Launching Instructions:

                      Items you will need:

                               1.  Rope - It is recommended that your rope be 5 feet longer than the depth of your pond. 

                               2.  Anchoring Device - Cement blocks are easy to use if your pond is not lined.  If your

                                    pond is lined, we recommend rubber anchors. 

Step One: Place a piece of visqueen (approximately 1 1/2 times the size of island) on the ground near the water’s edge, where you will launch the island. Allow the end of the visquine to drape into the water.

Step Two: Place the island upside down, with the planting holes on the bottom. You will see a hole in the center of the island with a cable that has a loop in it. Use the loop to tie your anchor to. (This center hole is located on the 35 square foot island only. The tie down for the 70 square foot island is located on the four corners.) There are four thimbles located between the 2nd & 3rd layer that you can use to tie off to on the 70 square foot island.

Step Three: Tie the rope to the loop in the cable or one of the four thimbles and then tie the other end to your anchor.

Step Four: Next you will flip the island back over so that the planting holes are on top. Place the island on the visquine, making sure the entire island is on visqueen. This will allow for easier launching.

Step Five: Begin filling the planting holes with the Biomix Soil. Fill the holes half way.

Step Six: Prior to placing your plants in the plant holes, rinse/shake off as much of the potting soil from the roots.

          Note: If you are using sod, spread a light layer of Biomix Soil (approximately 1” thick) across the top of the island, and lay sod on top of it. Once sod is laid use landscape pins to secure your sod to the island. You do not need to wash off the mud from the sod.

Step Seven: Place your plants in the planting holes, making sure the bottom of the roots are pointing down. You do not want the roots pointing up in the hole.

Step Eight: After all of your plants are planted in the planting holes, cover the entire island with the remaining Biomix Soil. (Approximately 2” thick). Try not to allow any of the plastic, of the island, to be exposed. This will protect it from UV rays.

Step Nine: Once your island is planted and covered with Biomix Soil, slowly slide the island into the water. Be careful not to allow the nose of the island to go under water. If this happens you will loose all of your biomix, and then you will have to recover the island with more Biomix.

Step Ten: When the entire island is in the water, check your water line. There should only be 2 layers of the island sticking out of the water. It is okay if there is only 1 ½ layers, you just don’t want any more than 2 layers out the water. If there are more than 2 layers out of the water, you will need to weigh the island down. You can use rocks, sand, etc. to do this. Another option would be to use sod around the edge of the island, being that sod is so heavy.

Step Eleven: When your island is sitting properly in the water, you should then saturate it with water either by using water buckets or a watering hose.

Step Twelve: After saturating your island, you are ready to float it to your desired location.

Step Thirteen: When your island is in the desired location, drop the anchor overboard.