Tips And Ideas For Home Water Garden

Tips for a Healthy Home Water Garden

Water Fountains and ponds make a fabulous addition to home gardens. They add a touch of tranquility and beauty to any outdoor setting. A water garden at home not only adds to the landscaping, but often draws wildlife such as birds, deer and elk. A home water garden provides a natural habitat for growing aquatic plants and fish such as goldfish or Koi. Just like anything in nature, a pond or home water garden must strike an even balance. To ensure good health for aquatic plants and fish, it must be kept clean and the water should have plenty of oxygen. Whether you build a pond yourself or have a contractor build one, there is still a little maintenance required to keep it looking good and healthy. Learning a few tips about a home water garden will get you off to a good start.

 

Step 1

Prevent debris of sticks and leaves from collecting in ponds, especially during the fall when trees naturally defoliate. Leaves that drop into a pond eventually begin to decay and pollute the water. If you are having a new pond constructed,choose an area that is not too close to trees that drop leaves. If the pond is already constructed and leaves are a problem, you can purchase mesh netting to place on the water's surface to catch the leaves and remove them. The other alternative is to use a long-handled net and scoop the leaves from the home water garden.

 

Step 2

Algae needs to be controlled in a home water garden. It can spread throughout a pond remarkably fast and blocks the sun from aquatic plants that need sun to live. Algae is also slimy and unattractive, which takes away from the beauty of a pond. Algae growth is the natural result of warm water and sun. Keeping aquatic plants that float helps to diminish algae growth and keep ponds cleaner. Planting duck weed, water hyacinth and water lilies make ponds more attractive and interesting in addition to slowing algae growth.

 

Step 3

Another method for keeping ponds cleaner is to keep fish and snails. Fish are not only attractive, but they also feed on bugs and algae. Keep in mind that regardless of the size of the home water garden, Koi continue to grow and may outgrow small ponds. They also tend to eat aquatic plants, which may have to be replaced as a result. Snails will also sweep the rocks, logs and plants clean of algae and they clean up fish waste as well.

 

Step 4

Water testing and maintaining the water circulating and filtration systems help to keep pond fish and plants healthy. Test the water periodically for proper oxygen levels and chemical pollutants. If a pond should become polluted with chemicals, if may be necessary to remove a large portion of water and refill with fresh, clean water. When fish are gulping air at the water's surface, you may need more oxygen in the pond.

 

Tips

It is also important to check valves and hoses on filtration systems for blockages and leaks that can harm a home water garden. If fish are not getting enough oxygen, it may be necessary to add an additional water pump or waterfall to your home water garden to add additional oxygen.

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