Installation
and Maintenance of a Water Garden
By Dale Harper,
co-owner
Harper’s
Lawn Ornaments, Gardens, Paths & Ponds
(540) 434-8978; Fax (540) 432-2324; info@harperslawnornaments.com
This
article will provide some basic information and tips to help
educate the individual on the installation and maintenance of
a water garden. Before we get started, let me correct some of
the wrongful information circulating regarding fish ponds.
When
choosing the size of a water garden, try to avoid the most common
mistake made by many. It is very common to choose a pond that
is too small and then regret not having made it larger.
The best
advice is to choose the largest liner that space will allow
and the largest that you can afford.
The
next consideration is the shape and site location. You can simulate
the shape of your water garden by using a garden hose and trying
out various shapes until you find the one that you most desire.
In
regard to site location, be sure to consider the following:
- Locate your pond in an area
where you will enjoy it the most. Examples: Near a deck,
family room, or patio.
- Be sure to consider the availability
of electricity and water. Ground-fault interrupters are
highly recommended to prevent any possibility of electrical
shock.
- Refrain from choosing a low-lying
area due to the possibility of water run-off that may pollute
your pond and possibly kill your fish.
- Your pond should receive a
minimum of 4-6 hours of sunlight per day. Remember that
trees can create problems by the shedding of their leaves
as well as creating excavation problems with the presence
of roots.
- If digging the hole is a problem,
it is possible to install your pond in a raised-bed type
configuration using stones or landscape ties as the supporting
walls.
As
you begin to choose your liner you will be faced with the decision
of whether to go with a pre-formed liner or a flexible liner.
Both work very well and both come with 20 year warranties. The
flexible liner however, provides the option of a custom shape
as well as the option of making a deeper pond. The formula used
to calculate the gallons of water in a pond is the average WIDTH
x LENGTH x DEPTH x 7.5 (All in feet). You should use a submersible
pump capable of circulating the total gallons of
water in
your pond in a 1 - 2 hour period. Filters are recommended.
The
best formula for stocking the pond with fish is 1" of fish
per 1 sq. ft. of pond surface.
And
finally, the key to clear water in your pond is the proper amount
of fish, the proper plants, keeping 50% of the surface shaded
by floating plants, and not overfeeding the fish.
This
article was submitted by Dale Harper of Harper’s Lawn Ornaments,
Gardens, Paths & Ponds near Harrisonburg, Virginia. Harper’s,
a complete water gardening cente,r has been a family owned and
operated business since 1962. A hobby turned business, it now
has 800 different items in stock.
