Landscaping and gardening has always been an interest of mine but until recently I never thought of water gardening. What a great addition to increase the beauty of any yard and make it more appealing. When done correctly, water gardens can create a sense of serenity and provide a place to enjoy nature’s beauty without leaving the house! They will usually attract well-liked critters like butterflies, dragonflies and birds. Choosing the size, shape, desired maintenance level and optional features- all while staying within a budget can be challenging yet fun. This will simply give some ideas and tipsfor the beginner water gardener.The internet has a wealth of knowledge about this subject. I didn’t have to look far to find some great pictures and interesting and useful facts.
The sizes, shapes and styles of ponds vary a lot. Choosing just what you want can be difficult so here are some things to keep in mind. The main thing is to pick the size that matches the amount of time you want to spend on maintenance. You can have a large pond with low maintenance if the location and equipment are correct. Adding plants and fish to a pond preserves the delicate balance of the ecosystem you create. If you’re not inclined to spend much time on one or just want to try it out without committing to a large one, then a container garden might fit your style and budget. They can even be made from barrel halves, old bath tubs and watering troughs.
There are many more options for larger ponds. If you like the look of man-made ones instead of natural and you have plenty of money to spend you could create an outstanding piece of art like this one:
Fish are a beneficial addition to any pond. Of course any area with water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. It’s a good idea to have fish that eat mosquito larvae. Koi (carp) is a large fish that is gaining popularity for their size and beauty although fragile, expensive and destructive to plant life.
KOI Angel fish
Aquatic plants can have vibrant blooms that are especially inviting for wildlife. Plants are an inexpensive solution to many of the problems that plague ponds. They are oxygenators which cut down on algae growth. Lily pads provide surface coverage from the devastating effects of the Arizona sun and also help inhibit the algae. Plants use up nitrates and other compounds that some biological filters fail to break down. Underwater plants help to aerate the water and provide a spawning mat for fish. Floating plants are more visible and have great flowers!
There are many things to consider when beginning a medium or large pond. The location is important since plants need at least 4-6 hours of sunlight a day. Don’t pick a place near trees where leaves and other debris will be a problem, especially deciduous trees. The roots can also be a problem, growing into the pond liner. Pick a place that will have access to electricity for the pumps and any lighting you might want to install. Stay away from low spots that collect run off.
Liners and the under-layment can be an expensive part of the pond. A 10’ X 10’ pond liner can be from $230 to $350. Ponds need to be at least two feet deep especially if you are going to add fish. Adding just one foot of depth can significantly raise the price of a liner! The preformed liners are hard plastic and harder to work with but better for beginners who want to start small. These don’t require under-layment since the plastic is hard enough to prevent holes and tears.
There are a few basic necessities as far as equipment to keep a pond in good condition. First is a pump. These are sold according to how many gph you want to move through a filter and your pond’s capacity. You will need a skimmer and at least two kinds of filters, though some are two-in-one. A skimmer collects large debris that builds up on the surface. A biological filter preventstoxin build up (like ammonia) and breaks down other chemicals that can be hazardous to pond life. A mechanical filter gets rid of the very small debris.
Two-in-one filter. pump
Two main problems that face ponds are nuisance wildlife and algae. Algae is a problem that affects most ponds at one time or another. The newly build pond will inevitably turn green in the first week. DO NOT drain the pond and start over! Give it several weeks for the delicate balance to get balanced, add plants and fish and wait. You may not have this delay in beauty with container water gardens. There are lots of chemicals on the market to combat algae but that may be a problem for good wildlife. Keep that in mind when adding any chemicals. Building your pond with straight sides as opposed to slanted can reduce or even prevent algae. It will discourage fish-eating animals like raccoons from just wading on in for dinner if you don’t give them a shoreline! Certain statues can scare away predators too and now on the market are even motion sensing devices that spray water out! One more tip that can keep your pond cleaner is to not overfeed the fish!
There are so many eye pleasing things to do to a pond or water garden…streams, waterfalls, fountains, plants shelves, statues, brick work….the possibilities are endless and exciting to the idealistic gardener like me! However, after doing some research and finding out about cost I have decided to start small! Or not start at all until my kids are grown up!
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