Category — Water Gardening

Water gardens are a wonderful way to unwind at the end of the day. The soothing sounds of a waterfall seem to help block out a lot of noise and clutter that has been bombarding you all day. Once you are sitting by your pond or water feature and the water flowing and gently lapses you into a state of relaxation.

A Water Garden Soothes And Relaxes Your Body And Mind

The water garden above was completed last weekend. It has been in full operation for 10 days and is a goldfish pond. It is actually a real live ecosystem. Officially I can say it is a pond because yesterday a tenet moved in that was not stocked the pond now has it’s first frog.

Water gardens are a very diverse type of garden not only do you have your traditional landscape plants but you also incorporate aquatic plants and even marginal bog plants as well as fish and other aquatic life. It is a living breathing community of it’s own. While a water garden may look like a great deal of work it really is not. The whole secret of water gardens is to set the garden up to be a balance ecosystem and then the day to day maintenance is pretty much just to make sure the skimmer basket is emptied and that beneficial bacteria is added every two weeks. Check the water level every couple of days and do a good thorough cleaning each spring that is about it.

I can not think of a nicer way to spend a balmy summer afternoon then sitting on your patio or deck a cool drink in your hand watching the water flow gently into the pond. As the fish jump and play and a dragonfly gently dips in and out of the water your mind slowly unwinds and you drift off to your own thoughts and peaceful tranquility quickly envelopes you.

Yesterday some one asked if I would be going to the Woodland Garden for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. I told them no and they commented that it seems like you do not go out there very much anymore. I just said that I have been too busy, as I was busy at the time of the conversation.

As I think back about that conversation it bothers me a bit. I have gotten a lot busier and it is due in part to the landscape services and in part to the added work at the Urban Garden. This Spring the landscape services has really taken off and while the challenges and extra cash are nice I realize that I am missing out a lot more on things I enjoy. I am a victim of my own success.

One of the things that most amazes me is how the Water Gardening area of the business has taken off. I have been doing a lot of pond related work this year. To that ens I believe that I will be concentrating my business activities in the pond maintenance and construction end and not take on any more landscape renovation projects. I enjoy the water gardening aspects the most anyways.

One of the most important things about gardening is the ability to go out and relax and enjoy the time in the garden and forget about the clock and deadlines etc.. and at this point I am always thinking about what the next thing to be done is. I really have not taken any time to spend and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Those that know me would say that I have my own schedule and that I run on Glenn Time which is not always in sync with the hands on a clock. I have found though lately that I am always checking the time and it is not necessarily something that make for me having a good mood. I know that it is not adding a peace and tranquility factor to my life and my personal relation ships are suffering as I can not devote the time to them that they need and therefore I feel like I am cheating them out of much deserved attention and devotion.

So I am going to step back and try to get back to the gardens I love so much and to try and only deal with water gardening issues for a while to see if that will help me get back to those things I love most my urban garden and woodland garden and work hard on my special garden to help that to grow and prosper.

This is the time to clean your ponds and get them ready for summer. I highly recommend that you get this task out of the way early. We always clean our clients ponds between April 1st and May 30th while the water temperature is still cool. This allows us not to disturb the beneficial bacteria , and is less stressful for the fish as well as the emerging pond plants.

The first step is to remove the fish from the ponds and place them in clean 5 gallon buckets that are filled with the water from the pond. Once the fish are removed place the buckets in a shady area. Remember not to place too many fish in each bucket so that they are not overcrowded or stressed .

Once all your fish are safe start by placing your sump pump in the lowest part of the pond and draining the water out into the yard. A good solids handling pump is best. As the water starts to go down start washing the sides down with a garden hose with a high pressure nozzle commonly called a sweeper nozzle. Never Use A Pressure Washer You Can Kill Off The Beneficial Bacteria!. Be sure and take your time and wash off all the sediment from the rocks and behind them until the water is running clear. Depending on the size of your pond this could take a couple of hours.

After you have washed down everything let the water drain out then start hitting the gravel on the bottom with the water stream stirring the gravel up with the water from the hose. Keep this up until you have gotten rid of all the dirty water and the water is clear. Next re-arrange any rocks that have been moved or shifted and check to make sure all your pond plants are alive and do not need to be re-potted. Finally check to be sure that all your under water lights are working and replace bulbs as needed.

Once this is done remove you pump and filter from the skimmer and pump out the skimmer and wash it down. Check your filter and pump clean or replace before you put it back together. Once this is done do the same for the water fall. Checking to be sure the filter or bio-materials are all good. If you have an auto fill valve check that as well to make sure it is working properly.

Now refill the pond once you have enough water in the pond start the skimmer pump and add dechlorinater to the water and let it circulate for a few minutes. Add and algae control and the you may place your fish back in. Before adding the fish place them and the water from the buckets in large plastic bags and let them float in the water for about 15 minutes till the temperatures of the water matches.

If you follow this program each spring your ponds will be healthy and pretty care free throughout the summer.

There are many new trends surfacing in gardening, and water gardening is one of the main new interests. Water gardening can be in the form of waterfalls, ponds, fountains, all of which can be enhanced by rock work combinations and lighting, plants, and fish. Water gardening does not have to be a pond or natural water source either. A water feature can consist of just a plastic tub, large ceramic pot, half a whiskey barrel basically anything that can hold water.

The most important thing to consider in water gardening is probably the spot you chose to place it. Since plants and fish both need plenty of sunlight, placing it in direct light away from trees and bushes is the best place. This will also help prevent leaves and debris from collecting in the water.

When planning for a water garden first decision is the size you want. This will depend on how much money you are willing to spend because water gardening can get expensive if you opt for a large garden full of plants, rocks, fish, and lights. Also consider the size of your property. You should also consider the amount of time you want to spend with maintaining your water garden.

When you choose what type of aquatic plants you wish to have, remember that the plants should only cover about half of the water. Plants can be free floating, submerged, or marginal. Which you choose is all a matter of personal preference. Some plants are good for their scent, some provide more oxygen than others and will keep the water healthy, and some are just beautiful. Fish are not only nice to look at but they are also very beneficial. Fish help keep debris at a minimum and help in controlling larva and other insects.

One of the main difficulties in water gardening is keeping water clear of algae. Algae problems are usually caused from too many nutrients in the water from feeding fish too often or from over fertilizing plants. If ponds are constructed correctly and are maintained properly algae problems and control will be kept at a minimum.

All garden pools regardless of size will need maintenance throughout the year. With proper planning you can ensure a healthy balance between living and decorative features of a water garden that can almost care for itself with simple maintenance inputs from you.

You can get rid of algae by reducing the nutrients that cause the algae by cutting back on feeding and fertilizing, planting more plants, installing a filter system, or replacing existing water with fresh water. There are chemicals that can be used, that will kill the algae yet not harm plant life and fish.

Water gardening doesn’t take anymore time than regular gardening, but obviously isn’t near the same thing. You may be the type person who couldn’t grow a flower if you tried but would be excellent at water gardening. If you are looking for a way to occupy some time or to beautify your yard, water gardening is an excellent way