Ponds can be a unique feature of any garden. A backyard pond will become a focal point of your yard. Especially if you have fish in your pond, kids will love it.
However, many people assume that building a pond in their backyard will be difficult. In fact, it doesn’t have to be. A pond does not have to be large or complicated. You can create a simple water feature to add interest in your garden. The sound of moving water is very beautiful and soothing. You don’t need to overcomplicate your pond by adding a lot of features. When designing your pond, there are only two features you need to have: a place from which the water will fall, and a pool for it to fall into.
The water falling into the reservoir will provide the calming sound of running water, and your pond will be a beautiful addition to your garden. The reservoir should not be deeper than 2 feet. Many local regulations consider a reservoir deeper than 2 feet a swimming pool, which will have different and more complicated regulations.
For the sides of the reservoir, you can use a rigid fiberglass shell, or a flexible rubber pond liner. To add additional interest, you can also purchase fish or aquatic plants. These can also help balance the ecosystem of the pond, although it will take a little time to develop.
For the bottom of the pond, use landscaping gravel. Microorganisms will grow in the spaces between the gravel, which will help the ecosystem of your pond develop. These microorganisms release carbon dioxide, which is used by your aquatic plants. Your plants, in turn, release oxygen to be used by the fish. Aquatic plants will also help maintain the continuity between your pond and the rest of your garden.
Once you have installed the pond, make sure that it is supplied with a constant flow of water. Especially if you are planning to keep fish in your pond, make sure there is enough water for them. To determine how much water you’ll need to fill the pond, first calculate the area of the pond in square feet. Then, multiply by the depth, to get the volume in cubic feet. Now multiply this number by 7.5, and you’ll have the number of gallons required to fill your pond completely. Keep in mind that it will evaporate over time, so keep your eye on the water levels in your pond.
Besides these simple steps, there are many ways to design a pond. You can have water falling from a stepped cascade into the reservoir. You can use an electrical pump to bring the water above the cascade, where gravity will bring it down to the reservoir. If you wish to have a simpler pond, you can buy a readymade kit of small bubblers. This and landscape plants to surround the plant, will be enough to add visual interest to your pond.
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December 30 2008 | Landscaping | No Comments »
With all the wonderful choices in outdoor structures, it can be hard to decide which ones will enhance your yard and garden. With this in mind, let’s explore the different types of outdoor garden structures, where they might be placed and for what purpose. This way you can look at your families activity and decide what will work best for all of you.
Let’s start with the trellis. You will find trellises in both the front and back yards in gardens of all kinds and against large and small walls and buildings to help tame the mass of climbing vines. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and you can use them virtually any and everywhere.
Another very versatile outdoor structure is an arbor. In fact, many people have multiple arbors to create entrances to their garden from every side and also into their yards. They are fantastic to create an archway especially if combined with lovely climbing vines and blooms that can fill in the sides and tops creating a canopy of flowers. For outside weddings, you can’t beat this. However, arbors can be used sparingly to create wonderful sitting areas or vestibule.
A larger structure that can be a stand alone or combined with your porch or patio is a pergola. Pergolas are unique in that they have the same canopy capabilities as arbors with the right plant choices but they also provide shade in the mornings and evenings due to the slatted nature of the roof. Creating a sitting area under a pergola is a great way to enjoy one of these fine structures and some pergolas came with optional chairs and/or tables built in.
If you are a family that parties, a gazebo may just be the right outdoor structure for you. It can be used all by itself out in your yard or to support other activities such as a backyard swimming pool. Having a gazebo for dinner parties or for that midnight dance with that special someone are all great reasons to choose this particular structure for your yard.
You won’t hear much about raised beds and bridges because, even though you will see both all the time, they blend in with the landscape more than stick out as an overpowering structure. Raised beds are great to place in your yard and allow you to create a flowerbed without digging up anything, anywhere. For areas that have low lying spots or water features you would like to enhance, bridges work very well. As stated before, these get lost in the landscape but if you look, you will see them everywhere.
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You can find many types of easy to install
garden arbors that really stand out. You can also get wonderful
landscape bridges to further enhance your yard or garden.
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garden arbors,
garden decor,
Garden Structures,
Gardening,
gazebos,
landscape bridge,
outdoor decor,
outdoor entertaining,
Outdoor Living Space,
Outdoor Products,
Outdoor Structures,
pergola,
trellises,
yard
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December 28 2008 | Gardening | No Comments »