During this time of sheltering in place, my husband and I have been taking really long walks and exploring other neighborhoods. We are getting a lot of ideas for our home and yard and one of them is possibly putting in a pond! Neither of us knew anything about it so I thought I would share this information with you.
Creating and maintaining a beautiful backyard pond takes more than just digging a hole in your yard and filling it with water. There are various aspects of keeping the pond area healthy including the water itself, the flora and the fauna.
Water
It’s important to keep water flowing in a backyard pond because still water invites algae buildup which can create an unhealthy environment and bad smell for the creatures you want in and around your pond (including yourself). The best way to keep the water moving is to install a water feature like a fountain or aerator under the water. Fountains create a serene look and sound to a pond environment, and they are a great way to show off your individuality. Fountains in the middle of the water can dazzle with a spectacular fan spray. Another fountain option can sit at the side of your pond like a leaping fish with water coming out of its mouth or a nymph pouring a pitcher at the water’s edge. Keeping the water healthy is very important, but there’s no need to dump a bunch of chemicals in your pond as there are several nontoxic algaecide alternatives like Nualgi Ponds products.
Plants
Choose your floating plants carefully to add atmosphere. The hardy water lily is a nice choice as the blooms are multi-colored, and they are easy to care for. Cardinal flower and swamp milkweed are also both great choices along a pond’s edge as they have bright flowers that attract butterflies. Water hyacinth, on the other hand, though often seen as a pond staple, is non-native in the US and considered invasive. Although it may be tempting to plant a shade tree, resist the urge because leaves, branches and pine needs can clog ponds easily.
Animals
There is some controversy on whether koi should be part of a backyard pond or only exist in a pond-like aquarium, so be sure to research whether you want to go the extra step to making your pond koi-friendly. If you feel you must have fish in your pond, consider the resilient mosquito fish or rosy red minnows instead. Frogs will probably find your pond on their own and move in. They will bring their delightful evening songs as well as eat up to 10,000 flies and mosquitoes over the summer months.
Creating a healthy ecosystem for your backyard pond is all about choosing the right sunny location, keeping the water algae free, and placing appropriate plants and animals in and around the water. The architectural and landscape details can vary widely and reflect your own personal style which makes designing and building a pond such a pleasure.
