Creating a pond in your yard might be something you have wanted to do for a long time but were afraid you might not have the time or expertise to care for a water feature.
But maintaining an addition like this in your yard is quite easy. There are really just three regular chores you have to do in order to keep your pond at peak health. However, before we get to the care, we have to first create the pond.
The first and perhaps most important aspect of adding a water feature is to figure out the best location. A few things to consider: first, you want the pond to get at least five hours of midday sunshine. Anything less than that and the plants will not thrive. It will also be difficult to get the water plants to flower. The area where you place you pond needs to be level. You do not want water running into or out of the pond.
The next choice to think about the form and size of the water feature. Over the past several years, they have become more and more sophisticated. You can now have a pondless waterfall with a stream that recirculates the water over a fall and back again. This type of feature can be shaped for almost any space. Alternatively, you can create a standalone pond or combine the stream, the pond and waterfall for a truly amazing backyard centerpiece.
As your water feature is being installed, it is important to make it look like has always been there, a natural part of the yard. The best way to achieve this is through plants and rocks. A local nursery or pond specialist can help you with these details.
One other thought: If you just want to have the sound of water you can create a small water garden using a simple waterproof barrel, a fish filter and some plants. This might be the perfect way to enter the world of water gardening.
Finally, for those out there who already have ponds and waterfalls up and running, here is a reminder of summertime chores to keep your pond happy and healthy all year:
Keep your pond "topped off." It is amazing how fast the water will evaporate out of your pond. It only takes a few weeks of dry weather before the water level can get dangerously low. Remember to treat the water to remove the chlorine if you have town or city water.
Add more plants. Plants make the pond look natural. Floating plants cover about one-third of my pond with others placed along the edge.
Trim those plants. Some plants will grow too much. Remove excess growth, spent flowers and yellow leaves. This will help keep your mini ecosystem healthy.
If you have fish, watch how much you feed them. Too much food can lead to algae blooms. I never feed my fish. They eat the plants and the bugs. If you want to feed them, feed no more than the fish will consume in two minutes.
Add bacteria. By adding good bacteria, we encourage a healthy pond and discourage algae growth. Read the label carefully and follow the instructions.
Don't clean the filter pads. Most ponds have filters of some sort to circulate air and encourage the good bacteria. Remember to leave the biological filter pads alone. Cleaning removes the good bacteria.
Fertilize lotus and lily plants. Flowering plants can use a bit of food this time of the year. I use tablets and push them into the plant material. Plants on the edges of the pond usually do not need extra food.
Watch where you spray. Be careful about using insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers near your pond. They can do permanent damage if they get into the water.
Dave Epstein is a meteorologist at WCVB-TV and landscape designer. View his weekly garden video online at www.growingwisdom.com. E-mail him at dave@growingwisdom.com.
author: By David Epstein