Ponds and Water Garden Q & A.

How Much Attention Does My Pond Need?

Naturally as your pond is part of the garden it needs attention too. Water lilies need splitting and fertilizing at least once every two years. This can be done at any time of the year, ideally during their dormancy from May to August. Other aquatic plants also need to be thinned out and fertilized. Generally an average sized pond should be emptied and cleaned once a year. Pump filters must be cleaned regularly to help prevent blockage and reduced efficiency.

What Conditions Does My Pond Need To Grow Plants?

Your pond will need at least five hours sunlight and 18” depth in order to grow flowering water lilies, but there are several beautiful aquatic plants that will grow in areas with less sun and shallow water. Fish add their own fertilizer to ponds to help grow plants, but they are not necessary.

Why Is My Pond Green?

Algae are plants too and need the same as any other aquatic plant to grow, sun, nutrients and naturally water. If you pond is green obviously it has all these conditions and is ideal for growing the type of aquatic plants you prefer. To help combat the algae you need to have the correct balance of aquatic plants. Water lilies and other surface covering aquatic plants help to keep the sun out of the pond. Aquatic plants such as Vallisneria and Elodea to name two, add more oxygen to water, another vital ingredient for an algae free pond. All aquatic plants feed off the same nutrients as algae creating a natural fight for food. Eventually as your aquatic plants mature there are little nutrients left for algae to thrive. You should aim to half about two thirds of your water surface covered with plant life. Oxygenating plants, which mainly grow under the surface, are put in the pond at the rate of about three per water lily. One water lily will cover approximately one square metre of surface area, with other aquatic plants put in at about one to two per square metre of surface area.

Other hints to help keep your pond clean are;

1. Do not over feed fish – food not eaten falls to the bottom and feeds algae in the pond. We suggest you use floating fish pellets so you can see whether the fish are eating all that is given.
2. Do not empty pond and add fresh water too often, as the fresh nutrients in the water will only feed algae.
3. When fertilizing the garden around the pond, be careful not to drop fertilizer in the water, as this will turn the pond green.
4. When filling your pond up to replace evaporation and splash, only a top up with water is needed as fresh water will feed algae.

How Do I Get Rid Of Aphids?

Aphids can be a problem in ponds with them attacking plant foliage but they are easy to control once you know how. Put a towel over the top of the leaves in the evening and take it off in the morning. This drowns the aphids.

How Do I Stop Damage From Birds?

Unfortunately birds can be a real pest, taking fish and knocking over pots causing a mess. Bird netting can be bought quite cheaply from most hardware stores and nurseries and sold by the metre. Cover your pond securely with the netting.

How Do I Make My Pond More Childproof?

Custom made pond covers made from galvanized mesh are the best solution and are made less obtrusive by powder-coating black. Contact Bells Water Gardens for quote.

How Much Does A Professional Pond Clean Cost?

This depends on a number of aspects; size, plants required, state of pond etc. We clean, maintain and repair ponds and are available for any advice you may need relating to general maintenance problems to do with algae, pumps, plants, fish, building water gardens or leaking pond. Call Richard on 0418 567 195