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August 20, 2009
Water plants are an essential component of every pond. Not only do they add beauty to your pond, they also provide an essential environment for your garden ponds life, and supply the water with oxygen. Water plants are usually placed into different categories depending on the habitat where they live. Some plants are constantly submerged; these are known as oxygenating plants because they supply a constant level of oxygen to the pond water. The next type of plants are the ones with shallow roots that float on the pond surface and get all their nutrients from the topmost layer of water. Lastly are the deep water plants that have long roots that reach to the bottom of the pond whilst their leaves and flowers are above the pond surface.
Water plants should always be bought with the depth of your pond in mind. In fact, when you buy a new waterlily, they should be placed on submerged bricks that can be removed one by one until the plant has reached its mature depth. It is possible to add a layer of soil at the bottom of your pond but most pond owners actually prefer to add their plants in aquatic basket containers. This method holds many advantages to the garden pond owner, read more in part 2.
August 19, 2009
In the last article we discussed what type of water was the best to use to top up your pond. Because of the added chemicals, tap water was not the best solution, so how do you collect the rain water necessary? A good idea is to collect the rain water that falls on any roofs or sheds and use this to top up your pond. If you want to do things properly you could even install a cistern type arrangement in a hidden area of your pond that lets this water into the pond when the level drops sufficiently (a similar arrangement to the cistern you have in a standard toilet). This of course means somewhat disruption whilst you lay the necessary pipes in your garden from your collection source, but it will be then virtually maintenance free.
But whet happens if the level of your pond actually rises too much? The best option here is to design and build some form of soakaway area. If the level of the pond rises too much and is not kept under check, the water may overflow and then at the least cause damage to your surrounding garden. A soakaway is a hole which can be filled with clean rubble, then topped with a water permeable material to stop the soil you are going to place above the rubble entering the soakaway, and then if you have a lawn, turf. All you need to do then is install a fixed pipe from where you want the top water level of your pond to be, into the soakaway and hey presto an instant maximum water level device.
August 18, 2009
When you design your pond you should also think how you are going to top the water up if the level drops because of evaporation. Whilst British summers are unfortunately quite wet nowadays, there comes a time in every garden pond owner’s life that they may want to add that little bit extra water.
If you have a fountain or waterfall in your pond you may actually notice that the water disappears more quickly than usual. This is because water may actually be blown out of the pond and water will evaporate more quickly.
The best type of water to use to top up your pond is of course rain water. If you are connected to a water meter then you will soon realise that rain water is by far the best option because it is free. Another important consideration regarding rain water is that it contains no added chemicals like tap water. Tap water contains fluorine and chlorine so it is safe for human consumption. But, when added to your pond in large quantities you may actually affect the balance of the ecosystem in your pond and so create problems for your fish and plant life. Another point that is worth mentioning here is that tap water is inherently colder than other types of water that you may add to a pond. If added too quickly this could also affect the pond life also.
So, how can I top up my pond using rain water? And how do I cope with excess water in my pond? Find out in part 2.
August 17, 2009
You’ve spent all those hours designing, digging and fitting your pond. The feeling of satisfaction when the job is complete just can’t be beaten.
So imagine the feeling when you wake up one morning and the level of water has dropped significantly. Time to face facts; there’s a leak in the pond liner.
The first job to do is to try to determine where the leak is. It sounds like a mammoth task, but in fact it’s not as time consuming as you first might think. The best method is to let the water drain away by itself.
Eventually, once the water has stopped leaking out, the water level will have stopped just below the source of the leak. This gives you clue as to where the leak is and means that you don’t have to drain the entire pond.
There are several repair kits available, particularly for the PVC, butyl or EPDM pond liner. The repair kits usually consist of high adhesive tape or specialised glues.
For pre-formed pools, there are some resin based repair kits available. But these are very rarely needed, as leaks in these types of ponds are not very common.
The key to fixing a leak is to do it sooner rather than later. And before you know it, the pond will be restored to its former glory.
August 16, 2009
It’s a shape that all garden pond owners have etched into their minds. The shape of a heron is unmistakable.
Although they are beautiful birds, unfortunately, herons are no good for your garden ponds; particularly the fish in it.
Herons are excellent fishers and they are especially attracted to colourful fish in places where they can’t escape. This is why ponds are their favourite spots.
These birds have a tendency to carry on fishing until all of the fish are eaten, or until they are scared off. And it’s obvious which of these two alternatives most pond owners would prefer. So how do you scare a heron off?
The best defence against heron attacks is to stop it even reaching your pond in the first place. This can be done by building a wall or fence around the pond. Another option is to place a mesh net over the pond, although some pond owners think that this can ruin the look of their garden ponds.
If you have a large pond, there are some more extravagant deterrents out there. One particularly effective one is one that uses sensors that set off jets of water to frighten the bird away.
August 15, 2009
Garden ponds are a great way to add variation to your garden. They can become the focal point of your outside area and can be great for attracting wildlife.
But water features are becoming increasingly popular as a way of adding that extra bit of style and beauty to the garden.
Many people think that you can only fit a water feature if you are lucky enough to have a large garden. However, this is not true. Because there are several options to choose from, even if you do only have a small area to play with.
One of the easiest ways to achieve a water garden feature is by using pots. Using this method, you can create a fountain or a water spout and build it up with aquatic plants. With minimal effort and cost you will have created your very own water feature which will provide that lovely relaxing sound of moving water in your garden.
Another popular method of creating moving water in small spaces is with the use of bubble fountains. These can be purchased readymade and they provide a great option for homes with children, as they don’t involve any open water.
August 14, 2009
We have been looking at the things to consider when you are looking to build a Koi pond. Depending upon the layout of your garden, different kinds of pond may be suitable. An ordered garden may look at a symmetrical pond whereas a more irregular and informal wildlife garden would suit any type of pond.
Once you have decided upon the placement of your pond you need to decide if you want a theme for the Koi pond such as giving it a Chinese or Japanese look.
Once you are ready to consider the materials and the type of pond for your garden, you may wish to consider constructing a block-built Koi pond. These make grand ponds within which to house your Koi fish. There are many different shapes and sizes you can choose from. Yes, they may be a little more expensive and specialised than other types of pond, but the concrete blocks and reinforced steel rods can be used to make the ultimate Koi pond.
If you have constructed the outer shell structure, you can always finish the pond with a waterproof sealant or create a fibreglass surface, although you may require some professional expertise to get the final planning and installation right.
August 13, 2009
It is worth mentioning that, before you even attempt to construct, or even consider creating a Koi pond in your garden, you should really speak to someone with experience in keeping Koi. If you are looking to create a really high quality Koi pond, then you need to plan things very carefully.
It can take up to a week to construct a five metre Koi pond for your garden and so, if you are inexperienced in keeping these fish, you need to consider the important aspects first. Of course, safety is paramount, especially if you have very small children who could get near to the pond when you are not looking. You can consider pond covers and fences to try and keep them at bay.
You will need to plan out your garden and include all details including the location of all trees, garden furniture, plants, pathways and fences. Once you have done this you will be in a better position to map out where you want the pond to go and how big it can be.
If you do decide to build a larger sized Koi pond, then you will need to consider the stable aquatic environment that will need to be created in order to keep the fish healthy.
August 12, 2009
A pump in your garden pond is an essential component that is needed to provide filtration, a waterfall, a fountain or just to move water around your pond. Depending on the function you need your pump to perform and the quantity of water you need to move there are many suitable pond pumps available on the market.
Feature pond pumps do what they say on the box. Basically they should only be used to move small quantities of water for a fountain or a waterfall. These pumps are great if all you want to achieve is a water feature in your pond and most come supplied with a fountain head or other attachment so they can be set up quickly and easily.
The now most common type of pump is the solid handling pump, these pumps can handle the debris that builds up on the pond floor and because of which are commonly used to power pond filters. They are generally more powerful than their feature counterparts and although powerful are not commonly used for features such as a fountain but can be used to power a waterfall.
August 11, 2009
If you are going to build, and hence design the shape of your own pond then using a flexible pond liner is the right direction to go in. If you choose a prefabricated pond shape then you may be limited to the size of pond and any shelving features you may want to have.
Pond liners needs to thick enough to prevent any foreign body penetrating the pond liner, just using cheap plastic sheeting from a hardware store will not just be a waste of time it will also be a waste of money.
Epalyn is the most commonly used flexible pond liner material used today. It has taken its crown from the previously much used Butyl. So why is Epalyn now used to a greater extent? The simple answer is that Epalyn is much cheaper than Buytl due to its mass manufacture and now extensive use in the building industry. Epalyn is tear resistant, puncture resistant and is not affected by movement, UV, heat caused by pond lights and does not deteriorate because of its constant contact with water. In fact Epalyn products usually come with a lifetime guarantee.
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