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Backyard Blunders: The Perils of DIY Koi Ponds

Watch informative videos on pond and landscape features at San Diego Ponds. Explore our projects and designs. Contact us for expert advice and services!

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I researched companies that could install a koi pond and waterfall and was blown away by pics from Matt’s previous jobs. Now that he completed my pond, I don’t think those pics do him justice. It’s much better than I even thought it could be.

The quality of the work and the attention to detail was phenomenal. Matt’s vision is unsurpassed. I highly recommend him for anyone wanting a water feature or pond.

Al Garrison

Outstanding experience working with Matt at San Diego Ponds. The final product exceeded our expectations. He started work when he said he would. Finished when he said he would. Charged us a fair price. The waterfall design is spectacular. Cleaned up our yard and removed all debris when the job was completed. Would not hesitate to go with SD Ponds again if the opportunity arises.

Ron Markham

Matt is awesome.
I consider him to be a friend now. He is a very hard-working man and his intimate sized crew really seems to work. They have an old school approach in their creation and building process. Almost a little bit of a Egyptian Style with their boards and leveling and rock rolling. Quite a process. Mad as really experienced with his design and recommendations as well. I truly put it in his hands and let him do what he wanted to do in the space that I gave him and we could not be any happier as a family with his work and interpretation for that space. He's a very cool and talented hard-working guy and he's a local San Diego as well. Give him an opportunity and he will earn your business.

Sean Schwab

Mat is not only creative and skilled but he is a true professional you can trust to deliver exactly what he says on time. No worries and no need to check up because if Mat says it will be done, he does it. Mat works carefully and leaves the area spotless every day. He is a great communicator, keeping you informed every step of the way, even before the job is begun. San Diego Ponds is the only place to go if you want a beautiful, worry-free enhancement for your "staycation." We could not be happier.

Sandra Garrison

Mat came over to my home and as we spoke I realized this guys an artist and totally got the vision I had for a waterfall in fact he took the vision I had and added his artistic and design talents and WOW. We ended up with a waterfall that climbs my backyard bank nestled in mature palm trees and you would think you were in Hawaii by a beautiful stream and waterfall , perfect sound beautiful look day and at night just over the top. Mat was here on the job everyday his workers really worked hard placing large and small boulders that Mat individually placed , each stone he made sure was in a perfect spot the perfect color. I work with a lot of contractors in my business Mat has proved to be one of the most professional contractors I have worked with. I now have a focal point in my yard where everyone who sees it , raves about the look , sound and relaxing spot that Mat has created. This was the best money I have ever spent on a home ever. A beautiful WOW factor. Thanks Mat my yard is now an oasis. Tom R. My home is in Vista.

Thomas R.

Matt and his team were fantastic and built a beautiful backyard pond that we will enjoy for a very long time.

Anthony Geist 

The backyard of the fixer-upper home I bought was a blank canvas to be transformed. The search began for a contractor to build a koi pond as the centerpiece of the empty space. I checked out a number of contractors online and in person, but when Mat came over to my house the search was over. Koi ponds are his passion and as a few of the other reviews state, Mat is truly an artist. I asked him what he would do if he had freedom to design the best pond for the space, he smiled, and described what he would do for me. I was sold right then and there. Mat delivered everything, exceeded expectations at every turn, and is a consummate professional. He is visionary, a perfectionist, trustworthy, highly knowledgable, easygoing, and very enjoyable to have around. I could keep going, but I think I've made my point. If you are reading these reviews in search of a koi pond designer / installer, then you don't need to look any further. Call Mat, relax, and know you are in the best of hands. No BS, no disappointments; Mat is the real deal and he certainly brought his "A" game to my backyard. Thanks Mat!


The Suss M.

We were lucky to have found Mat , we had two bids from contractors that our pond service guy recommended and we didn't really care for either of them. I went on line and found San Diego Ponds website and called Mat, he came out ask a lot of questions about what we wanted to accomplish. We already had a pond but it was old and leaking. Mat submitted his bid, that was very detailed, as to exactly what he would do , his bid was lower then the other two and we gave him the job, but that is not why we chose him. When I asked Mat if he was going to on the job site, he said he would be here all the time , unlike others who send in a crew and you rarely see the contractor himself. I watched him work from our kitchen window, he would put a rock in place and then stand back to see how it looked, if it wasn't right he would changed it, some of the rocks were 100 lbs. or more. I would highly recommend Mat because he takes a lot of pride in his work and he had some great ideas, we are very pleased with our beautiful new pond !

Ed Lynch

Matt did an amazing job transforming a dirt area in our backyard into an incredible zen waterfall retreat. His work is absolutely beautiful and he knows his stuff! I can't say enough about how happy we are with our new pondless waterfall and how it has changed the entire look and feel of our backyard. We're in Poway- it gets HOT. And just seeing, hearing, and dipping our feet into the water makes us feel like we're at an oasis. I can't say enough.
We gave Matt a few basic thoughts on what we were looking for, and then let him run with it.... Matt has a very good eye and what he does really is art. It looks natural, organic, stunning, and like it was always meant to be there. He just gets it! We are in love with this pondless waterfall and now everyone that sees it wants one in their yard. I would absolutely recommend San Diego Ponds to anyone I know. If you're in the market, don't hesitate- hire Matt and his crew. You will be amazed by the beauty of his work and it will transform your yard. THANK YOU MATT!!!!

Chrissy C.

Matt did an amazing job with the waterfall, it transformed our backyard into a zen peaceful place, he went above and beyond to find the exact type of stones we wanted and we would highly recommend him.

Leonardo Sandoval

Mat of San Diego Ponds was a joy to work with. Always on time and had such good ideas. He built us three beautiful waterfalls that exceed our expectations. If you are looking for the best in the business look no further than Mat. He is the owner of San Diego Ponds.

Linda Cablayan

Mat absolutely nailed it when it came to our project. We wanted a natural looking stream that would look and feel as if we came upon it on a hike. We love it! The rippling sound of water is so peaceful in our yard. Mat and Tomas are an incredible team. They work efficiently together and have such an artistic eye.
We are so pleased with the result.

Kim Rau

Mat is a true artisan with a kind heart, gentle demeanor and contagious passion for his art of creating epic backyard ponds. He took great care to listen to our desires and created a masterpiece that our family and guests will enjoy for years to come. He completed the project within the time he quoted, even though we had to get on his waitlist (it was worth the wait!). Best of all we were able to add Koi fish right away and he guided us on best practices to keep our pond manageable. I can assure you that this will be an Instagram worthy magical spot on our property that will blend right into the natural landscape. We are so glad we waited and chose Mat! Thank you!

Sanctuary of Yum

Our pond less waterfall designed & created by Mat is a spectacular work of art! He saw our vision & made it a reality! He is honest & reliable. It was worth the 3 month wait. I would highly recommend his company to anyone interested in installing a water feature. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed! Mat, you’re awesome!!!

Suzanna Ramirez

Mat was on time, on budget, and listened to each of our requests. He delivered beyond our expectations. You won’t go wrong if you choose him as your pond contractor. We absolutely love our water feature.

Chris Nardo

I was exceptionally pleased with the construction and maintenance of a relatively large rock lined koi pond with waterfall built for me by Matt Macleod in Vista. The fish are doing fine and growing quickly. The construction of a wind sail over the pond has added security and shade. The choice of filter, aeration, and in-pool lighting selected by Matt resolved much of the issues I had with an earlier smaller backyard pond.

Glenn Wagner

Amazing design and setup, couldn't be better, definitely recommend it.

Amir Ghods

Matt just finished building us a new koi pond and waterfall and we are incredibly happy with it. He is a real professional--he did exactly what he promised and when it turned out to be a little more expensive than what he bid he didn't try to bill us for it. Most importantly, the pond and waterfall are beautiful and the fish are happy! We recently had a local koi expert out to take a look and he agreed that the system and design were top notch. Thanks, Matt, for a gorgeous pond that is going to bring us joy for years to come!

Jill R.

Mat created a beautiful work of art building my waterfall. We could not be more happier with it. We love it! So look no further you've found San Diego Ponds. Give Mat a call! You'll be happy you did!
Thanks again Mat😃

Donielle Wilson

We had a hillside, pond-less waterfall installed. It turned out amazing! They were great to work with. The crew was very responsive and nice. We have been outside by the waterfall every night since it was completed.

Mark Campbell

It was so exciting when the day came and Matt arrived, who is San Diego Ponds to start my pond and waterfall. We had some rainy weather and he does have a waiting list because he IS that much in demand! Watching him work was amazing and he does have a couple helpers but HE does the main work himself as he is so particular that things are done JUST RIGHT! Especially when it comes to the finishing details, he works like an Artist standing back and observing every detail to give it that unique look he is striving for. With the waterfall, he kept moving each rock to make sure the water cascaded just perfectly onto the ones below. The pond was made too with such precision and after almost two weeks the water is still amazingly clear! I live where there is bright sunlight but the filtering system he uses is top of the line and it is truly beautiful at night with the lights. I have had a pond before with Koi and it was always challenging to keep the water clear. Matt builds the pond to have low maintenance and very easy to maintain. His work ethic is great as each day they came right on time and worked so steadily not wasting any time. In less than 2 weeks I had my 4 ft deep & 5 ft long and about 6 ft wide pond finished, with my long hillside cascading waterfall completed, ready for the planting to make it truly gorgeous! He uses the best pond liners, and filtration systems made do you can enjoy his masterpiece for years & years. He does each project one at a time, so if you need to be on his waiting list, just be patient as he is THAT GOOD and worth the wait! You will NOT be disappointed. Also, Matt is so easy to talk to and answers every question you have on your project. When the project is done he makes it clear that he is always available to contact & answer any future questions you may have. He is quick to respond, so you never feel left on your own to do something you are not sure about. When he finished my project he showed me exactly what to do, and as a woman I can guarantee you it is very easy. He also, will be coming back to show me how to do the monthly maintenance of back flushing. I was sad to see him leave as he is so nice and I wouldn’t be seeing him each day anymore. He had become a friend.
Matt is very professional & for the amount of work that is done I feel is very reasonably priced. The way he builds ponds was so similar to watching my swimming pool being put in. If you have a design in mind he works with you to make it the best way possible. He is very proud of what he designs & it is hard to find someone these days who puts so much pride into his work. I cannot recommend him more highly! Walking outdoors seeing my dream become a reality is still hard go believe as it is so beautiful and is even more than I could ever had imagined! Thank you so very much Matt! I think of you each time I am enjoying my waterfall and pond. Now it is time to add the Koi.❤️

Sandy Potter

Matt build me the most amazing pond and waterfall. I am beyond happy. Matt is an artisan and is passionate about his work. You will find no better pond builder than San Diego ponds. I had a tight deadline to complete and Matt exceeded my expectations. Thanks again Matt for everything.

Leon Pangburn

Everything about our experience with San Diego Ponds was exceptional. Not only was Matt extremely professional and communicative, but he built us the most amazing pond. The quality and beauty of the end product blew all of my expectations. He did exactly what he said he was going to and I would highly recommend him.

Jennifer Kittle

Mat come to my house and designed my pond as an addition to my putting green. For several months I was very uncertain on moving forward with the koi pond because I didn't think I would really enjoy the pond and would it be worth the investment. Well I did move forward and I can tell you that the pond is more enjoyable than I ever imagined. Mat tried to make me understand that the pond would be a top notch attraction to my yard that already had a Basketball court, putting green, zip line. swimming pool, and more. After I moved forward with the koi pond my only regret is that I didn't listen to Mat sooner and had him build it months sooner than I did. I would like to say this about Mat and San Diego Ponds; Mat is truly and artist and passionate about his work, the quality of his work is second to none, he delivered perfectly on budget with more than I expected, the pond works perfectly with very little maintenance, just as Mat promised. As Mat suspected, I spend so much more time at my pond than I ever expected and love every minute there. I have 1 1/2 acre of landscaped yard and my son said to me; dad this is an area of our yard that we spent such little time before and now all that our family wants to do is to go to our pond. Thank you Mat.

Steve V.

I would like to thank Matt so much for the exquisite pond he added to our property. it is throughly well made and much attention to detail throughout the whole process. It has been one of the few projects done on our property that we didn't feel we had to "monitor." He and is crew are timely and adhere to the quote agreed upon. Reminded us of how Americans use to take pride in their work and deliver the best products. We would highly recommend San Diego Ponds.

Scrappy Ninja

In deciding to upgrade my exiting Koi pond, I interviewed several companies. After some due diligence, San Diego Ponds was my first choice and it turned out to be the right choice. The company’s professionalism and experience were evident throughout the project. While the pricing was competitive, I felt that SD Ponds added value to each step in the construction process. I would highly recommend Mat and his team.

Ken Anderson

Best pond builder in San Diego hands down!

MegaAdamh

Mathew was so professional from the first meeting through the completion of my Koi pond. He listened to what pond design I was interested in. Then worked with me designing my pond. His waterfall blew me away! Absolutely STUNNING ❤️ Highly recommend him. Worth every penny! My Koi & Chinese Hi Fin Sharks are so happy in their new pond.

Christine Babcock

Mat's work ethics are beyond belief. This is the second koi pond he built for my wife and I. He created a natural setting that looks like its been there forever. Beautiful and easy to maintain. Bob and Lynn

Bob Harris

Kaylee Chavez

I knew in my head what I wanted. Matt and his team took that and built an unbelievable waterfall! It's just what I visualized. Thanks Matt!

Paul Saunders

I had a backyard waterfall in mind for 20+ years. I just retired (from Constr. Proj. Mngnt.) and got quotes from the bigger guys w the splashy ads. Then San Diego Ponds was recommended to me - I was immediately impressed w Matt. The fact I was dealing w the Owner, and he is hands-on the entire project, set his company apart from all others. Plus, his 20 years in the business and design experience, made me feel very comfortable.

After accepting Matt's reasonable price and setting a start date (about 8 weeks out), he kept me updated and started the day he promised.

I am extremely satisfied with not only the amazing, finished pondless waterfall, but the entire process - clean, organized, and Very detail conscious!

That's coming from someone who studied Architecture and spent 40 years in commercial general construction.

My neighbors are all blown away at the finished product!

Mike Slaven

OK.
Matt and Thomas just got done with my new dry creek. We love it.
Matt is a straight arrow, hard working, talented guy. He and Thomas killed it!

Both my wife and I after first meeting Matt canceled our 2 other appointments for quotes.

We just liked his approach and bottom line he made the right first impression and we went with our gut and we are so happy we did.
I/we strongly recommend San Diego Ponds.

Sean S.

My new waterfall is a work of art. I’m overwhelmed with emotion as Matt created a dream come true that my husband and I have been wanting for a long time. Matt convinced me from the start that he listened to my needs and the final result would be exactly what I expressed I wanted. Matt exceeded my expectations as he created a masterpiece, that will contribute to a joyful and peaceful living space for my friends and family whether we’re in the house or outside.
Matt is amazingly talented as he skillfully placed each boulder to complement the topography of the slope. I wanted the waterfall to mask the sound of our neighbor’s pool pump during the day and create a tranquil environment for us to practice our nightly meditations. The waterfall is beautiful during the day and evening, even without the rest of my landscaping planted. I am over the moon filled with gratitude that Matt created a focal point in my backyard that will bring us enjoyment for years. Thank you Matt, you have made an exceptional difference in our lives.

Victoria Cutler

Denise Arand

Mat McLeod and his team are simply the best. He's an artist and a perfectionist, and it shows in every detail of his work. The waterfall feature he designed and built for one of my backyard sitting areas exceeded my expectations by a long way. Thanks Mat!

Larry O.

We are very pleased with our pond less waterfall feature. Matt's design and install is a perfect addition to our yard. Highly recommend San Diego Ponds for a beautiful water feature.

Sue Jordan

Mat did an exceptional job. I’ll give him six stars if I could.

Mat was awesome to work with. Originally we had gone through a landscape contractor to do our first pond, which turned out HORRIBLE! It was a disgrace to look at in our backyard. Mat demolished that one and started over, It was amazing to watch him in action, as he truly is an artist at what he does. He does not cut corners and takes pride in creating exactly what you want. When we asked him how long the project would take he told us 2 weeks. Guess what? He was actually done in 2 weeks! We are so glad we went with someone who specializes in creating a pond/waterfall of our dreams. It is our main focal point in our yard and we always get the WOW factor when people come over. Mat is reasonably priced at the service and skill he provides. Definitely recommend San Diego Ponds!

Samantha S.

Bill McLeod

My wife and I had been wanting a pondless waterfall for a very long time. We are somewhat new to Southern CA and had the opportunity to install one in our backyard.
From the moment we met Mat we knew that he was the guy to do our job. His knowledge, work ethic, and easygoing demeanor made him a pleasure to work with.
He was honest, upfront, and to the point which we really appreciated.
He and his crew were on time, hard-working, and always cleaned up before leaving every day.
He truly transformed our backyard into a peaceful paradise with the soothing sound of a river!
We highly recommend you talk to Mat if you are looking for a pondless waterfall, pond and waterfall, or Koi pond in the greater San Diego area!

Noah D.

This is the first pond I’ve had built for me as I have built many myself. Watching Matt work was amazing. He consulted with us along the way, gave us advice where needed and the most importantly he built a solid AND functional ecosystem that is easy to maintain. We could not be happier. We leave our windows open to the pond now so we can hear the waterfall. I cannot say enough nice things about the quality of the build but also the folks who worked on it as well. Fun experience. The pics are from a few days after it was done. We still need to landscape more and move the fish in once it’s cycled.

Stephen Meyer

Mat just completed a beautiful paradise at my home! I was determined to one day have a Koi pond with a waterfall, and I am so glad I chose Mat, owner of San Diego Ponds, to do the job. He arrived promptly every day with his employees ready to work, and they definitely worked hard! Not to mention, super nice to interact with. I could say so much more but bottom line, I literally had tears in my eyes after they left on the last day because I couldn’t believe my dream had finally come true, and it looks and sounds so amazing! Glowing recommendation from me without a doubt to use this company! Thank you Mat (and Tomas) for creating my personal paradise that I can share and enjoy with my family and friends! Blessings to you.

Susan J.

Matt at San Diego Ponds was incredible. Extreme attention to detail and worked as a partner throughout my project. Would highly recommend to anyone for anything koi related!

Scott St. Clair

Mat, owner of San Diego Ponds, recently removed my old backyard pondless waterfall, and built a completely new one that is gorgeous and sounds amazing. Mat and just one other man, Tomas, did all the work. Removing the old one was a feat in itself, as buried underneath, out of sight and in a hole for the foundation of the old waterfall, were several huge boulders that Mat and Tomas had to remove before even starting on the new one. I have never seen two men work as hard as they did, lifting and rolling out those boulders (and then putting them and others back to form the new waterfall). Although Mat offered to show me his folder of photos and ideas, the day we met, I gave him free rein to build his vision for the space. We did not discuss the design and he worked without plans. I had no idea what to expect until it was finished and turned on. That’s trust! He clearly knows what he is doing and what works for the space and the homeowner. He is an artist at what he does. It was like watching a sculptor at work as he formed the elevations on the ground, and placed the boulders and rocks.
I contacted Mat after being impressed by his information and presentation on his website. He responded quickly with an in home free estimate. My job was clearly smaller than photos I viewed on his website but he made me feel it was as important to him as any job he does. After meeting him, I did not seek estimates from others. He was obviously knowledgeable and his personable demeanor made it easy to talk with him. He and Tomas were a pleasure to have at my home. Mat answered my questions directly, and thoroughly, whenever I interrupted him with one. I know I can count on him to respond if I have any issues with the waterfall in the years to come.
Look no further than San Diego Ponds for your water feature, of any size. You will be glad you did.

Sandy Boyles

Let me start by saying that I've wanted a koi pond for years. When I started looking to buy a house last year, a huge must was that it needed to have ample outdoor space to build a koi pond. After searching for about a year, I found a house with a courtyard area perfect for a pond. I then started interviewing various contractors to build it. There weren't too many people out there that specialize in building ponds, so the pickings were slim to begin with. Luckily, I found San Diego Ponds online and after seeing the portfolio of past projects, I was very impressed. I was even more impressed with Mat's level of professionalism after meeting and working with him. To give some context, I've worked with contractors day in and day out managing real estate development projects for many years. I've only met a handful of contractors in the past 10 years with Mat's level of professionalism and integrity. I'm very much into the details and am particular about quality of work. Mat listened to everything I wanted and needed in the pond and he was able to more than meet my expectations. He went over and above in getting me exactly what I wanted. I can't believe how much he knows about this stuff and can't say enough about my experience in working with him. Honest, reliable, and professional. Building a Koi Pond is very specialized and making sure it's done right will pay off a hundred fold, so go with an expert like Mat and get exactly what you want.

Oliver A.

Great place open 7 days a week very polite and courteous great fish and pond plants I will go back for sure.

Jay Y.

From start (taking the time to understand what we wanted) to finish (creating a beautiful waterfall and swim pond) San Diego Ponds did an a amazing job creating the pond that we wanted! And, Matt has also been great following up to make sure the pond is working exactly as we want.

Kenny Manzoni

San Diego Ponds we’re here everyday on time working their butts off . They are very professional and sensitive to our needs cleaning up every day and created the most beautiful tropical paradise. The final product was much better than we anticipated.

Kirk McCauley

After deciding to get rid of our grass in our front lawn in place of a Rock Garden, we decided to look into getting a waterfall for our front yard. We found Mat over the internet, and he came out to us and looked out our property and told us what options we had. For $1,500, he came and landscaped everything himself, and taught us how to maintain the waterfall. Our business in in downtown Oceanside, and before even being a week old, our waterfall has gotten random passersby coming in a take pictures beside it and to just stop and stare at our landscape--we are super happy with our waterfall!

Austin W.

I didn't actually meet Matt, but my business GI Junkaway did a cleanup at a property where he built the pond. Years ago I built ponds too and I have to say his was far better than any I ever built. The equipment he used was professional grade stuff, where most of those guys use pieced together home depot parts. I dont know what he charged our mutual customer, but he said he was more than happy with the price.

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