Restoring a neglected garden pond may seem a massive task. But, before you consider that the only solution is to drain and completely clean out your pond (unless you know that your pond liner is damaged and requires repair), pause for a moment as what can seem overgrown and dying may be a valuable wildlife sanctuary. Ponds with a thick cover of plants are often richer wildlife habitats than open waters. Having said this you may want to rather take the following more sensitive steps in your ponds restoration. Continue reading
Loving your natural pond – why not also attract wildlife to the garden too?
There is an increase in popularity on subjects to do with the importance of gardening for wildlife with a lot of mention on the topic in various media sources. Attracting wildlife to your garden does have great benefits to the environment. The natural habitats of all forms of wildlife are continuing to disappear – what with changes in farming, increase in the number of buildings being constructed, renovations to old buildings etc.
With the increase in wildlife friendly gardening the trend is to move away from manicured gardens with sterile lawns, Continue reading
Are you having a ‘Heron-of’ a time protecting your fish from predators?
Probably the most serious problem for many ornamental garden pond fish keepers is the loss of fish to the heron. Herons are wading birds and mostly associated with wetlands. They prey on fish, frogs and invertebrates and obtain their food by wading through wetlands and visiting garden ponds. Continue reading
Get funky attracting wildlife around your garden pond
There are so many types and designs of homes for wildlife creatures, which can be purchased through various gardening related websites and garden centres. But, why not get creative and make your own funky design. A great idea is to get a few old decaying logs and stack them on top of each other to make an interesting feature while also making a home for a variety of insects. To make it more specific to the likes of lady birds, bees etc., place a number of hollow dried sticks into the centre of a decaying log. Continue reading
Pond equipment – pumps and filters
The role of the pump is to recirculate water. Movement of water is important for increasing the oxygen content of the pond to keep it healthy. There are many different types of pumps for garden ponds available on the market and choice depends on what the pump is intended for. For example, if your pond design includes a fountain then a fountain pump would be required, which are designed to deliver clean water to fountain attachments. Before going out to purchase a Continue reading
A common pest of fish in garden ponds
The anchor worm is a common pest of fish. Despite its name, this pest is actually a crustacean and is a very destructive creature. The head of the anchor worm embeds into the flesh of fish (the host) causing unsightly lesions and growths. Continue reading
How clear is the water in your pond?
I went for a walk locally and on route noticed a garden pond sited in a lovely setting, but unfortunately it had become neglected. The water had become mirky dark colour. I didn’t get close enough to detect whether it was foul smelling too. Continue reading
Establish an even balance in your water garden
For a water garden to be the most attractive feature of your garden, it is very important that you establish and maintain a balance within the pond. It is true that submerged oxygenating plants have a great influence on the condition of the water, Continue reading
Ponds above the ground make a creative patio feature
Instead of a potted conifer, annual or Buxus why not look out for a decorative container such as a half whiskey barrel, a disused deep enamel basin or a fibreglass tank to create a pond for growing water lilies. The tub must be placed where it will get sunlight. Before planting-up your tub, it is important that you make sure it is thoroughly cleaned to prevent any possible contamination to the water. Continue reading
Installing a prefabricated pond
The advantage of a prefabricated pond, is that they are easy to install, the shape is predetermined and they come with built-in selves for marginal plant growing. They are available in a variety of depths and dimensions. The downside, however is that they don’t look as natural as a pond built and lined with a rubber or PVC pond liner. Continue reading
Caring for your garden pond during the bleak winter months
We don’t need any reminders that we are experiencing a bitterly cold winter, but for this reason we do need to remember that as a pond owner we have tasks to do during the winter months to protect our pond against the freeze. Continue reading
Create a fountain using a decorative plant pot
What could be more soothing than the tranquil sound of water trickling over stones in a mountain stream? Well, why not create this effect in your own garden or patio. Using a decorative container, pebbles and a submersible pump, you can create a water feature where water is the focal point: Continue reading