Water Pond Safety

While the fish will provide enough curiosity, remember that same curiosity may tempt them to get too close to the edge to get a closer look, raising the risk of them falling in, hitting their heads on the edge of the pond, or even drown. A child can drown in less than 6inches of water.

Reduce The Slippage Factor

Just like your local pool takes preventative action (such as enforcing a no running rule), you can also take action to ensure pond safety. Consider using a slip resistant material to ensure that smooth edges around your water pond are not a hazzard. You may also want to look at creating railings along walk ways. Ask your local building authority on suggestions on how to lower the risk of someone slipping on the edge of your water garden.

During the planning stages of building your water pond, you should have contacted your municipal building authority to ensure that your plans abide by the local building codes. Do you have to build a fence around your water pond (ponds built with a certain depth require fences). How large of an area can your water garden pond be, and what other legal considerations should you make?

Safety is something that normally doesn't immediately pop into your mind when building a water garden pond, however, it should. Its impossible to ensure that your water garden will be completely safe, however, will that be any consolation for your inaction if something were to happen? Plan ahead and you'll ensure that your water garden is accessible and a joy for friends and family alike.

Stocking A Water Garden

One of the basic rules for making a successful water garden is that stocking is not just up to you and your desire to have a beautiful pond. Stocking calls for bringing together a number of ingredients, both plant and animal, so that a healthy and stable balance is maintained. It will be necessary to introduce some uninteresting plants without any ornamental value because they help to keep the water clear. You will also have to make sure that a certain amount of the water surface is covered by foliage, whether you like it or not.

You will soon discover that choosing specimen from your aquatic centre or catalogue merely because it looks the most attractive can be a big mistake. The showiest fish will require a much larger than average pond as well as an ice-free environment in the winter months. Some fairly strict rules, then, for making the correct choice of stocking material.

In addition there are rules concerning the time for stocking the pond. First of all, plants should be introduced during the growing season and you should wait a few days after the pond has been filled with fresh tap water. This allows the dissolved chlorine to disperse. The second rule is that you should leave Four weeks between planting and the introduction of fish. The reason for this is that fish tug at submerged plants and nibble at the leaves, so Water Lillies, Marginals, Oxygenators etc. should be allowed to establish themselves before being exposed to Goldfish, Shubunkins or any other type of fish.

Creative Water Gardens

When considering water garden construction, take the time to pick out a design and suitable spot that will flatter the over all water garden design of your yard. Don't just simply grab that shovel in and dig on the first spot you can find. Do a little research and if you still feel that your own judgment and creative water gardens  design is not enough, ask some friends or family members to help you out. Remember two heads are better than one.

Second, consider the elements of your backyard. If you are considering breeding fish, you may want to rethink placing your pond in a shaded area. Warmth is an important element in maintaining the fish population. If the pond is placed near a tree, you may find yourself in a position where you are constantly cleaning leaves off the pond. The environmental surroundings of your backyard will have a great impact on the appearance and maintenance of the pond.

Another thing to consider carefully is the depth of the pond. This is especially true for landscaping water features in colder climates and the ponds that contain fish. If the pond is built too shallow, it could freeze completely. Proper depth should always be considered when talking about size.

Building landscaping water features in your backyard can definitely make it more attractive. It is a great way to make outdoor living more colorful and enjoyable. If built correctly, it can add a certain luster to the beauty of a property and can ultimately raise the market value of the property. However, if done poorly, your backyard garden pond could become more stressful and ultimately present an incredible nightmare.

Planning A Water Garden

Deciding on what size to make your pond is usually determined by budget, fish type and size of garden. If the fish can grow large, you will obviously need a pool that is an adequate size for the fish to exercise and develop to their full potential. Consider depth as well as width, as this may be important if keeping larger fish. When considering size, a good idea is to lay a hosepipe on the ground as a template. This will give an idea as to how the finished pond size will look. Maintenance of your pond should also be considered prior to starting. A large pool will require much more time and effort than a small fish pond.

If fish are to stocked in your pond, deciding on the varieties you wish to keep at the start will determine what size your pond needs to be and what equipment you will need for it to be efficient. Try to estimate how much the project is going to cost before you start to avoid any unexpected expenses. Download our checklist, which contains a list of areas you may need to consider.

Plants are a critical part of pond building, and play a part in the water quality and balance of your feature. If used properly, they also add colour, texture and provide a shelter for livestock and wildlife. You may be required to pre-build shelves for your plants. Different plants suit different requirements. Remember that koi eat some plants, so they may need placing out of reach from the fish. If you want to keep water lilies, try to avoid placing them near too much water movement as this may damage the plants leaves.