A water garden is created with the help of an artificial pond. This place is home to aquatic plants, fish, and probably other small aquatic animals. Organisms that are not visible to the naked eye, are also present. Over time, environmental changes and weather conditions are bound to affect the quality of the gardening pond water. If the gardener is going to be lazy and negligent, his/her water garden is heading for disaster!
Experienced and observant gardeners keep an eye open for any problems with the gardening pond water. They even take measures to correct them. The beginner may not find it so easy to spot the first sign of trouble, and is totally clueless about handling contingencies should they actually occur.
Here are some tips on the eventualities that can occur, as well as how to care for gardening pond water–
(1) The gardening pond water seems very clear at the outset, but may darken in color over the seasons. Sometimes, the surface looks very green, and stays so for a long time. This indicates that plenty of debris has collected on the bottom. This waste has to be cleared. More oxygenating plants and floating-leaved plants have to be added too.
(2) A very low oxygen level is indicated by the water turning black, and with a bad odor. The problem can be resolved by pouring water through a garden hose. A better solution would be to get an aerator installed.
(3) A leakage in the liner will cause the water level to go on dropping. The leak has to be taken care of by a professional.
(4) It is practical to get the pond completely drained and cleaned once in every three to four years. And the best time for this is end-of-summer or early fall. The reason why spring or early summer is to be avoided, is that the natural life cycles of plants and animals in the pond will get disturbed.
(5) Before the actual draining of the gardening pond water starts, there are some materials and tools to kept ready. These include–fish nets, holding tanks (these can be a child’s wading pool or plastic garbage pails), plastic buckets, a plastic dustpan, newspapers/burlap, siphoning hose/pump, a thermometer, a brush with soft bristles and a dechlorinating agent or water purifier.
(6) The primary aim is to prevent trauma to the aquatic animals. So, when six inches of water has been drained out of the pond, the fish nets should be used to get all the aquatic animals out. They should then be gently placed in the holding tanks, which have previously been filled with the same gardening pond water. The tanks should be transferred to a shady spot.
(7) Now for the aquatic plants. They are to be wrapped in wet burlap or wet newspapers. Ensure that they always remain moist, and are kept in a shady place.
(8) Now the remaining water is to be drained out or bailed out.
(9) There will be snails at the bottom of the pond. They are to be scooped out and placed in the holding tanks too. The silt is to be removed with the help of the plastic dustpan. The floor and sides are to be cleaned with the soft-bristled brush and hose. Ensure that no chemicals are used as cleaning agents.
(10) While doing all this, the liner should be checked for any form of leakage.
(11) Finally, the pond is ready to be filled with fresh water. Except for well water, water from other sources can be cleaned with a dechlorinating agent/water purifier.
(12) A few buckets of the old gardening pond water have to be poured back in, to ensure that essential organisms re-enter the garden. The plants go back in first. The aquatic animals are allowed into the freshly-filled pond only when the temperature is almost the same (within 5 degrees) as the water in the holding tanks. Now the gardener can breathe easy for the next few years!
Abhishek is an avid Gardening enthusiast and he has got some great Gardening Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 57 Pages Ebook, “Your Garden – Neighbor’s Envy, Owner’s Pride!” from his website http://www.Gardening-Master.com/762/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
Article Directory: EzineArticles
Water gardening is not just a matter of creating a water
source in the garden, and dumping everything into it! The
aquatic plants, aquatic animals and the pond itself, require
a lot of regular care and maintenance. Here are some
guidelines on how to look after one’s water garden.
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