There is one pond maintenance activity that strikes fear through every pond owner’s heart – the dreaded pond clean. There are many solutions different pond vacuums you can use to clear the silt from the bottom of the pond but a great option are pond vacuums from Oase.

The Oase Pondovac 3 is a brilliant pond vacuum cleaner that features not one but two chambers so filling and discharging can happen in alternating cycles meaning you can save time and energy. The vacuum comes with different nozzle accessories including crevice tools, floor nozzles, and extension tools. A great advantage of this pond vacuum is that it can also be used as a wet vacuum inside the home and having a powerful 1400W motor it can deal with most types of sludge and silt build-up. The only other accessories you need are a pair of pond waders and arms length heavy duty gloves.

Cleaning your pond can be a time consuming and dirty task, but with the right type of pond cleaning equipment and a little hard work the finished clean pond can look stunning and your fish will appreciate the reduce pollutant levels.

If you have a well established garden pond it will be a hub for all sorts of wildlife including insects, small mammals, amphibians and of course your fish. If you own a pet like a dog or cat however the last thing you want is your pet damaging or even swimming in the pond and adding to the number of wildlife inhabitants.

Dogs and ponds can have a good relationship if the dog is well trained and knows its boundaries. If the dog is not trained or even if it is the type of dog that likes to swim in water, the pond/dog relationship may no work too well. Cats don’t pose too many problems to your pond life except of course the inevitable fishing trick that happens from time to time. Building a low level fence around the pond can deter dogs from swimming and also add to the pond’s safety as far as small children are concerned but a determined dog will always find a way to enjoy a dip. If neighbours cats are causing a problem to your pond, you can buy cat scarers from online aquatic retailers; these shoot a water jet at the cat and so put it off its fishing trip.

Many people have dogs, cats and ponds and the harmony between works well. But if you already have a pond it is worth considering the potential damage that could be caused by adding a new pet to the household.

A great way to give your pond some atmosphere at this time of year is by using a pond mister. With the dark nights now firmly set in we don’t get much benefit from our pond except for the weekends. The most we look at it is through the window in the evening. If you already have some sort of pond lighting then adding a mister to your pond can really create a dramatic effect at dusk.

We don’t usually entertain in the garden at this time of year but a pond mister device works as well in the winter as in the summer. Most pond misters sit on the surface of the pond and work on an ultrasonic oscillation principle that changes the water into tiny mist particles so they are completely safe for the fish in your pond. Some pond misters even have LED lighting effects that can be controlled by a remote control so you can change the pattern of lights and hence the overall effect of the mist from inside the house.

Pond misters aren’t just a novelty item; they can create a beautiful atmosphere to the pond area at just the push of a button.

Although garden ponds or water gardens can be a wonderful addition to your home this Christmas, they can also be dangerous places. They can be hazardous for the many visitors you will be expecting, some of whom may have had one too many, and children in particular are at risk. However, there are ways that you can reduce these risks, and enjoy your beautiful pond this Christmas.

Garden pond safety tips:

• Pond mesh or netting – You could consider temporarily replacing your current pond cover net, designed to keep away animals and pests, with one robust enough to support a person’s weight should they fall in.
• Slip resistant surfaces – Make sure that the surfaces and walkways around your garden pond are slip-resistant, and consider installing railings for particularly hazardous areas.
• Fencing or barriers – A small fence, collection of boulders, shrubbery or herb garden bordering your pond will ensure that children cannot get too close to it, but keep these features subtle enough so that everyone can still enjoy your pond from a safe distance and that you can still access your pond for maintenance and to look after your fish.
• Garden and pond lighting – A well-designed lighting scheme around your pond can not only make the area safer, but will also enhance the appearance of your entire garden.

So, follow these tips and you and your family can enjoy your pond safely this Christmas.

If you have a garden that is set on many different ground levels it can be the perfect place to install a garden pond. Having a split level water feature or garden pond will mean that you can incorporate waterfalls and water courses into the pond design to really make something of your garden feature.

Whilst a garden pond on one level looks brilliant, having a sloping garden can mean you can have two or more pond levels and have streams or different types of interconnecting water flow between them. The overall affect can look stunning.

When installing a pond system on sloping ground you need to make sure that the pond design is done correctly and the ground can structurally hold the quantity of water you will add to the pond. This may mean shoring the earth in different locations and then backfilling or adding more earth around higher level pools to hold everything in place. You may even need to build retaining walls or get a structural engineer to oversee the construction if you have any doubts. But, when the design is finished the pond will certainly be the focal point of your garden.

With all the rain that seems to be falling at the moment it can pose potential problems for pond owners. That is unless you have already taken preventative measures to make sure that excess water in the pond is dealt with before it becomes a problem.

Lack of water in your pond can also be a problem. If during the summer months your pond water level drops too far, the pond inhabitants may suffer unnecessarily. You therefore need to take steps to ensure you have a top up supply if the water level drops too far. Using tap water can be detrimental to your pond’s eco-system, so whenever possible you should use collected rain water.

If you want to take preventative measures to remove water from your pond if the level rises too high, there are some things you can do here also.

The best solution to remove excess water from a pond is to use a soakaway. You can incorporate an overflow pipe into the pond design at the upper most level you want the water to rise to. The overflow pipe can lead to an underground soakaway that can be dug at a level lower than the pond so the water can easily drain into it.

Making the decision to include a garden pond in your garden design can be a little difficult. There are many things you need to consider. Not least how much time and patience you will need during the pond’s set up period and future maintenance requirements.

Owning garden ponds can be very rewarding but you need to prepare yourself for a little hard work now and again. If you just want something to look at, why not try a water feature or other garden decorative feature.

The initial design and pond build can take some effort and then the pond needs time to develop its own eco-system before you add your fish. This is a time consuming process. But when done properly it can provide many hours of pleasure and satisfaction.

Important considerations before the start of the build include:

• Build a pond that fits with the size of your garden
• Decide positioning of the pond based on future water supply and electricity requirements
• Try not to build a pond under trees – the falling leaves can prove to be a problem
• Decide if you want to keep fish – and how many
• Look into the various pond filter and pond pump systems – you need to choose the right one for your pond size
• Take into consideration how your pond will affect the surrounding environment – be prepared to include an array of pond plants and incorporate features in your pond that will not only benefit you but also other animals and future pond inhabitants

If left for a few years with little maintenance the plants in your pond can become overgrown. If you have planned well in advance any plants that have been submerged in your garden ponds will have been installed in planting baskets. These are the perfect way to put plants into your pond and the easiest way to remove them if necessary.

Mesh pond plant baskets allow the roots of your pond plants to spread out but still keep the pond plant well contained so it can be easily removed from the pond if necessary. They also keep the soil around the plant roots and not clouding the water, adding pea gravel to the top of your baskets will also stop soil floating away for your plant.

Having your pond plants in individual containers also means that you can split the plants easily and also target specific plants with fertilisers or other treatments if necessary.

You can get many different sizes of pond planters in shapes including square, round and kidney shaped. So you will be able to find the right size planter for the size and position of pond plant you want.

Now might be the time of year you consider installing a heater to your pond. With the winter weather only round the corner, if you want to keep your pond ice free and keep your fish active you will need to stop the pond temperature falling as the air temperature drops.

The cooling of your pond temperature is a gradual process and the fish in your pond are well aware of this. They will adapt to their ambient surroundings and so when the pond temperature drops they will become less active and hence not need as much food. If you want to keep the fish in your pond more active than usual over the winter months then the only solution is to install a pond heater.

Depending on the size of pond you own you will need to buy a pond heater (or pond heaters) accordingly. Most come with a thermostat that can be set to your required temperature and the heater can be easily foxed to the floor of wall of your pond for ease of future access.

Pond heaters are the perfect pond accessory and a great way to make the most of your pond during the cold winter months.