Build The Perfect Stress-Free Garden Pond

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Garden ponds are surprisingly very hard work to maintain! Equipment may need to be replaced, weeds and algae need to be controlled, regular checks for chemicals and toxins, maintaining the waters pH levels, while most importantly – it is essential to create a happy and safe environment for the fish!

Many people do not have quite enough to time spare to fully dedicate to pond maintenance. Have I already put you off? Well, discussed below are a few points that I have picked up over the years to easily cut out any unnecessary pond maintenance;

1. Avoid trees, as you will be constantly “fishing” leaves out of your pond.
2. Low areas of your garden (at the bottom of slopes) should also be avoided due to rain water carrying with it dry leaves, fertilizers and other toxins will find its way into the pond.
3. Fish can freeze in shallow water, so make it deep – at least 3 or 4 feet depth for an average pond, while koi need over 6 feet.
4. Ask your fish supplier for fish that are simple to look after. Also it is important to not overstock your pond with fish, as it might create a “battle for survival” environment. Koi fish do require greater care and should not be bought by amateurs.
5. Native plants will easily adapt to the environmental factors and hence will require less maintenance.
6. Plan on having adequate biological and UV filters in your pond along with mechanical ones, as this will keep the water clean and free of debris. Also install a blanket weed control system to stop blanket weed.
7. Finally, the key to as successful pond is a balanced ego system, so your pond is complete with a variety of pond plants, fish, rocks etc.

Follow these basic guidelines for building a low maintenance pond in your garden, which should provide you will a fantastic feature in your garden – but thankfully won’t turn you into a full-time wet groundskeeper with a horribly bad back!

• 3 Sep, 2010
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