Things To Consider When Planning A Backyard Water Garden
Water gardens are attractive and can make wonderful additions to your backyard garden. A water garden has the ability to attract wildlife as well as provide an aesthetic value to your home’s landscape. When creating a water garden there are several things to keep in mind and flush out before construction begins.
One of the first things you’ll want to think about is whether or not you want your water garden to be inhabited by fish. Many people that create water gardens stock them with Koi, a fish that’s much larger than a goldfish, but looks similar to them. If you choose to do this, be sure that your pond is prepared for them. The water must have the proper ph, between 6.5-8.4, in order for the fish to survive. The water must also have been treated for chlorine. If you’re going to leave the fish in the pond year round, be sure the depth is enough so that the water won’t freeze entirely in the winter. Fish will survive on algae and leaves that happen in their pond, but supplement this with fish food daily.
The next step is to decide on the location of the pond. Do not place it too close to mature trees as the leaves will fill the pond in the fall. Warm, sunny areas are best to allow the water to remain clear and free of debris. If you place your pond close to landscape bushes, you run the risk of falling leaves, but you may provide some much appreciated shade for the pond, especially if there are fish in there.
The size of your pond is important as well. Again, if you are keeping fish in it, be sure to make it large enough to accommodate the growth and reproduction of those fish. If you are not keeping fish, realize that certain forms of wildlife will naturally be attracted to your pond such as frogs. Be sure there is enough room for those frogs to live and reproduce. Other wildlife may also find its way to your pond. It should be large enough to accommodate the wildlife, but small enough to still be considered a pond and manageable for you.
There are a variety of beautiful plants available that will do wonderful in your water garden, but you will have to decide which plants you would like in your pond. There are beautiful flowers to choose from, and lovely lily pads that are great if you want some frogs around. While most plants for ponds are leafy, green plants, there are some plants that flower as well, which can add even more beauty to your garden.
A water pond can be an enjoyable addition to your landscape. It will bring you joy over the years as you enjoy your creation. Once it’s been created you’ll find that it takes care of itself for the most part. It will be yours to enjoy and cost you little time and effort in upkeep.
