| The correct landscape design and the right materials | | | | to screen out the sunlight and prevent the growth of |
| are imperative, but what is also crucial is the | | | | algae. [SUBTOPIC=4] Great Gardening Tips helps you |
| placement of each stone and planting to produce the | | | | to find multiple resources available on the web for |
| desired effect. The art of creating beautiful water | | | | water garden pond plan. [SUBTOPIC=5] It has been |
| falls landscapes involves the ability to artistically place | | | | described as "Nature's Song," that relaxing sound of a |
| the natural boulders and plantings in such a way that | | | | mountain stream that leads us to a quiet place of |
| it looks as if Nature had done the work instead of a | | | | balance and serenity. The art of creating beautiful |
| human. Garden Pond designs may vary from small | | | | water falls landscapes involves the ability to artistically |
| bird bath types to large garden ponds. The | | | | place the natural boulders and plantings in such a way |
| information on this page will make it easy for you to | | | | that it looks as if Nature had done the work. The |
| install a pond in your garden. Even the birds will think | | | | correct landscape design and the right materials are |
| they are in paradise. Garden Pond Design Aspects | | | | imperative, but what is also crucial is the placement |
| The sound of running water relaxes the mind It's a | | | | of each stone and planting to produce the desired |
| good idea to have some form of water running into | | | | effect. Garden Pond Design for Tranquility and Peace |
| your pond Running water blends in with the noise of | | | | A good garden pond design wows just about any |
| traffic, it's like music to the ears and it calms the soul. | | | | garden. |
| A garden pond will create a peaceful welcoming | | | | Garden Pond designs may vary from small bird bath |
| atmosphere. Before you begin, decide on what type | | | | types to large garden ponds Water seems to make |
| of garden pond design you want Integrate the pond | | | | a garden look bigger. The reflective qualities in a pond |
| design into your over all garden design. The pond | | | | attract us, and nature. If your garden pond is |
| design must fit in harmoniously with the rest of the | | | | designed correctly, it can add a new dimension to |
| garden design. | | | | your garden. Even the birds will think they are in |
| The size and location of your pond is not just | | | | paradise. Garden Pond Design Aspects The sound of |
| dependent on the design principles. An often | | | | running water relaxes the mind. Its a good idea to |
| overlooked item is the natural flow of water on the | | | | have some form of water running into your pond |
| garden site To look natural, you need to adapt your | | | | Running water blends in with the noise of traffic, its |
| design to this. In a very formal garden design this | | | | like music to the ears and it calms the soul. A garden |
| aspect becomes less important. Remember that you | | | | pond will create a peaceful welcoming atmosphere. |
| must not fight against nature. If you are thinking of | | | | Before you begin, decide on what type of garden |
| having a river or a waterfall into your pond, | | | | pond design you want Integrate the pond design into |
| Remember, this simple rule: Downhill. This also means | | | | your over all garden design The pond design must fit |
| taking the natural slope of your garden into account. | | | | in harmoniously with the rest of the garden design |
| Different types of ponds influence the garden pond | | | | The size and location of your pond is not just |
| design. The size, purpose and durability required often | | | | dependent on the design principles. An often |
| determine the type of construction. There are | | | | overlooked item is the natural flow of water on the |
| different types of ponds: Concrete Ponds made with | | | | garden site To look natural, you need to adapt your |
| an inside plastic liner Pre formed ponds: Include fish in | | | | design to this. |
| your garden pond design. Provide adequate shelter | | | | In a very formal garden design this aspect becomes |
| for the fish against birds. One way of doing this is by | | | | less important. Remember that you must not fight |
| placing some broken pots in the pond. Their curved | | | | against nature. If you are thinking of having a river or |
| surfaces make an excellent hideaway. You must | | | | a waterfall into your pond, remember this simple rule: |
| never be able to see the source of the water | | | | Downhill. This also means taking the natural slope of |
| comes. For example, a large leaf plant could be placed | | | | your garden into account Different types of ponds |
| in the area where the river comes from. The start of | | | | influence the garden pond design. The size, purpose |
| the river may also be hidden in some other way, for | | | | and durability required often determine the type of |
| example a large pot or by another focal point. | | | | construction. There are different types of ponds: |
| Provide this through plants close to the pond, and | | | | Concrete Ponds made with an inside plastic liner Pre |
| water plants that spread across the surface of the | | | | formed ponds. Include fish in your garden pond |
| water. | | | | design. Provide adequate shelter for the fish against |
| Garden Pond Plants: Choose plants for your pond | | | | birds. One way of doing this is by placing some |
| that will fit into your overall garden design. Water | | | | broken pots in the pond. Their curved surfaces make |
| plants are dramatically different to normal plants. | | | | an excellent hideaway. You must never be able to |
| Introduce the water plants by choosing garden plants | | | | see the source of the water comes. For example, a |
| that blend in with your marginal plants. Soil nutrients | | | | large leaf plant could be placed in the area where the |
| constantly leached into pond water could result in | | | | river comes from. The start of the river may also be |
| green water. To overcome this, retain the media | | | | hidden in some other way, for example a large pot |
| (soil) by placing gravel on top of the soil in the pot. | | | | or by another focal point. Provide this through plants |
| Terra cotta pots work well in ponds. The sun can | | | | close to the pond, and water plants that spread |
| also cause the water to go green. Water lilies grow | | | | across the surface of the water. |
| at the base of the pond. The valuable cover of the | | | | Garden Pond Plants Choose plants for your pond that |
| lily leaves shade the algae out in summer. Try and | | | | will fit into your overall garden design. Water plants |
| cover a third to a half of your pond with water lilies. | | | | are dramatically different to normal plants. Introduce |
| You need one lily for every one and a half to three | | | | the water plants by choosing garden plants that |
| square meters of pond surface. Grow marginal plants | | | | blend in with your marginal plants Soil nutrients |
| along the edges of your pond. Fill a third of the | | | | constantly leached into pond water could result in |
| circumference of your pond with marginal plants. | | | | green water. To overcome this, retain the media |
| Marginal plants include: Iris laevigate, lobelia fulgens, | | | | (soil) by placing gravel on top of the soil in the pot. |
| Mentha aquatica, Pontederia Cordata. Oxygenating | | | | Terra cotta pots work well in ponds. The sun can |
| plants (submerged plants), provide underwater | | | | also cause the water to go green. Water lilies grow |
| foliage. These plants use up the waste nutrients in | | | | at the base of the pond. The valuable cover of the |
| the pond, and starves the algae of nutrients. Use five | | | | lily leaves shade the algae out in summer. Try and |
| bunches of oxygenating plants for every square | | | | cover a third to a half of your pond with water lilies. |
| meter. | | | | You need one lily for every one and a half to three |
| You can get these plants from pet shops that sell | | | | square metres of pond surface. Grow marginal plants |
| fish and aquarium supplies. Oxygenating plants include: | | | | along the edges of your pond. Fill a third of the |
| Elodea densa, and Ranunculus peltatus. Floating plants | | | | circumference of your pond with marginal plants |
| can be attached to two empty plastic cool drink | | | | Marginal plants include: Iris laevigate, lobelia fulgens, |
| bottles. You can also get floating pots from your local | | | | Mentha aquatica, Pontederia Cordata. Oxygenating |
| nursery. Introduce one for every one to one and a | | | | plants (submerged plants), provide underwater |
| half square meters of surface area A good floating | | | | foliage. |
| plant is Azolla spp/Lemna. Plant bog plants | | | | These plants use up the waste nutrients in the pond, |
| (moisture-loving plants) in damp soil near the edge of | | | | and starves the algae of nutrients. Use five bunches |
| the pond or a constructed bog garden. Most bog | | | | of oxygenating plants for every square metre You |
| plants prefer to have only their roots in the water. | | | | can get these plants from pet shops that sell fish and |
| Consider a bog garden as part of your garden pond | | | | aquarium supplies Oxygenating plants include: Elodea |
| design. Treating the Dreaded Algae Problem Algae | | | | densa, and Ranunculus peltatus. Floating plants can be |
| are single celled plants. Spores are present in the air | | | | attached to two empty plastic cool drink bottles You |
| and will colonize any new body of water. They are | | | | can also get floating pots from your local nursery. |
| rarely harmful to water-life, but are unsightly. In | | | | Introduce one for every one to one and a half |
| severe cases they may cause problems with the | | | | square metres of surface area A good floating plant |
| health of the fish. There are a variety of different | | | | is Azolla spp/Lemna. Plant bog plants (moisture-loving |
| algae that will colonize a pond, from thin long strands | | | | plants) in damp soil near the edge of the pond or a |
| to floating clumps. | | | | constructed bog garden. Most bog plants prefer to |
| Algae control can be done by obtaining a natural | | | | have only their roots in the water, Consider a bog |
| balance using a pond filter, an ultraviolet light purifier | | | | garden as part of your garden pond design. See our |
| and as a last resort an algaecide. The natural balance | | | | page on how to build a pond for an easy way to |
| consists of starving the algae of light and nutrients. | | | | build and integrate a bog garden into your garden |
| Best form of algae control is a correctly balanced | | | | pond design. Treating the Dreaded Algae Problem |
| pond with enough plant material to screen out the | | | | Algae are single celled plants. Spores are present in |
| sunlight and prevent the growth of algae. A mesh | | | | the air and will colonize any new body of water They |
| bag filled with barley straw can assist in algae control. | | | | are rarely harmful to water-life, but are unsightly. In |
| The silicates in the straw bind nutrients, such as | | | | severe cases they may cause problems with the |
| phosphates. The straw seems to promote as | | | | health of the fish. |
| organism that feeds off the algae. Straw needs to | | | | There are a variety of different algae that will |
| be replaced on a regular basis as it will start to | | | | colonize a pond, from thin long strands to floating |
| decompose and pollute the water. I suggest you | | | | clumps. Algae control can be done by obtaining a |
| replace the straw every six months. You can buy | | | | natural balance using a pond filter, an ultraviolet light |
| barley wheat from your local health shop. Enjoy your | | | | purifier and as a last resort an algaecide. The natural |
| Pond Doing a garden pond design for your garden is | | | | balance consists of starving the algae of light and |
| really worth the effort. I have sat on my patio on | | | | nutrients. Best form of algae control is a correctly |
| many occasions and just marveled at the dragonflies, | | | | balanced pond with enough plant material to screen |
| butterflies and birds visiting and enjoying the water. It | | | | out the sunlight and prevent the growth of algae A |
| is so therapeutic and a special meditation retreat for | | | | mesh bag filled with barley straw can assist in algae |
| me. It's easy to give your garden statuary value. | | | | control. The silicates in the straw bind nutrients, such |
| Integrate the pond design into your over all garden | | | | as phosphates. The straw seems to promote as |
| design. Terra cotta pots work well in ponds. Try and | | | | organism that feeds off the algae. Straw needs to |
| cover a third to a half of your pond with water lilies. | | | | be replaced on a regular basis as it will start to |
| Grow marginal plants along the edges of your pond. | | | | decompose and pollute the water. I suggest you |
| These plants use up the waste nutrients in the pond, | | | | replace the straw every six months. You can buy |
| and starves the algae of nutrients. Consider a bog | | | | barley wheat from your local health shop. Enjoy your |
| garden as part of your garden pond design. There | | | | Pond Doing a garden pond design for your garden is |
| are a variety of different algae that will colonize a | | | | really worth the effort. I have sat on my patio on |
| pond, from thin long strands to floating clumps. Algae | | | | many occasions and just marveled at the dragonflies, |
| control can be done by obtaining a natural balance | | | | butterflies and birds visiting and enjoying the water. It |
| using a pond filter, an ultraviolet light purifier and as a | | | | is so therapeutic and a special meditation retreat for |
| last resort an algaecide. Best form of algae control is | | | | me. |
| a correctly balanced pond with enough plant material | | | | |