Many new trends are surfacing in landscape gardening, and water features are often a topic of conversation. Water features may include waterfalls, ponds, streams and fountains, all of which can be combined with lighting, plants, and fish. You don’t necessarily need a pond or natural water source, as the water feature could simply be created in a plastic tub, a plastic-lined shallow rock garden in the back yard, or almost anything that will hold water.
When planning for a garden water feature, the next step is to choose the appropriate size you want. This will depend on several factors including how much time you’d like to spend on it, and your budget. 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 the amount of time you’ll spend maintaining your water garden.
An important consideration in planning a water garden is choosing a location. Plants and fish both need plenty of sunlight, therefore the best areas are in direct light away from trees and bushes. This will also help prevent leaves and debris from collecting in the water.
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 because they help keep debris at a minimum and also help in controlling larva and other insects.
One of the big challenges with water feature ponds, especially where fish and plants are used, 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.
If you need help with any process of your landscaping, please feel free to call us or drop us a line from our contact page. We’ll be delighted to talk to you.
