Getting Started with Water Gardening |
Getting Started With
Water Gardening
 Water gardening
is the fastest growing trend in landscape design. The Pond Guy provides
information and products for all your water garden needs, whether it
be a complete pond kit or general products to enhance your existing
water garden...
Construction
The easiest way to build a low maintenance water feature is to create
a working ecosystem within the water feature. The way to create this ecosystem
is to combine the following elements. Leaving any
of these features out, will cause more difficulties in establishing
a balanced ecosystem. For more information on pond excavation and installation
view the pond construction article.
1. Mechanical and Biological
Filtration: In a closed water feature (i.e. non-spring
fed) you need both a mechanical
filter to handle larger debris and a biological
filter to remove excess nutrients which cause green, murky water. 
2. Pump and Plumbing: Recirculation
of a closed water feature is essential to add oxygen to the water for
fish and bacteria. In addition, recirculation water keeps it fresh and
allows gases to escape.
3. Liner
and Underlayment: To greatly reduce water loss to the soil, an impermeable
membrane (liner) is mandatory for small water features (under 1000 sq. ft.).
The Pond Guy recommends 45 Mil EPDM rubber liner. To pad the liner, an underlayment is recommended. Woven underlayment will allows
gases to escape and unlike sand, an underlayment will
pad the vertical edges of the liner.
4. Rocks and Gravel: The
most under used element in a pond ecosystem is rock and gravel. These
important items are instrumental in protecting your liner from harmful
ultraviolet rays as well as helping to prevent hydrostatic bubbling.
Rocks and gravel throughout the bottom also provide the perfect substrate
for bacteria to colonize thereby keeping water clearer. Rocks and gravel
should be used to cover your liner completely.
5. Plants,
Fish and Bacteria: Plants
remove nutrients from the water for their own nourishment. Fish eat insects
and in turn fertilize the plants. Bacteria eat
the nutrients that create green, murky water therefore keeping the pond clear.
Note: Eliminating any one of these variables in attempt to cut corners,
will increase maintenance and decrease water clarity. By establishing
a working ecosystem you work with nature instead of against it. |
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