during the project, which does not make things easier for any contractor, but Don made it work and the result is fantastic - far better than I had originally envisioned! His work was very neat and professional in all aspects. I highly recommend Backyard Tropicals.

Don was an absolute pleasure to work with and his word is his bond, which sadly we homeowners don't see enough of.  I have worked with Tropical Backyards for the last two years and will continue to do so in the future as well as recommend them to anyone looking for quality work at a reasonable price.

Don is a pleasure to work with, he truly stands by his work! I would recommend him to my friends and family.

Don was fabulous. He was extremely professional. He was coming from another job site and constantly kept me in the loop as to what time he would get to my house. He found the hole in my pond in less than 5 minutes and repaired it. He repeatedly checked up on me to make sure everything was still holding and no more problems occurred. I already contacted Don to come back on the spring. Extremely honest and informative to this first home pond owner.

Don from Backyard Tropicals called me within hours of my inquiry. We made an appointment for an estimate and although he had to change the date, he called and informed me that we would needed to postpone until the following day. He was right on time and explained what needed to be done to fix our problem. The work was done and the leak fixed In less time than he estimated and charged us a very fair price. Since I was not at home when the work was done, he came back the next day to explain what he had done and what I could do to keep the waterfall in good working order. I was very pleased with Backyard Tropicals and will recommend this company to anybody needing their services.

Looks great, works great and I use it all summer now
He also protected all my plants as he worked around the area. Awesome company

He came out to take pictures and did a design. He was explaining the rocks he would use. He had a wealth of information. I went to his website and he has beautiful work. I selected him because he was a gold service provider. He was very personable over the phone and I had a great conversation with him before he came out. He is very prompt and professional. He won't steer you wrong either; he will give you an honest opinion.

Our water feature is absolutely beautiful! Don built it himself, with his helper Todd. Just a work of art.
          We found this company, here on Angie's List, and proceeded to look through the photo gallery, on his website, to find what we were looking for in a design. Don was so easy to deal with and such a perfectionist that he built the feature as if it was in his own backyard. You could see he had pride in his work and built the feature so it will never sink and it will last forever with no maintenance if any. He was so easy to talk to and answered any of our concerns even after hours, always in contact with us.
            I was home on one of the days and watched how he placed the rocks and stones. You can see his wheels working and moved stones around till they were  just right. He also planted new colorful plants, that would have bold colors to make the area the wow factor. You could see he knew how a waterfall looked and sounded as if you were in the mountains by a brook. Brilliant! He also placed lights and hid them within the feature. He is tops in my book.
My wife and I had gotten one other estimate before Backyard Tropicals, and we knew Don was who we wanted and we were not disappointed at all with our decision. We would highly recommend  Backyard Tropicals and use them again!

A+++ PERFECTION! 
I've been told that I am a bit obsessive in my attention to detail. I've met my match! Don is a master craftsman and artist.  Every detail from start to finish was attended to in admirable fashion. He was contracted to rebuild a poor-excuse-of-a-waterfall that was slapped together by a previous landscaper. Don went above and beyond to totally redesign not only the waterfall, but the entire surrounding area. It was amazing watching him work:  he created - out of stone and other materials - the vision he had for our hillside. He took into consideration our backyard, of course, but also our lifestyle, the views from all points possible, and our intentions for the future. Don took his time as every stone in the fountain was chosen and placed with careful purpose. As he sculpted the fountain, he amended his project to fit more precisely the vision he described for us. We've had a lot of work done in this house and whenever someone added something to the original idea it always cost more, but Don never added to his fee. He kept us in the loop and delivered everything he promised - and then some. 
But it doesn't stop with the completion of the project. Don already let us know that come Autumn he'll be covering the waterfall with a special protecting net that will keep out fall debris. It's as if he's adopted this backyard as his own. And, truthfully, that's how he worked throughout this whole project - as if he were building something for himself!
You will not find a more trustworthy professional. He appeared when he promised, worked longer than expected, and took care of the property like it was his own...even making sure that nothing fell into our pool when we were remiss in tying things down for an impending storm. Don respected our privacy and even took extra pains to make sure to lock the gates to prevent our dog from escaping. At holiday time, Don cleared out early but not before  finishing the waterfall's  exquisite lighting for the best effect during our dinners.
Words cannot adequately express the artistic ability of this fine craftsman. My husband and I recommend, without reservation, Don and his company, Backyard Tropicals. Visit Don's website to view his creations and then realize, as we can attest, that your actual project will be so much more beautiful when you are standing in front of it. Lastly, to look for other recommendations you are only wasting your time, and to pass on Don doing the job is completely your loss. He is the best!!!!

When I moved into my new home I inherited a Koi pond, which I knew nothing about.  The pond water was murky, the waterfall dripping, and I wasn't sure if the pump was working.  Looking for help I turned to Backyard Tropicals and was very happy I did.  The owner, Don, replaced the filter, cleaned out the pump, and took the time to walk me through pond care.  He did not try to sell me unnecessary equipment; in other words, I wasn't taken for a ride.  When done my pond was running smoothly and the fish thriving.
Several months later I decided to overhaul the pond and without a doubt I called Backyard Tropicals.  We discussed the project and Don offered suggestions on what would work and more importantly why - it was an exchange of ideas with the overall goal to meet my visual design; in addition, he reused what I had keeping the costs down. Don kept me in the loop, returned calls, and the work was done in a timely manner.   At the project's end the Koi pond looked beautiful and I was happy with the work from start to finish. 
I am extremely comfortable working with Backyard Tropicals and highly recommend them for any work you need.

Everything went amazingly well and the finished product is spectacular!  Don is very meticulous in all aspects of the job.  He worked very closely with us in planning the water features placement, size, and style.  He has hundreds of pictures of past jobs which really helped us decide what we wanted.  I would describe him as both an artist and a craftsman.  He was very particular about which rocks he used and was detailed down to the pebbles!  This may sound crazy but it led to amazing detail in how the water flowed and thus how it looks.  He built our waterfall with the viewing angles in mind so that it has unique beauty depending upon where you sit on the patio and deck.  Don was very patient with us when we decided that the hole that had already been dug for the fire pit would be better placed 2 feet over.  The lighting and landscaping he did around the waterfall was unexpected and beautiful.  We did not even realize how important lighting was until he was finished and it was dark.  Don was very responsive to returning calls and very easy to talk to.  He is a great guy and we would recommend him without reservation to anyone.  You will not be disappointed.  Before signing with him we had gotten estimates from 2 landscapers.  After the completion we realize what a big difference it made to use someone who is an expert and not someone who just does this on the side. 

My small pond with koi fish in the backyard has been neglected by me for the last 2 years. Water was dirty and I could not see koi fish, although I have been feeding them. Previous owner of the house had filter system, UV system, and aeration stone but I had no idea which one was still working or not working. So I called him and left a message. I picked him as he had many good reviews on Angie's list. He returned my call later that day. When he gave me an estimate of work after taking a look at the pond, he told me that probably I do not need UV system, as the pond is not getting lots of sunshine, due to the tree leaves above. I thought that was a good sign, that he does not recommend what I do not need. So I decided to just clean , change water, and set up new filter system, as the old filter was non functional. He came with one assistant and did the work while I was away at work. Now I have a nice pond with the sound of running water and happy fish. He said later if I want to I can always set up UV system, too. I paid $180 for a new filter system and $150 for the service.

The work was started on time and Don did not finish the project until HE was fully satisified with the work

I passed a beautiful water fall everyday on my way home from work.  One day I finally called the number for Backyard Tropicals which was posted at the site.  What I wanted done was going to be much smaller than the waterfall I had seen and I was afraid they would not be interested in such a small project.
   Don returned my call promptly and came to look at my pond.  He listened carefully to my concerns and explained his ideas on improving the pond.  His quote was within my budget.
  Don and his hard working crew came on time and created a beautiful, and natural looking pond and waterfall that surpassed my expectations!  It was so obvious that he took great pride in his work.  He is truly an artist and enjoys creating works of art with water and stone.  
   We have enjoyed several years with our beautiful pond and love the sound of the waterfall.  Don responds to my emails promptly whenever I have a question or concern.  I ask him to come every spring and fall to set up and close the waterfall. 
   Of all the contractors I have dealt with since owning a home, Backyard Tropicals is one of my favorites.  
  I highly recommend Backyard Tropicals to anyone who wants a beautiful and unique water feature.

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He was outstanding! He also put in 2 waterfalls and they are spectacular. He was very competitively priced and always returned my phone calls. I would definitely use him again.

I was extremely pleased from start to finish.  Everything was done as scheduled, the area was always cleaned at the end of the workday, and the finished product was better than expected.  Don even replaced and installed new sprinkler heads that would water the plants by the waterfall more efficiently.  After the installation, Don always responded to any questions I had.  He even stopped by to check out a concern I had with water that seemed to be sitting at the base of the waterfall and added more stones at no charge.  He was always very patient and respectful, even when I had him stop by to see why the waterfall wasn't operating.  It had nothing to do with the work he had done but was due to the fact that my pool men had turned off the power to the waterfall.  Don wouldn't even consider charging me for this unnecessary service call which was totally my fault.  Rarely do you find contractors who are as professional, courteous and honest as Don is.  I have recommended him to both family and friends as I could not have been more pleased with the work he performed.  Reliability and great work can definitely be expected!

Amazing! The sound of the water and the look of the rocks are equally spectacular. We could not be more pleased with the installation and the final results.

It was great from beginning to end he even preformed work that had nothing to do with contract at his cost.