A properly installed garden pond can be the most satisfying feature of a garden. It brings peacefulness and magic that nothing else can provide. Devic Realms specialise in garden pond installation and maintenance, and it is in fact our most passionate part of landscaping. Water in a garden brings in a whole new dimension of excitement. Hearing the sounds of running water can excite us, and don’t you just have to find the source? Watching the water moving over a waterfall, or along a stream is very relaxing and can take you to places far away from where you really are.

 The first and most important thing with ponds is balance. Having the right combination of plants, fish and nutrients is essential to keep the water clean and healthy, and to make your pond attractive to the local wildlife. Getting the balance right can be quite tricky, and usually the average garden pond is not large enough to reach this balance on its own, so a little help must be used. If you are looking at having fish in your pond, then you must put plants in as well. Plants help to oxygenate the water and feed on the excess nutrients that come from fish wastes and any rotting vegetation that might fall in the water. Also, the fish will eat the plants eliminating the need to introduce fish food into the water, which can cause pollution within your pond. Depending on the type of plants, they may also play a role in covering at least part of the water surface form the sun, which will reduce algae build up from the water being exposed to prolonged sunlight and heat. And, of course, they look great and help the pond to look natural and aged. The fish themselves also play a vital role in the overall health of the pond. They eat the mosquito larvae and some fish even attack the mosquitoes as they land on the water to help keep the mosquito population to a minimum. If insects fall in the water, they will eat them as well. And the fish are fascinating to watch, an extra little reason to spend time near your pond.

An ecosystem in the making

So, after you have fish, plants, and a filter, you are well on the way to having a healthy, attractive pond. If you are lucky, you will soon notice the local wildlife visiting your pond. Birds will come to drink and play in the water, and even possibly to eat your fish (but hey, that’s an ecosystem). Frogs will migrate to your pond looking for a special place to live and breed, and they will be handy in keeping the insects under control. If you are near a natural waterway, you may even find a turtle has made your pond his home. Dragonflies will hover over your pond, and your fish will start to breed in the clumps of plants. All of these things are a good indication of a healthy pond, so embrace them and be proud of your garden. 

CLEANING LARGE PONDS.
Some large ponds may require you to step into them for cleaning. You must be very careful, and have nothing on your feet. Step as lightly as possible to reduce the risk of damage to the liner. As a general rule, the larger the pond, the less cleaning will be required, as it balances itself much easier, and takes care of itself. Unless, of course, you have an overgrowth of pond plants that is choking out your fish, in which case a large pond will take some time to divide and remove excess vegetation.

EASY TO REACH AND CLEAN PUMP AND FILTER.
Place the pump and filter close to the edge of the pond so when cleaning the filter/pump you do not have to get into the water. This is not always possible, unfortunately, but if you get a high quality pump, (we recommend OASE), you shouldn't need to clean the pump at all, unless the strainer surface is completely covered with vegetation.

FISH TO KEEP OUT MOZZIES.
It is pleasant on a hot evening to sit alongside of a pond that has running water, but you and your guests do not want to be attacked by a mass of Mozzies. Place fish in the pond to feed on their larvae, as this will hopefully help to keep their numbers down.

DO NOT PLANT LARGE POND PLANTS THAT NEED TO BE DIVIDED EVERY YEAR.
Beware of the temptation of planting large growing Papyrus or Bull rush grass in your average size pond. They will take over the whole pond area and must have constant maintenance. Some types of bamboo grasses are also very aggressive, and will overrun the average pond very quickly. Larger ponds may not present such a problem.

POND LOCATION

A common trend that seems to be prevalent is that people choose a small corner against a fence, a wall, or a building to place their pond, and allocate as minimum an area as possible to fit it in, but still want all the perks of a large pond. If you enjoy ponds, and would love to have one in your yard, then make it the feature of your yard rather than tucking it away where no one will see it. In South Australia, it is recommended to have a pond depth of at least 600mm to help slow down the growth of algae, and to regulate a more constant water temperature. If the pond area is too small, you end up with a straight sided pond, which can be very difficult to blend in with the surrounding environment and look natural. If you want a gentle sloping pebble beach pond, you will not be able to achieve this in a small area and achieve the recommended minimum depth. Plus, if it's a really hot day, or if it is pouring with rain, you wont be outside sitting alongside the pond. So why not make the pond a major part of your garden theme to enjoy from indoors too. Imagine sitting in your family room, or sun room on a rainy day, looking out of the window over your gorgeous, natural pond, watching the rain dance on the water surface, watching the frogs hopping around, fish swimming through the water... Wouldn't this be much nicer than a tiny little puddle of water tucked away in the back corner, almost forgotten? As a side point, a larger pond is not much more expensive than a small pond, (when comparing simple ponds that would fit in the same area). For example; A small pond (1000 litres) with a very low, basic waterfall , no creeks, filtered with a pump might cost say $5,000.  A pond 2 - 3 times the size with a similar low waterfall, filter, no creeks and a pump might cost around $8,000 (depending on location, etc). So for less than double the price, you can get a much larger pond, with much more possibility of creating a natural look, and attracting a variety of wildlife, possibly including ducks. Another advantage of having a pond that you can see from the house is that you may witness little visitors that would otherwise not venture into your pond if you were sitting out there. Plus, if you light it up for night viewing, it would look spectacular looking out of your window. Don't limit your possibilities by treating your water garden as a final last minute thought, tacked on to the smallest space in your garden. Be bold, and create an incredible paradise that everyone admires and loves.

I have posted a few pics below of examples of how stunning a garden can become if the pond is the main attraction. These photos are of other peoples projects, and were not created by Devic Realms, however, we can certainly recreate them if so desired.

Living Landscapes : Be the envy of your friends and neighbours with a complete garden system from Devic Realms.    Add interest and excitement for many years to come.    Add adventure for the kids to enjoy.    Create your own little piece of paradise today.

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Last modified: 14/03/08