Watch birds drinking water while fish come up to feed. Relax in your new rattan garden furniture as lights sparkle through a fountain. A garden water feature brings spectacle, interest and beauty to any garden. Enhance the effect with all weather garden furniture such as tables, trellises and raised platforms.
Late winter is the best time to clean out the garden pond. The water should be reasonably clear and the bottom silt undisturbed as fish barely stir or eat during winter. But autumn leaves, broken branches and sundry debris that has fallen into the water over winter will choke algae and pollute the water if not removed.
As organic matter rots in water it consumes oxygen in the process. This lowers oxygen levels for fish and algae alike. So the best strategy is to remove as much of the debris as possible. Make sure that the water is clear and cold at this time. Cleaning the bottom of a deep fish pond can be a nightmarish task. This is the occasion to use a pond vacuum.
One of the easiest tasks in late winter or early spring is to check the pumps and filters in ponds and fountains. Sponges and filters need to be rinsed thoroughly both inside and out. Discard all accumulated dirt as this residue could pollute the water during the summer. This is the time to ensure that rainwater runoff does not flow into the pond. As its flows over the garden and lawn, the rainwater dissolves garden chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers. This solution can poison fish and plants in the pond. A small ramp of soil around the sides of the pond will stop the water flow.
Weather patterns change sharply day to day during the early spring months. Both shrubs and aquatic life are fooled by fluctuating temperatures. You may put out the rattan garden furniture one day by the pond side only to remove it back indoors the following day to shelter it from the cold and rain.
As the weather warms, test the quality of the pond water. Fish thrive in alkaline water in a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0. But do not let the pH exceed 9.0 as, at that level, the water becomes toxic for the fish. This higher alkalinity is caused by ammonia, itself a product of rotting fish waste in the water. Clean away the waste to keep the koi and goldfish healthy. Avoid over feeding the fish as they wake up after winter. Just trickle a little low protein feed at a time into the water.
This is the time to think about new water features such as solar-powered cascades or little oases alongside some all weather furniture. Solar power is a good solution as many people have concerns about the safety of using mains electricity to power garden water features. A six by twelve inch photovoltaic panel is sufficient to power a pump for a fountain or a cascade.
Even self-contained power in a water feature needs safety guarantees. Ensure that there is a cut-off switch to turn off the pump if the water evaporates during a rare warm British summer. Ensure that the solar panel is positioned in full sun and work out some creative water designs such as fountain arches and sprays. The height of the water will vary with the intensity of the sun. Sit back in your new rattan garden furniture and enjoy the show.
Late winter is the best time to clean out the garden pond. The water should be reasonably clear and the bottom silt undisturbed as fish barely stir or eat during winter. But autumn leaves, broken branches and sundry debris that has fallen into the water over winter will choke algae and pollute the water if not removed.
As organic matter rots in water it consumes oxygen in the process. This lowers oxygen levels for fish and algae alike. So the best strategy is to remove as much of the debris as possible. Make sure that the water is clear and cold at this time. Cleaning the bottom of a deep fish pond can be a nightmarish task. This is the occasion to use a pond vacuum.
One of the easiest tasks in late winter or early spring is to check the pumps and filters in ponds and fountains. Sponges and filters need to be rinsed thoroughly both inside and out. Discard all accumulated dirt as this residue could pollute the water during the summer. This is the time to ensure that rainwater runoff does not flow into the pond. As its flows over the garden and lawn, the rainwater dissolves garden chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers. This solution can poison fish and plants in the pond. A small ramp of soil around the sides of the pond will stop the water flow.
Weather patterns change sharply day to day during the early spring months. Both shrubs and aquatic life are fooled by fluctuating temperatures. You may put out the rattan garden furniture one day by the pond side only to remove it back indoors the following day to shelter it from the cold and rain.
As the weather warms, test the quality of the pond water. Fish thrive in alkaline water in a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0. But do not let the pH exceed 9.0 as, at that level, the water becomes toxic for the fish. This higher alkalinity is caused by ammonia, itself a product of rotting fish waste in the water. Clean away the waste to keep the koi and goldfish healthy. Avoid over feeding the fish as they wake up after winter. Just trickle a little low protein feed at a time into the water.
This is the time to think about new water features such as solar-powered cascades or little oases alongside some all weather furniture. Solar power is a good solution as many people have concerns about the safety of using mains electricity to power garden water features. A six by twelve inch photovoltaic panel is sufficient to power a pump for a fountain or a cascade.
Even self-contained power in a water feature needs safety guarantees. Ensure that there is a cut-off switch to turn off the pump if the water evaporates during a rare warm British summer. Ensure that the solar panel is positioned in full sun and work out some creative water designs such as fountain arches and sprays. The height of the water will vary with the intensity of the sun. Sit back in your new rattan garden furniture and enjoy the show.
