Archive for the ‘water gardens’ Category

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A Garden Pond in your Landscape – Want Water in your Yard?

Thought about adding a garden pond? Should you?
Here are the pros and cons to consider:

On the pro side:

A garden pond adds an entirely new dimension to your garden!
Where before the living things were limited to plant life,
the pond will have fish (must does not need to).

The water will attract birds and other animals which make
for wonderful watching and viewing. This aspect of the water
feature can be enhanced by adding landscaping attractive to
birds.

The water noise generated by a waterfall, fountain or creek
is very relaxing and the visual beauty of the water feature
adds much enjoyment to the outdoor space.

Aquatic plants such as water lilies and lotus are absolutely
spectacular, do not need much care once established and
provide blooms all summer long.

Aquatic plants never need to be watered!

A garden pond actually needs less water than a lawn. This is
an important consideration in areas with water restrictions.

Pond fish do not need to be taken for walk, they do not make
noise and they can be left for a week or two on their own and
will do just fine.

A pond contributes important living space for critters that
have been impacted greatly by development of subdivisions and
shopping centers. Frogs, toads and newts will make a pond
their new home.

A well designed water feature will add to the resale value of
the home by greatly enhancing its landscape.

On the con side:

Building a garden pond requires a bit of an initial
investment. Good equipment should be used, because once a
pond is installed it will last many, many years.

Pond equipment does have to be mainted: Good equipment needs
very little maintenance, lower end equipment needs much
more.

A water feature has to made secure if small children are
close by.

This article provided courtesy of http://www.pondmarket.com – a site dedicated to garden ponds and water features providing free information including
e-books and a newsletter for water gardening hobbyists as well as a complete online catalog.

This article is copyright of The PondMarket, but may be
freely published without any changes to article or byline.

There are a lot of new trends surfacing in gardening, and water gardening is one of the new interests. Water gardening can include waterfalls, ponds, streams and fountains, all of which can be combined with lighting, plants, and fish. Water gardening need not have a pond or natural water source moreover, it could be a plastic tub, plastic lined shallow in the back yard or, almost anything that will hold water.

An important consideration in planning a water garden is the choosing a location. Plants and fish both need plenty of sunlight, places in direct light away from trees and bushes are the top places. This will also help prevent leaves and debris from collecting in the water.

When planning for a water garden the next step is to choose the size you want. This depends of course on the resources you want to dedicate to it, how much money and time you are willing to spend. A water garden can be expensive if you go for a big garden filled with plants, rocks, fish, and lights. Also think about your property’s size, which will also affect amount of time you’ll spend maintaining your water garden.

Aquatic pond plants can be free floating, submerged, or marginal. What type you select is a matter of aesthetics and preference. Some plants are known for their scents, some for supplying oxygen keep the pool healthy, and some are just picturesque. Remember that the plants should only cover about half of the water, especially if you have fish. Fish are not only nice to look at; they’re beneficial in that they help keep debris at a minimum and help in controlling larva and other insects.

One of the big challenges in water gardening is maintaining water free of algae. Algae problems are usually the result of nutrients in the water from feeding fish too often or over fertilizing plants. By cutting back on feeding and fertilizing, adding more plants, putting in a pond filtering system, or replacing the water with fresh water, algae is easily controlled. If a pond is constructed correctly and maintained properly algae problems can be kept at a minimum.

All garden pools, no matter the size, require some maintenance during the year. With proper planning you can create a healthy equilibrium between living and decorative features of a water garden that can almost care for itself with simple maintenance inputs from you.

Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.Org, where you can read about landscaping to attract birds, Murray lawn mowers and other home/garden topics.

Water gardens are great focal points for any backyard

With spring in the air, now is the time to start planning for your backyard garden. For many homeowners, a backyard pond is a perfect supplement to your existing layout. The trickling of water in the background is the ideal way to supplement the natural, serene and relaxing atmosphere that the outdoors should offer.

A pond or water garden will likely become the focal point for your entire backyard. Backyard ponds and water gardens will attract birds, butterflies, wildlife, and family members. Ponds are usually small and no larger than 3 to 4 feet in diameter, and often can be used to raise fish. At night-time, a garden pond can be lit up with both surrounding and submersible lighting. An extravagant light show can be produced by projecting underwater lighting directly onto trickling or falling water.

In the past, the installation of a water garden was a convoluted process that either involved the expense of a landscaper, or trial and error to perfect the art of pond installation. However, preformed pond kits are now available that can make pond installation relatively straightforward. Preformed pond kits are affordable, lessen the risk of mistakes, and come complete with all the accessories that you will need to complete a garden pond installation.

Before purchasing a preformed pond kit, make sure that it fulfils all of your requirements. How large of a pond are you looking for? Do you want to raise fish? Would you like water to trickle down a waterfall? How long is the warranty on the pond kit?

One preformed pond kit that comes highly recommended is the Algreen 180 gallon folding preformed pond kit. New to the Algreen line of products, this kit includes easy-to-follow instructions. The instructions minimize the effort required to install the pond, after a hole is dug. The pieces in the kit fit easily together and leave you ample flexibility to creatively position and landscape the area around the pond, according to your heart’s desire.

The 180 gallon kit comes complete with both a preformed pond shell and a preformed watercourse that is manufactured from a revolutionary rubber/plastic composite (this composite material is guaranteed to be more durable and resist wear more than any other existing preformed pond kits). The kit includes a powerful 792 gallon-per-hour SuperFlo pump with flow control; this pump is used to feed varying flows of water to both the watercourse and the built-in fountain. The pump is purposely oversized to allow it to channel water to your watercourse and fountain, and to accommodate fish in your pond.

Up to 4 fountain heads are included with the kit, to allow you to vary your fountain according to your mood. An underwater light is also included free with the kit. This underwater light utilizes colored filters to shine luminous light from the bottom of your pond to accentuate the falling water from your fountain and/or your waterfall.

Small backyard garden ponds are usually low maintenance. The occasional debris from your pond can usually be trapped with a mechanical pre-filter, which is included with the SuperFlo pump. However, if you decide to raise fish in your pond, it is recommended that you increase your filtration capacity. Because the pump is purposely oversized, this can be easily accomplished by upgrading your pre-filter to a larger filtration device. Optional filtration devices include the mechanical and biological SuperFlo submersible filter, or the Algreen pressurized filter.

You will need to start planning for your water garden now in order to have it completed by spring. Before commencing any project, it is always recommended that you conduct research to learn as much as possible about the topic. Therefore, it is recommended that you use the early part of the season to read more about pond construction.

Gerry Fung is the Vice President of GardenSuperMart, http://www.GardenSuperMart.com

Read more about the 180 gallon granite preformed pond kit.

Like so many things in life, the location is one of the most important aspects to consider when making any changes. Here are a couple of things to consider when you build your dream water garden:

1. Call Before You Dig

While this one seems obvious, its surprising the number of people who forget to call the appropriate utility companies about phone,gas and power lines, only to accidently cut them. One simple phone call avoids all sorts of problems, ensuring that you wont have to worry about delays to your project and iritate your neighbours when their phone or electricity no longer works.

2. Made In the Shade

Consider the pattern of the sun and its impacts on shadows in your yard. Also, remember that the direction the sun crosses the sky will change between spring and fall. The angle of the sun will dictate what type of shade you need to create, and where to place your trees and water pond. Many plants require 6 hours of direct sunlight.

3. Regional Considerations

What type of weather and soil conditions can you expect in the area you live in? You may find that the type of soil will dictate the types of plants and trees you can use to create your backyard paradise.

4. Existing Structures

Keep in mind existing structures such as trees, fences and patios. Will your plan mean removing trees? Will the design of your artificial water garden compliment your existing back yard, or will further changes have to be made? These considerations may add to the cost of your project. Keep your neighbours informed of your plans. You may find that they are willing to share in the cost of removing that tree or help in rebuilding the new fence.

5. Hows It Flowin?

Spend time tracking the direction and intensity of water flows that plants need and intensity of that water flow. You may find that some parts of your yard recieve more water than others based on the flow of the water in your yard. You may find that there is a sloping effect in your yard. This will impact your vegetation. Also check for pools of water that gather in certain spots. Raising the level of parts of your yard will ensure that all of your yard recieves the same amount of water.

6. Drawing the line

Remember to respect property codes for your city and wishes of your neighbours. Having an envious neighbour is one thing, violating their rights is another. When in doubt, check it out.

7. Whats the Plan?

Keep the focus of your site in mind throughout all aspects of your yard. Are you building a barrier, an escape from the rest of the city or just looking to make your yard look better for the next owners? This should weight in on all of your decisions.

Before you build your back yard retreat, plan, plan, plan. Remember, there are several factors to consider and the above lucky 7 tips should help you make the perfect water garden yours.

Anyone who has seen the magic of an artificial water garden is immediately taken by its beauty and peacefulness. We feature several tips and ideas to transform your yard.

Want to be the envy of all the neighbours in the avenue then a water feature has to be placed into the garden. What ever fancy garden ornamentation that is to be – is entirely up to your own choosing. Because of the many designs and fixtures you may come up against problems in trying to decide what water garden feature to have.

The pond is a water feature found in most gardens today in all shapes and sizes and enhanced to the full with added extras to set the scene. Water lilies – bull rushes and reeds are just a few to mention. But it is the under water life that makes the pond more attractive (fish)
Remember when adding a water feature to the garden – take extra precautions in the safety measures where children are concerned.

Water garden features like the pond and the fish also need care and attention. Ponds have to be cleaned regular and fish need to be fed. Questions that crop up from many water garden owners is how to feed the fish – what type of feed should be used – how much and how often. Well the answer to that is there is no real fixed amount of fish food to give.

Of course there are some important issues on what to feed the fish. You have to take into account the fish`s size its appetite and their delicate digestive system which can differ due to water temperature changes.

Beginning from early spring to late autumn you will find the fish very energetic so it will do no harm to feed them every day. If the fish are prepared to take more then so be it. Remember you are not force feeding them so if the fish don`t want to bite then they wont. However, towards the colder months lessen the frequency of feed intake. Sometimes due to the fishs stillness at winter time then no feed is necessary

Try not to instigate problems for your fish`s well being by denying them the right food.

While the fish are in the mood to dine it is best to serve up a dish that will help them to stay active and healthy. Nourishing fish food is highly recommended. Bread/biscuit meal and ants eggs are less nutritional and can cause problems to the digestive system. Floating pellets filled with high-protein are very nutritious. By feeding the fish this way you get to see more of them as they surface for feeding.

Once the garden is the way you have always dreamed of full of foliage -shrubs and sweet scented flowers and of course your water garden feature – then remember that all the surrounding plant growth will attract insects so feeding the fish at this time is not necessary. Natural food supply should start to continue again with pellets in the autumn, this will help perk the fish up in their preparation to face the winter. Repeat pellet feeding in spring it will help the fish recover more rapidly ready for breeding.

Water features and creatures go hand in hand in adding beauty to the garden. Expect toads – newts and frogs to hang out in the pond area. Your water garden has not only given you a garden ornament that the neighbours would die for – it is the thought of giving a home to natures aquatic water life.

Behind the scenes on gardening can be found at http://www.watergardens.webinputbiz.com Bird lovers find out more about our feathered friends http://www.birdbook.webinputbiz.com

The sounds of the water from your garden feature and the effect it can have on you is an experience not to be missed. Pump up the volume with the sound of splashing water. For instance listen to the sound of running bath water and to the constant dripping of a tap – which can be annoying to say the least. However, if we change the word dripping to trickling and replace the word running with flowing then that is another kettle of fish (excuse the pun if you have a pond.

If a water garden feature is to prove its worth to the eye and ears then choose your garden ornamentation with these two factors in mind – pretty to look at and nice to listen to

Fountains and waterfalls are most favourable among gardeners. Before engaging in the structure of water garden features as such then you need to remember – these type of features actually oxygenate and freshen the water with the constant ongoing movements. If you have fish in the pool of your fountain/waterfall then they will love the lively waters – but water plants like lilies and lotus may suffer because of this. Plants as such prefer stillness and may well be hampered in flourishing in action packed waters.

Careful thought and planning behind your water garden feature will make your venture a whole lot easier. If you want a bit of both worlds (fish and plants) then you can. Your water garden feature can still be home to aquatic life but instead of floating water plants on top of the water why not landscape surrounding areas with pretty shrubs – this can be very affective as well as cost effective because what ever plants you you use will not have to be of a specific plant type .

Another suggestion is to erect a mini replica of your feature to the side of the larger garden fixture with no pump action and have floating plants there. Water movements are very important to give off an effect which is relaxing to listen too and attractive to look at. Circulating swirls are fabulous water moves.

Water garden features and accessory tips can be found from the best friend you could ever have at your side when taking on the task to build or erect a water fountain – and that is a manual. It is a wise decision to have yourself a DIY book with you at all times when undertaking jobs as such. Water garden suppliers will have all the information you need. Garden centres offer complete do it yourself kits.

Gardening books will tell you all you kneed to know like that there are two basic pump types – the submersible pump and surface pump. The surface pump is usually enclosed in a container alongside the pool where a polythene tube is used feed the fountain or water fall. To undertake this installation is far less complicated than you could imagine.

If you choose the alternative method – then the water garden submersible pump is a lot simpler. Plumbing is reduced to a minimum. Submersible pumps are not visible to the eye. This type of pump can not be seen due to its location submerged under water so therefore no sound.

In other words out of sight out of mind – I don`t think so – not with the injection of beauty it creates.

To create the perfect water feature that will attract attention from neighbours and aquatic life is to make it unique. Fabulous ideas and tips http://watergardens.webinputbiz.com. Information on garden birds http://www.birdbook.webinputbiz.com.