November 9th, 2009
A long time ago, you needed complex plumbing just to move water to a fountain or waterfall. These days, all you need is a water pump to add streams, sprays, jets, gurgling streams and splashing waterfalls to your outdoor pond.
 Pumps are split into two types; external and internal. Internal pumps are usually strong enough for most home ponds. The more powerful external pumps are designed for large ponds and water features.
Each pump differs in power, electrical consumption, installation and maintenance. Some installations may require the help of a professional, although most pumps for home use can be set up in just minutes.
Continue reading Pond Building – The Water Pump
October 30th, 2009
Water features can greatly change the appearance of a pond. Adding a fountain of flying water to a flat, simple looking pond instantly changes it from dull to dramatic. A pond that mimics nature can be enhanced by the mesmerizing splash and gurgle of a waterfall.
But don’t think that water features are simply for show. The addition of moving water to a pond environment provides aeration, an invaluable part of pond maintenance.
 A water feature can dramatically improve your pond Importance of Aeration
Ammonia and nitrites are toxic elements produced by your pond’s wildlife. If left unchecked, your pond would quickly become uninhabitable for both plants and fish.
Water features such as fountains and waterfalls aerate the water, promoting the growth of the friendly bacteria that break down ammonia and nitrites. Continue reading Pond Building – Water Features
October 24th, 2009
 Pond Edging Should be Stable and Safe In nature, the division between land and water is normally defined by a pebbled beach, an outcropping of rock, or a sheer cliff face. A definite border exists between the two elements, and this should be your model when you start a pond building project. The edging of your pond should not only be beautiful, it should also be made of materials that are stable, solid and strong enough to carry the weight of people who come to admire your pond. Continue reading Pond Building – Edging Your Pond
October 21st, 2009
 Installing a Flexible Liner First thing you do if you want to make your pond liner last long is to make sure that the hole you’ve dug for it is free of sharp rocks and roots that may puncture your liner. This is true for both flexible and pre-formed liners, although the latter is typically more resilient.
Be prepared to purchase specialized underlayment if the pond site cannot be entirely cleared of debris. The next steps for liner installation will be determined by the type of liner you are using.
Pre-formed Liner
If you are using a pre-formed liner, your greatest challenge during your pond building’s installation period is keeping the pond level.
After placing the liner in the hole, you need to slowly fill it up with water, back-filling the hole with soil or sand as you go. Periodic stops should be taken to check if the liner is still in proper shape and level.
Once the liner is filled, you can move on to add the edging to your backyard pond. Continue reading Pond Building – Installing The Liner
October 18th, 2009
Before building a pond, you should put a lot of thought into how big it will be. Size will affect every aspect of your pond building project, from construction time and cost, plant variety, fish choices and maintenance. Build large enough so that you have room to experiment, but not so much that it becomes difficult for you to maintain.
An attractive pond should be scaled to its surroundings. Improperly scaled ponds will look out of place, either disappearing into, or overwhelming your garden. The size of the pond should also suit its purpose. Formal ponds should be smaller, more focused on the details. Informal ponds should be larger, with a natural sprawl of varied wildlife.
 Pond Size Matters?
Sizing for Wildlife
Every plant and fish that you are planning to add to your outdoor pond has its own space needs. They should have enough room to grow and multiply, especially if you want a natural-looking pond.
If your pond is too small, it will end up stunting the growth of your pond wildlife, possibly even killing them. On the other hand, an overly large pond that is sparsely stocked will look bare and unattractive.
If you are on a tight budget, you might be frustrated by the amount of time that it takes for you to get fish, pond supplies and other stock items that you might need.
Continue reading Pond Building – Sizing your Pond
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