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This issue of PondStuff was prepared especially for Brett
Fogle,
Happy 4th of July!
It's been awhile since our last newsletter, but we wanted to get
one out for you this holiday weekend. We've got some great new
articles for you this issue, to be sure to save this newsletter
and read every word!
As we mentioned in a previous Pond Q&A, we've brought on a
new editor and article writer name Carolyn Weise, who has
written some excellent articles for this issue...
To read Carolyn's Bio, click here
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Water Pond Plants For Your Pond |
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To bridge the gap between the surrounding garden and the
pond, use bog and water-loving plants.
Water lilies do nicely to shade the pond and expand
the garden area. This also serves to make the pond
"part of" the garden rather than something stuck in as
an afterthought.
In the warm seasons the floating plants can easily
take- over. It is best to have at least 1/3 of the pond
surface uncluttered by plants. If you have koi in your
pond, plants probably won't ever live long enough to
take over.
My experience with the ever-favorite Iris Pseudocorus
is that it doesn't belong in a pond. It does very well
in dirt and won't grow to gargantuan proportions in a
single season, which is generally the case inside the
pond. Outside the pond, the foliage doesn't overwhelm
the small yellow flowers.
Continue Reading... »
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A FROG FOR THE KOI POND? |
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As the season unfolds, so do the natural things in and
around my pond.
It is already a "Nature Preserve" in miniature, so by
July we don't want to venture out into the night for the
size of spiders and their intricate webs. The webs
cover walkways, grasses, water plants - basically
everything - but only at night.
In the morning, these webs either deteriorate by
themselves, or the spiders, I swear, reel them back in.
I cannot dig anywhere in the yard without disturbing at
least three active worms.
These alien worms are much more active than our
native earthworms, but still seem to do the job of
enriching and aerating the soil, as I would hope. I am
convinced that my yard has fewer mosquitos than any
other on my block, but the slugs and earwigs have found
a safe haven here...
More Reading (With Pictures)... »
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POND HEALTH ISSUES |
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We're always hearing questions from people pertaining to
what type of treatment and what particular chemical to
add to their pond when a fish looks sick.
The issue I need to address may not be the sick
fish. It may be the overall health of the pond. If you
have a healthy pond, the fish will be healthy.
If you have clean (not necessarily clear) water, the
fish will thrive. If you are dumping chemicals into the
pond trying to clean it up, what are you accomplishing?
I suggest you are complicating the problem.
First, nothing should be added to the pond unless you
have already done the preliminary diagnosis; this is
best done by observing the symptoms...
More On Pond Health... »
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Ponds and Kids' Safety |
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In the interest of safety there are a few things to
consider when having guests over for this holiday
weekend or during summer BBQ's- children aren't always
supervised properly by their parents!
So, as the responsible homeowner, it's your duty to
safeguard your guests and your pond.
A few things to stock up on are the water "alarm"
system that will alert you to any rise in water level
indicating someone has either jumped into the pond or
fallen accidentally.
Either can injure them or the fish...
Continue Reading... »
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SPAWN!! |
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That dreaded word that strikes fear into the hearts of
mighty koi keepers!
The rather awful thing that happens the day of your
garden party with an aroma that permeates the air for
what seems an eternity and ruins the look of a perfect
koi pond with globs of mounding unsightly froth.
The extra protein gathers below the waterfall where
everyone will be sure to notice.
You shudder as you stare at your formerly (just
yesterday!) gorgeous pond and garden.
Read
On... |
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