The Pleasure of Garden Pond

People are wising up to the fact that extending a home can significantly add value to it. If done sensibly, the value is usually more than the cost of the building work. Buying a new family home in the UK is becoming more expensive due to increasing house prices, so extending is a good alternative to moving. Increasing the value of a home is not just about the physical building but also the garden, no matter what the size. So, if you are thinking of adding a pond to your garden a lot of planning needs to be done so it doesn’t look out of place. Just as a home extension requires planning so that it looks part of the original build, so too does a pond so that it looks part of the overall landscape of the property.

Time taken in the planning stage is never wasted. It may sound so obvious, but it is important that your pond looks as if it is meant to be in your garden. If you have a garden, which is quite formal in its layout, a pond with curved or uneven edges won’t look right. Equally, a square or rectangular pond will not suit a less formal garden. Creating a pond requires physical effort and financial expenditure so anything that you can do to ensure that you don’t have to re-do any work has got to be worthwhile. Continue Reading…

This article is geared towards the beginner water gardener, who is contemplating the installation of his/her first garden pond. The key to a successful do-it-yourself project is to gather as much relevant information that you can. To follow are some preliminary considerations and design tips that must be taken into account, before embarking on a water gardening project.

PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS

1. Location

Install it as close as the house as possible to maximize enjoyment. For safety reasons, make sure that there are no underground utilities where you will be excavating. Check with your local utility company before you begin digging. Continue Reading…

If you live in a climate where autumns are orange and winters are white, maintaining a garden pond will require more effort than if you lived where the seasons stay green. Once you winterize your equipment for the cold months, garden pond maintenance stops. And when it starts again, it can be a bear. If you’ll soon face a spring garden pond that you aren’t sure how to maintain, we list the ideal steps for bringing it back from its long hibernation.

1. Remove Winterization Measures

Winterization measures can be removed after freezing temperatures are past. Turning on your pump to start circulation will help to filter away small debris that can’t be skimmed away with a net.

2. Feed the Fish

Once your pond’s temperature is a steady 50 degrees, begin feeding its fish, preferably with a cold temperature feed until its temperature reaches a steady 60 degrees, at which point you can start their regular feeding program.

3. Clear Away Accumulated Debris

Begin by spooning away leaves, twigs, and other debris that can be removed with a net. Then drain your pond’s liquid into a large tub, placing its fish in the tub when it becomes too shallow to cover them. After draining the remaining liquid, use a shop vacuum to clean away the sludge from the basin, but don’t scrub the pond’s lining free of algae. If the water contains plants, leave them in place or keep them in the tub with the fish. Continue Reading…