| As any avid collector of garden decorative items | | | | this is your centerpiece and it should make a |
| will tell you, although they may often need to | | | | statement about what you are trying to crate. |
| make choices about which of their many garden | | | | Also, make sure that your fountain is not |
| statues and stones will make the cut for their | | | | out-staged by a larger element in your pond |
| garden display each year, one garden decorative | | | | landscape. A common mistake that people make |
| item that always stands front and center is the | | | | is planting plants around the fountain will grow |
| garden fountain. A fountain on a pond or "water | | | | taller than the fountain itself. Small fountain, small |
| feature" as they are known today, is the "focal | | | | plants. You get the idea. |
| point" of every water gardener's landscape. It's no | | | | Tubing: buy tubing that is the same size as the as |
| wonder gardeners are reducing the square | | | | the discharge adapter on the pump. The discharge |
| footage of their lawns to make way for a tranquil | | | | adapter is the "pipe" coming out of the pump's |
| space all their own or a delightful and whimsical | | | | hole where the water is pushed out. You will need |
| water feature in their landscapes. They are not | | | | enough tubing to reach from the pump to the top |
| only good for the environment but also provide | | | | of the fountain and a little extra for flexibility in |
| an element of individual style adding to decor of | | | | placement. |
| your outdoor living space. Some gardens go so | | | | Several bags of sand. This will be needed to |
| far as to say that without a water feature in | | | | cushion the underneath of the liner, support it, and |
| your garden, you are not only missing a real asset | | | | fill in empty space in the sides of the hole once |
| to your landscape but an asset to your piece of | | | | your pre-formed pond is in place. |
| mind. | | | | That's really all you need. However in addition to |
| Esthetically speaking, no other garden decorative | | | | the basic supplies above, I strongly recommend |
| items can compare to the beauty that a water | | | | adding a few additional items to your pond. |
| feature adds to your property. However, it's the | | | | Although they are optional, they will reduce |
| added benefit of stress reduction, most | | | | required maintenance to your water feature, and |
| gardeners proclaim, that makes the upkeep of | | | | if that's not enough, make it more pleasing to the |
| these water features worth every cent spent | | | | eye and soothing to the soul. Plants- Plants will |
| and every minute they spend maintaining them. | | | | keep your ecosystem in balance and attract birds, |
| Simply said, they sooth the soul. | | | | insects, butterflies, and frogs to your pond. Just |
| Small or large, a water feature can transform | | | | as in true organic gardening, a proper ecosystem |
| your garden into a tranquil retreat that is all your | | | | will sustain life in and around your pond while |
| own, a delightful and mesmerizing centerpiece for | | | | keeping pests and other unwanted elements |
| your garden, or used to complement the space | | | | away from your pond. |
| you use for entertaining in your outdoor living | | | | Plan to cover about 65% of the water surface |
| area. | | | | with plants. This will reduce the water |
| While landscapers can offer an almost instant and | | | | temperature and keep the algae growth to a |
| custom designed water feature, it can be very | | | | minimum. Algae is caused by too much sun so if |
| costly. With just a short trip to the garden supply | | | | your location gets more than the recommended 6 |
| store and a few tools, there is no reason you | | | | hours of direct sunlight a day, plants are even |
| can't do it yourself and save some money in the | | | | more essential to the balance of your ecosystem |
| process. With a little planning, a little preparation, | | | | and you will want to cover about 80% of the |
| and a little digging, it is easy to create a water | | | | waters surface. Plant life in your pond also |
| garden. Here's what you need to know. | | | | provides valuable biological filtration by removing |
| Planning Location, Location, Location! Just like real | | | | nitrogen, ammonia, nitrates and other nutrients |
| estate, you will want to choose a prime location | | | | from the water that algae would otherwise feed |
| for your fountain and pond. | | | | on. If you are planning to add fish or other wildlife |
| Here are the things to consider: | | | | that live in and around your pond (or just want to |
| First, decide how you want to use your water | | | | keep the water clear), submerged and marginal |
| feature. Will you use it solely for a beautiful view | | | | plants will provide the food, shade, and protection |
| from inside your home or will you want to create | | | | for your pond residents. Parrot Feather, Foxtail, |
| a environment for outdoor dining and entertaining? | | | | and Water Violet are referred to as ozygenators, |
| Are you someone who dreams of having a | | | | these plants grow entirely submerged in the |
| secluded and tranquil setting? Perhaps a meditation | | | | water and prevent growth of algae along with |
| garden or a garden setting where you can simply | | | | providing oxygen for the fish. Water Lilies, Floating |
| sit and relax with a good book is what you have | | | | Fairy Moss and Water Hyacinth, will float on top |
| in mind? Think about your purpose and what you | | | | of the water surface and will provide shade |
| want to achieve by adding a water feature to | | | | thereby protecting your fish and keeping the |
| your landscaping. | | | | water temperature down. |
| Think about whether or not your desired location | | | | These plants also absorb dissolved nutrients that |
| will be beneath trees that will drop their leaves or | | | | left alone, would encourage growth of algae. The |
| needles. If so, this will add to the maintenance | | | | roots of these plants also serve as a nesting |
| involved in keeping your water feature clean. | | | | place to protect fish eggs. Lastly, marginal plants |
| Consider the slope of your landscape, your soil | | | | are shallow water plants and sit in shallow areas |
| (clay is the best), the amount of sun and shade in | | | | of the pond. Their purpose is primarily decorative |
| the area, and don't forget about access to water | | | | however they also add to and provide shade to |
| by either hose or water line, and access to an | | | | the pond. Some examples of marginal plants |
| electrical outlet. | | | | include Winter Hardy Arrowhead, Yellow Water |
| You'll want to be sure you build your water | | | | Iris and Cattail. Cattails also attract dragonflies and |
| feature on level ground and above the lowest | | | | other mosquito-eating insects. In tropical climates, |
| elevation in your yard where rain water might | | | | Nonhardy Taro, Canna, and Papyrus can also be |
| accumulate. Setting your pond at a higher | | | | used. |
| elevation than that of the lowest point will avoid | | | | Rocks - I collect these everywhere I go. Rocks |
| overflow when heavy rain is present and prevent | | | | work well as decorative elements and equally as |
| the possibility of washing away your fish, plants, | | | | well for a border around your pond. They can also |
| and just about anything else surrounding your | | | | serve to keep predators away from your fish. |
| water feature. | | | | Flagstones can be arranged around the pond to |
| Some other things to consider are how much sun | | | | hang out and above the water providing more |
| and shade your water feature will receive each | | | | shade, keeping dirt out, and preventing access to |
| day. Ideally, about 6 hours of sun a day is perfect | | | | your fish from predators. Rocks are a natural |
| for both plant growth and keeping algae at bay. | | | | decorative element for use with any pond. |
| More than that, will not only limit the plants that | | | | Garden Decorative Items: garden statues, garden |
| are available for planting around the water garden | | | | stones, wind chimes, and birdfeeders all make |
| but more importantly, will increase the amount of | | | | wonderful additions to your pond landscape. A |
| algae that will accumulate. | | | | path of stepping stones leading up to your pond is |
| Consider the availability and proximity of your | | | | also visually appealing and practical. |
| power hook-up. Is a GFCI available or will you | | | | Fish - Once you have the proper ecosystem in |
| need to have one installed? Keep in mind the | | | | place consider adding some fish to your pond. |
| average length of the cord on a pump is only 6' in | | | | Adding pond fish will not only help support the |
| length. Lastly, and probably most importantly in | | | | ecosystem and reduce pond maintenance, but |
| selecting your location is to make certain that you | | | | they will keep your pond free of mosquito eggs |
| avoid installing your water feature over gas, | | | | and larvae. A "mosquito fish" can eat up to 168 |
| electrical, telephone, cable and/or sewer lines. | | | | mosquitoes a day! Koi and goldfish are also good |
| Remember to CALL BEFORE YOU DIG! One easy | | | | choices as they can tolerate fluctuations in water |
| phone call to 811 starts the process to get your | | | | temperature and poor environments. |
| underground utility lines marked for free. When | | | | Installing Your Water Feature |
| you call 811 from anywhere in the country, your | | | | Once you have planned and prepared you will be |
| call will be routed to your local One Call Center. | | | | surprised at how easy the installation will go. |
| Local One Call Center operators will ask you for | | | | There is really not much to it. Ready, set, start |
| the location of your digging job and route your call | | | | digging. Turn the preformed pond liner upside |
| to affected utility companies. Your utility | | | | down in the desired location and trace around it |
| companies will then send a professional locator to | | | | with a shovel or hoe. Try to make the diameter |
| your location to mark your lines within a few | | | | of the hole the same size, or as close as possible, |
| days. Once your underground lines have been | | | | to that of the preformed plastic pond liner. Don't |
| marked, you will know the approximate location | | | | worry too much if it's not perfect as you can fill |
| of your utility lines and can dig safely, because | | | | in with sand where the hole is too big but do your |
| knowing what's below protects you and your | | | | best to get as close to the actual size of the liner |
| family. | | | | as you can. Do the same for the depth of the |
| Preparation What you Will Need, a.k.a. The | | | | pond liner. |
| Shopping List: | | | | Once the hole is dug, put in about an inch of sand |
| One Garden (submersible) Pump - This is the | | | | to cover the entire bottom of the hole. This will |
| most important factor of a efficient and clean | | | | not only raise the liner about an inch above the |
| pond. Look at the GPH factor. This factor | | | | ground and keep the dirt out of the pond but it |
| indicates how many gallons of water are displaced | | | | will make it easier to move the liner around inside |
| every hour. 120 GPH should be enough for a small | | | | the hole to level it. |
| garden pond. Every water pump manufacturer | | | | Put the preformed plastic liner into the hole and |
| recommends that the water be turned between | | | | use your level to make sure it is level. Move the |
| 1/2 time and 1 time per hour. With that in mind, | | | | liner around until the liner is level from both front |
| you might think that a 120 GPH pump would be | | | | to back and side to side. You may need to |
| sufficient for a 240 gallon pond. However, keep in | | | | remove the liner, add a little sand and/or move |
| mind that you will want to have enough | | | | the sand around a bit to get it just right. Now, go |
| pump-power left over to give your fountain a | | | | get your fountain! Feed one end of the tubing thru |
| good stream of water. Therefore, in this | | | | the top of the fountain and all the way through |
| example, you would need a higher GPH pump to | | | | the fountain, leaving a short stub of tubing sticking |
| fuel your fountain. To figure it all out, it's simply a | | | | out of the top. You will adjust this after hooking |
| mathematical equation. (I'll wait while you get your | | | | the other end of the tubing to the pump. Do not |
| calculator). There are 7.5 gallons of water in a | | | | plug in the pump yet! Keep the plug end of the |
| cubic foot. | | | | pump near the electrical outlet out of any wet |
| Multiply the number of cubic feet in your | | | | areas. Never run your pump without water, it will |
| preformed pond liner by 7.5 and this will give you | | | | overheat and damage the pump! |
| the number of gallons of water your pond will | | | | Fill the pond liner with water. You are almost |
| hold. Divide that in half to select the appropriate | | | | there! Fill in any extra space around the pond liner |
| GPH for your pump for the pond and add a little | | | | with sand now that the water will hold the liner in |
| more umph for the fountain. Another incentive for | | | | place. Make it as compact as possible but allow a |
| having a strong enough pump is that a pump that | | | | little room for expansion in freezing climates. Still |
| doesn't adequately turn the water will become a | | | | without plugging in the pump, place the pump in |
| breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes | | | | the water. |
| prefer still water. You pump is not the place to | | | | Now situate the fountain in the desired location. I |
| try to save money. | | | | like the fountain to overlap the edge of the pond |
| One plastic pre-formed pond liner or flexible pond | | | | just a little. Sort of three quarters on the ground |
| liner . Which one you need depends on the size of | | | | and one quarter over the pond. Use a brick or |
| your pond. For a small pond, I recommend the | | | | block to support if necessary. Take the plastic |
| pre-formed liners. Just drop it in the hole and you | | | | tubing that is coming out of the bottom of the |
| are almost done. For larger ponds, you'll need a | | | | fountain and attach it to the pump's discharge |
| flexible liner and will have to form your own walls | | | | adapter. Make any necessary adjustments to the |
| which means more digging on your part as ledges | | | | fountain placement. |
| will need to be formed in the interior of the hole | | | | Now the big moment you have been waiting for! |
| for securing the liner with rocks. | | | | Plug in the pump and watch as the water shoots |
| A Level, the length of the preformed pond liner. If | | | | out of the fountain! |
| you don't have one of these borrow one from a | | | | Add rocks, garden decorative items and plants |
| carpenter or contractor friend or neighbor. | | | | both inside and around your new water feature |
| A Fountain. This is the fun part! This will set the | | | | and enjoy the gratification of all of your hard |
| style of your landscape. One word of advise here; | | | | work for years to come. |