Pond Heater – Winter Protection For Your Pond
A pond heater is used to ensure that fish and plant life remain healthy even during the winter months. A pond heater can be used to de-ice the pond, or to heat the pond all year around. If you only want to remove the winter ice, then you need a de-icer rather than a pond heater.
If you plan to keep your koi fish in the pond all year round, and you live in a cold climate, then you’ll need a pond heater. It’s best to aim for a temperature of around 40 degrees Fahrenheit for your pond. This will keep your Koi happy and help deter bacteria from growing.
There are 2 types of pond heaters:
1) Submerged Pond Heater
2) Floating Pond Heater
In addition to this you’ll need to choose whether you want your pond heater to run on electricity, gas or oil. You might also want to consider a solar pond heater. They don’t require wiring, are easy to set up, and are very energy efficient.
A submerged pond heater sits below the surface of the pond. It will heat a larger area than the floating pond heater. A submerged heater will also use more energy than a floating heater.
A floating pond heater sits on top of the ice of the pond. It works by melting a hole in the ice and allowing the pond gases to escape. It is more energy efficient than a submerged pond heater.
No matter what pond heater you choose, you should seriously consider a backup heating source. There is nothing worse than hitting winter only to find that your pond heater isn’t working.
Even if you don’t have a backup heating source, you should still consider other winter safety measures. It’s best to change the pond water. Koi fish need to have their diets altered in winter. You can get a mesh pond cover to protect the pond from debris. Also make sure you remove your pond pump when you install the heater. Pond heaters and pond pumps don’t mix!
If you use a pond heater and continue to monitor your pond temperature throughout winter, your koi fish and plant life will thrive into summer.
Pond Plants For Cold Climates
I know there are a lot of people out there who believe they just won’t be able to have any pond plants due to their cold climate. I want you all to be aware that this just isn’t necessarily so. Over the years many gardening solutions have become available and I will explore those here.
Firstly you need to establish just how much sun your water garden is going to be getting every day. Most water garden plants will need a minimum of 5 hrs sun a day. But that is only half of the picture. Sun during the day is certainly important. But it is the temperature of the winter nights that really determine the health of your water garden. If you have bad frosts in the winter you’ll need to think about how far you are prepared to go to maintain your water garden plants.
Don’t fret there are solutions for the winter water gardener! Firstly did you know that you can get water lilies in a “hardy” version? They may not be as pretty as their tropical cousins, but they can tolerate substantially colder winters. The hardy water lily will survive a winter in which your pond doesn’t freeze completely.
If you have a small greenhouse (which comes in VERY handy for many different uses which I will elaborate on over the coming months) you can nurse your tropical water lilies through the winter – providing you are prepared to put some time in of course.
Another alternative is that you can invest some money in “grow lights” to help them through. These lights will provide heat and warmth through the winter months to support and nourish your pond plants. You might even want to consider a pond heater to keep the water at an even temperature – another useful gardening tool for those in colder climates.
These and more solutions are out there waiting for you! Don’t let your environment put you off. Water gardens are for EVERYONE.
Pond Vacuum – Get Your Pond Healthy And Sparkling Clean
If you are struggling with leaves, muck and debris building up on the bottom of your pond, then you need a pond vacuum. Pond vacuums work like a pool vacuum: they can remove the both floating and sunken debris from your water garden pond. They come with a motor, a tube and a wand/nozzle.
Once you have used a pond vacuum, you will wonder how you survived without one. It is important to keep your pond clean of all the fallen leaves and debris that make their way into the pond. Otherwise this natural manure will start releasing phosphates that will poison your water garden plants. This in turn will allow algae to start growing, greatly affecting the ecosystem inside the pond.
Most people start out with a skimmer and a filter to keep their water garden clean. This is fine if you are really vigilant and if you have a relatively small pond. A skimmer will help to remove floating materials but it will not remove sunken debris. Once the matter sinks to the bottom of the pond, you really have your work cut out for you. You have 2 choices, drain the pond and clean it out, or get a pond vacuum.
The pond vacuum will clean the lowest part of the pond, including accumulated dead foliage mass and mud.
When you use your pond vacuum, it is best to move the wand slowly. This will ensure that the debris is removed before being broken up further into the pond water. Care should also be taken so that any fish are not trapped.
Some high-end pond vacuums are even capable of removing string algae. This is often hard to remove because it sits between stones and as the name suggests is the width of string. Most pond vacuums come with different fitting nozzles that help clean the entire pond. You can get nozzles for the surface, nozzles for algae, and nozzles for between stones and plants.
No matter what pond vacuum you choose, if you use it in conjunction with your pond skimmer and filter, your pond will remain a healthy and clean ecosystem. Just remember to follow your pond vacuum’s cleaning instructions, because your vacuum needs cleaning just like your pond does.
Solar Water Fountain – Go Green In Your Garden
If you are looking to install a water fountain in your garden why not choose a solar water fountain? Most gardeners agree that the look and sound of a water fountain is hard to beat – they can give a sense of peace and serenity to any backyard. Not so long ago, the only options you had when installing a fountain was to plug it into the mains electricity. This was often a turnoff for some gardeners because it usually means employing a qualified electrician to ensure the safe combination of water and electricity. Continue Reading >>
Solar Pond Pump – Easy And Efficient
One of the great things about solar energy is that it is becoming cheaper and easier to install around the house and garden. This is especially true with pond pumps. Because smaller pond pumps don’t generally use a lot of energy, the solar pond pump can really be just as effective as the electrical version. Continue Reading >>
Aquatic Plants
Water lilies are one of the most popular aquatic plants, although there are plenty of other species of aquatic plants that you may not have heard of. There are 2 types of water lilies, hardy and tropical. As an aquatic plant goes, water lilies are very beneficial to your pond. They help to provide protection and cover for fish, whilst keeping your pond clean by reducing algae. Continue Reading >>
Outdoor Fountain – Why Everyone Can Have One
These days there is an outdoor fountain available to everyone, no matter how small your garden space is. Even if you only have a balcony you can still have an outdoor fountain. Continue Reading >>
Pond Lights – Double Your Enjoyment
Pond lights can really set the mood to your water garden. They make the pond accessible during the day and the evening. Once you install pond lights you’ll find a whole new atmosphere by which to enjoy your water garden. There’s something quite lovely about spending warm summer nights admiring your beautifully illuminated water garden. Continue Reading >>
Pond Aeration – Critical For Healthy Fish
Pond aeration can be critical for keeping your koi fish healthy. Your water garden pond gets its required oxygen from two different sources: diffusion and photosynthesis. The most significant source is photosynthesis, the process from which plants prepare food. Plants add oxygen into water as a result of photosynthesis, in the presence of sunlight. Continue Reading >>
Backyard Ponds Are The Foundation Of Your Water Garden
Having a backyard pond will definitely be an stunning sight for your garden. In order for the pond to be healthy, it is important for man made ponds to try and reflect the ecosystem of natural ponds. Maintaining the nitrogen cycle ecosystem is essential in keeping algae and toxins at bay. Continue Reading >>
Container Water Garden – The Answer To Small Space Gardening
If you don’t think you have enough space for a full water garden, you might want to consider a container water garden. Container gardening is just as possible with aquatic plants as it is with garden plants. By using a container to house your water garden you can create and enjoy an eye catching low maintenance garden. Continue Reading >>
Pond Filters For Your Water Garden
Depending on the size and use of your pond you may need to purchase a pond filter. Pond filters allow the growth of natural bacteria that cleans the water of toxins. Plants are natural pond filters but most ponds will need a man-made filter as well. Continue Reading >>
Pond Pumps – Healthy Ponds Need Pond Pumps
Pond pumps come in a different array of models and sizes. A pump is essential to circulate the water around your pond and for creating a waterfall, stream or a fountain. Stagnant water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so keeping the water moving is essential. Continue Reading >>
Koi Ponds – Careful Construction Needed
Precious fish, such as koi fish, need ponds that are constructed with the utmost care. Depending upon the amount and size of the koi fish, you can construct as wide a koi pond as you like it to be, but the height of the pond side walls suggested by experts is at least four feet. This is because koi fish grow to be quite large, sometimes even up to 22 inches. The heightened walls will prevent the koi fish from jumping out accidentally. If you can get a ready made pond of fiberglass material with wall height of at least four feet, you can go ahead and start your pond. Continue Reading >>
Backyard Waterfalls – The Watergarden Centerpiece
Backyard waterfalls can be a magnificent garden focal point. The sound of the flowing water can really add an extra ambience of calm and tranquility. These days it’s not nearly as difficult to add backyard waterfalls as you might think. Some careful planning and thought will make all the difference. Continue Reading >>
Solar Fountains
Solar fountains can add an elegance and beauty to your water garden. They work on natural energy and this helps contribute to a clean environment. The running cost of a solar fountain is less because it works from the energy of the sun. Continue Reading >>
Pond Liners – Know Your Options
Choosing quality pond liners is important for keeping your aquatic life healthy. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t need a pond liner. The reason you need a liner is to stop the water seeping into the soil (and rotting surrounding roots) and to keep the water free of silt.
When planning your water garden, you’ll want to choose pond liners that allow you to create exactly the pond you desire. With such a wide variety of materials to choose from, you’re sure to find the right match for your needs. The 3 main types of pond liners are: preformed liner, flexible liner and concrete liner.
Concrete pond liners usually require professional installation in order to prevent cracking. Concrete liners can cost up to 25% more than a flexible or preformed liner, but they last for decades and are not as prone to cracks or leaking.
Flexible pond liners are usually a lightweight plastic or rubber material that can be cut into any desired shape. This type of pond liner is popular because they are cheap to transport and can be made to fit any sized pond. You will need to make sure that you have cleared the hole of any rocks, sticks and stones before laying your flexible pond liner. You should also make sure that any side ledges of your pond are dug deep enough to prevent rats and other wildlife from getting access to your fish.
Preformed pond liners often require more installation time because a hole must be excavated to match the exact shape of the preformed liner. These pond liners are made from strong plastic such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene) or fiberglass and are easy to install once the correct shaped hole is dug. Although you can find liners that are as large as 12′ across, the majority are smaller – around 3′ to 6′ across and 18″ deep. Most pond suppliers recommend preformed liners for smaller sized ponds.
Pond Fountains
A pond fountain can add a fantastic atmosphere to your water garden, making it an even more serene place to relax. The great thing about pond fountains is that they can really make a somewhat flat, 2 dimensional, water garden into a 3 dimensional landscape. Continue Reading >>
Water Garden Supplies – Plan Before You Buy
Water garden supplies should be carefully considered in any garden water features. Water garden supplies are usually found in the backyard garden, but that can also be found amid commercial buildings like colleges and corporate offices. Fountains, pumps, tubes, and pond lights are just some examples of water garden supplies. Continue Reading >>
Outdoor Water Fountain
Outdoor water fountains are not only pleasant to look at, but can also help to reduce stress and bring added calmness to your world. A water garden is a beautiful place on its own, but many keen gardeners believe an outdoor fountain just adds that little bit extra. Continue Reading >>
Water Garden Plants
The first question most people ask once they begin to think about a water garden is “what kind of plants can I have?” After all it’s not a complete water garden without the plants. Ideally you will want to cover around 60% of your pond with plants. This will ensure that algae growth is inhibited, fish are given adequate shade, and plants are receiving enough sunlight to grow. Continue Reading >>
Preformed Pond – A Fast And Affordable Pond Solution
A preformed pond can really simplify your pond construction. Not only is it easy to install, a preformed pond is also very affordable in price. There are a couple of tips and tricks to buying and installing a preformed pond. Firstly if this is the first time you’ve installed a pond, you might want to go for a smaller size. That way you’ll ensure that you can easily dig the pond hole and have time to landscape the surrounding pond area. Continue Reading >>
Garden Waterfall
A garden waterfall is a valuable and beautiful asset to your garden. Before the construction of any garden waterfall, we need to consider two structures: the waterfall itself and the pool into which the water falls. Building a garden waterfall will require some rocks, which may be available from your own property and can also be sourced from nurseries and landscape suppliers. These days you can even buy waterfall kits. Once the above two structures are ready, we can use pumps to keep the water circulating from the pond to the top of the garden waterfall from where it can again fall back to the pond. Continue Reading >>
Pond Kits Make Water Gardening Easy
Are you interested in water gardening but are not sure how to go about building a pond? Pond kits can be a great place for beginners to start their water gardening hobby. A pond kit allows easy construction of a pond with minimal expense. These kits are “user friendly” saving time and money right from selection to purchase. Continue Reading >>
Water Garden Plants – Practical and Beautiful
Water garden plants are really the backbone of your water garden. They are not only beautifully tranquil to look at, they also create a healthy environment for the pond. Your selection of water garden plants can play a vital role in how effective the ecosystem will be. Continue Reading >>