Clean, clear, and high-quality water is important for the pond's well-being, so while the filter does most of the work, make sure to clean the pond regularly. Clearing away leaves and debris and keeping the organic waste to a minimum is essential. Check out Other Important Things to Consider at the bottom of the page to learn more.
Healthy Ecosystem
ec·o·sys·tem
[ˈēkōˌsistəm]
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment; in general use, a complex network or interconnected system.
You've planned, designed, and built your pond. Once you have selected and installed the pump, filter, and aeration, the pond is really on its way to becoming a healthy environment for any inhabitants.
So, what is next? Give the pond even more character by adding aquatic life. Pond plants play a large role in keeping a balance of beneficial nutrients, providing oxygen, natural filtration, and shade, and prohibiting algae growth. Pond fish add a beautiful aesthetic of glistening colors, graceful movement through the water, and mosquito control. While turtles do not provide any essential benefits, they are darn cute and provide an element of intrigue and beauty to your water garden.
Clean, clear, and high-quality water is important for the pond's well-being, so while the filter does most of the work, make sure to clean the pond regularly. Clearing away leaves and debris and keeping the organic waste to a minimum is essential. Check out Other Important Things to Consider at the bottom of the page to learn more.
Clean, clear, and high-quality water is important for the pond's well-being, so while the filter does most of the work, make sure to clean the pond regularly. Clearing away leaves and debris and keeping the organic waste to a minimum is essential. Check out Other Important Things to Consider at the bottom of the page to learn more.
Plants
There are 4 major types of plants you can use to add many benefits to your pond.
Marginal plants like Irises are usually placed along the outer edge of the pond blending in with the landscape setting.
Deep Water plants like lilies will offer shade for fish and offer protection from predators. Oxygenating plants like anacharis provide oxygen as well as pull carbon dioxide from the water.
Floating plants like hyacinths independently float on the surface with their roots drifting below. These plants act as natural filters.
DID YOU KNOW? Algae feeds off other nutrients in the pond to grow. To keep the algae from overtaking the pond, consider adding plants that compete with algae for nutrients and keep the water clean and clear. These plants include hornwort, anacharis, cabomba.
An important part of adding plants to your water landscape is adherence to planting noninvasive species. Luckily, The University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health has created an Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. For a list of invasive aquatic plants, click here.
There are 4 major types of plants you can use to add many benefits to your pond.
Marginal plants like Irises are usually placed along the outer edge of the pond blending in with the landscape setting.
Deep Water plants like lilies will offer shade for fish and offer protection from predators. Oxygenating plants like anacharis provide oxygen as well as pull carbon dioxide from the water.
Floating plants like hyacinths independently float on the surface with their roots drifting below. These plants act as natural filters.
DID YOU KNOW? Algae feeds off other nutrients in the pond to grow. To keep the algae from overtaking the pond, consider adding plants that compete with algae for nutrients and keep the water clean and clear. These plants include hornwort, anacharis, cabomba.
An important part of adding plants to your water landscape is adherence to planting noninvasive species. Luckily, The University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health has created an Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. For a list of invasive aquatic plants, click here.
There are 4 major types of plants you can use to add many benefits to your pond.
Marginal plants like Irises are usually placed along the outer edge of the pond blending in with the landscape setting.
Deep Water plants like lilies will offer shade for fish and offer protection from predators.
Oxygenating plants like anacharis provide oxygen as well as pull carbon dioxide from the water.
Floating plants like hyacinths independently float on the surface with their roots drifting below. These plants act as natural filters.
DID YOU KNOW? Algae feeds off other nutrients in the pond to grow. To keep the algae from overtaking the pond, consider adding plants that compete with algae for nutrients and keep the water clean and clear. These plants include hornwort, anacharis, cabomba.
An important part of adding plants to your water landscape is adherence to planting noninvasive species. Luckily, The University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health has created an Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. For a list of invasive aquatic plants, click here.
Fish
It’s always a good idea to start with a small number of fish and add gradually. Here is a rule of thumb to use as a guideline to avoid overstocking and ensure the overall health of your fish:
For small fish like goldfish and comets, 1 in. of fish for every 5 gallons of water.
For Koi fish, 1 in. of fish for every 10 gallons of water. Koi fish have a faster growth rate, so you may have to remove a few of them at a certain point.
Turtles
Whether you have a pet turtle or wild turtle residing with you, there are so many reasons to be fond of turtles. They come in all shapes, colors, and sizes and are the ultimate conservationists.
Other Important Things to Consider
Protecting Native Flora & Fauna
If you are considering building or currently have a water garden, it is important to be aware of the native plants and wildlife around you and how your garden may interact with them. When possible, you should always consider using native plants in your garden and take extra precautions to prevent the species in your garden from escaping. When plants or animals purchased for water gardens or ornamental ponds are released or escape into the wild, they can become invasive species. Invasive species threaten the health of the natural environment by outcompeting or overcrowding native species. In some cases, invasive species may also spread diseases to or directly prey on native wildlife and plants. When planning your garden, please consider the following:
-
Only use plants in your garden that are native or can be controlled. Be careful – seeds from your garden plants can spread into the wild without you noticing.
-
Consider the proximity of your garden to natural waterbodies or storm drains. Flooding may cause plants or animals from your garden to be moved.
-
Research the species you purchase for your garden. Be sure that the plants you purchase have been properly identified and understand how they can grow and spread.
-
Clean and inspect every plant you buy. You never know what may have hitched a ride on your plants. Things like unwanted or invasive snails and insects could thrive in your garden and even spread elsewhere!
-
If you need to remove plants from your garden at any point, please follow regional regulations on plant disposal and never dispose of garden plants in composted trash.
-
Never release anything you’ve purchased for your water garden into the natural environment, even if it appears to be dead.
Following these simple guidelines will help create the water garden of your dreams while also protecting native flora and fauna from the threat of invasive species. Thank you for doing your part to preserve our natural world!