Article 3 - Garden Ponds
SummaryGarden Ponds
A conventional water garden pond is the first choice for anyone
who wants to grow aquatic plants and encourage wildlife. A water
garden pond is more than just a water feature. It becomes a living
community of plants, fish, insects and frogs. When you add water
to the garden, nature comes to you. That is what water gardening
is all about. As you plan your garden pond, it is important to place
it in an area that gets at least five hours of sunlight a day to
insure good plant growth in the garden pond.
The sound of running water is an added attraction in a water garden
pond. In a small environment, pond a fountain or cascade can cause
water turbulence that is damaging to plants such as water lilies.
A simple trickle of water will be enough to create the magical sound
of running water.
If you have small children, it might be best to confine water to
wall-spouts and self-contained wall fountains or to bubble fountains
where the water runs into a hidden reservoir rather than build a
water garden pond.
It does not matter if you want your water garden ponds to hold
goldfish, Koi, plants or just to be a natural habitat for passing
wildlife. Over the last few years there has been a growing supply
of top class fiberglass water garden ponds and other pond supplies
making installation so very very easy yet creating extremely natural
looking small water garden ponds. Water gardening is a great thing.
Your primary concern in water gardening should be to make the design
of water garden appropriate to the style and design of your home.
A very useful tool and place to start is to map out your existing
landscaping. Position all the structures, with windows to help with
view, decking, and shrubs and trees. Note accessibility of services
to the water garden such as water and electricity. Even general
ideas of slop will affect planning of removal or creations elevations
in order to place waterfalls and streams inside the water garden.
A carpenter's level can help work through these calculations.
