Watergardening.com

Plant Maintenance

No matter how healthy your aquatic plants are, they will require a small amount of maintenance.  Removal of expired flowers and yellowed leaves from water lilies is essential.

By keeping the water clear of any dead and decomposing plant material you will help keep the pond looking good and help reduce excess algae.  This is also a good time to look for any pests or disease.

Be sure to fertilize your water lilies during the summer to keep them blooming. Read the rest of this entry »

Stagnant Water Attracts Them But …

Stagnant water does attract mosquitoes. But moving water does not! So, in dealing with mosquitoes, the first and most important thing to do is to keep your pond water constantly moving. Read the rest of this entry »

Known in the East as the Sacred Lotus, this flower has a long mystical history. It has been given a number of colorful names including Pink Lotus, Hindu Lotus, Lin Ngau, Loto Sagrado, Renkon, Rosa del Nilo, Sacred Water Lily, Teratai, and Bunga Telpok. The plant figures prominently in several Eastern religions including Hinduism and Buddhism, and is considered sacred by Greco-Roman culture and several Eastern and Oriental religions. The lotus plays an integral role in Buddhist meditation, and there is even a meditative position referred to as “the lotus.” Read the rest of this entry »

Leaks are among the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed problems anyone can have with their water garden. Understanding the basic principles of leak detection and repair will save you time, money, and headaches in your water gardening adventures … I guarantee it! Read the rest of this entry »

So, what is it that makes water so interesting anyway? After all, it’s everywhere, and is by far the most powerful substance on our planet. It can cut through solid rock, move millions of tons of earth in a single day, and control our weather - we’ll either drown in its abundance or we’ll dehydrate in its absence.

We flock to its margins and marvel at its vastness. It’s the number one destination point for travelers and thrill seekers who spend billions of dollars to swim, fish, boat, water ski, scuba dive, snorkel, surf, and kayak or just sit and relax. And it’s no wonder - our bodies have the same concentrations of minerals and salts as the oceans. Read the rest of this entry »

The facts about the H2O in your pond

Ammonia levels, nutrients, oxygen, and alkalinity - the list can baffle you whether you are new to ponds, or if you have been a long time pond owner. Everyone tells you something different. Some say your pond will be okay if your pH is between 7.0 and 8.5 … some say between 6.8 and 8.0 is the optimum level for your pond. It is confusing to anyone without a degree in chemistry. Who’s right and who’s wrong? What is it you really need to watch when it comes to protecting the plants and aquatic creatures in your pond? Read the rest of this entry »

Sharing Your Personal Paradise With Friends and Family

The shimmer of fish cutting through water, the gentle pops of pink, lavender, and yellow lilies swaying atop delicate green stems, and the sparkle of the sun on the pond’s surface draw you into the impressionist painting you call your backyard.

From the comfort of your Adirondack chair, your senses are on overload as you realize this must be a glimpse of what heaven is like, and you are called to share this representation of Monet’s masterpiece with loved ones. As you savor your creamy morning latte, you start to make a mental list of celebrations you’d like to host around your water garden. Read the rest of this entry »

With a little thought, planning, and planting of the right plants in the right place, water gardens can provide year-round visual appeal and beauty

The number of plant options is as endless as the palette of the changing seasonal colors. Creeping junipers, sargent crabapple, red-twigged dogwoods, dwarf lilacs, compact burning bush, Japanese blood grass, evergreen candytuft, and soapwort offer extraordinarily low-maintenance landscaping with handsome returns on scenic value and investment. Read the rest of this entry »

The question of fish always comes up in the water gardening conversation. As a matter of fact there are several questions that almost always come up. That’s why we call ‘em “frequently asked questions” (FAQ’s). And, here they are. Read the rest of this entry »

Now that spring is here, you’re probably noticing some changes in your pond - your fish are coming back to life and you may even be able to see some plant growth. Some changes that are taking place, however, aren’t so desirable, like that excess algae growth that you’ve been noticing. Understanding the transition that your pond makes from winter into spring and summer is essential in maintaining a healthy pond ecosystem.

Read the rest of this entry »