Did you ever wonder how folks got some of the great shapes for their garden ponds? You will see them in numerous different sizes and styles, and they look like a professional pond builder spent hours digging and shaping them. Seeing one of these can make you really consider making an attempt to build a water feature on your own. Continue reading →

Pond liners, whether of the flexible type or prefabricated are used to provide a water containment solution and a barrier between water and soil to keep the pond water clean.  Protecting the pond liner as well as your pond inhabitants such as plants, fish or wildlife is important to ensure their longevity. The top concern of pond owners during warm summer months is the growth of green algae, which is a symptom of high nutrient levels in ponds.

The warm weather during the summer months increases levels of evaporation. level starts getting low, don’t panic, it’s natural during summer. Topping up a low pond with tap water adds nutrients just at the time it’s ripe for an algae bloom. Before you know it you’ve got a pool of green sludge that takes the oxygen from the water and blocks out the light to the plants below.
The best advise is to try collecting as much rainwater as possible. It is free from pollution. Not only is this water great for wildlife in your garden, but by diverting it from our drains you could save yourself money on your water bill.

What to do to protect your pond:

• Remove any existing blanket weed from the surface of your pond. This takes nutrients out of the system. Use a rake (a leaf rake is ideal) to gently drag the surface layer of algae to the pond edge, and scoop it out. Be careful not to uproot other floating plants. There will be insects and maybe tadpoles caught up in it so its important to leave it on the bank to allow them to wriggle back into the pond. After a few hours, put it on the compost heap.
• Allow the pond level to fluctuate naturally as much as possible, and if digging a new pond make a deep area so it will never completely dry out. If you do need to top it up, use rainwater collected in water butts, not tap water. Avoid directing rainwater straight into a pond from your roof, as it will carry sediments that will build up in your pond. Allowing it to collect in a water butt first will let these sediments settle out.
• Check that the material you have used for the edging of your pond is covering the pond liner sufficiently enough to be protected from UV rays.
• The best advice is to install a pond liner, which is UV resistant. Should the water level of your pond drop and the pond liner exposed, you will be grateful you installed a premium quality, UV resistant liner which won’t go brittles and crack in summer.

Almost all pond keepers will speak of  how rewarding it is to have a pond in their back garden but that their number one annoyance is algae. Common in warmer climates, algae can give the sides of pond liners Continue reading →

Blanket weed (Spirogyra adnate) is one of the most prolific aquatic weeds known to pond-keepers in the U.K. Blanket weed is an algae, which is very successful at colonising an environment under favourable conditions such as sunlight. If left unchecked this algae can cause serious oxygen depletion in ponds and possible stress to larger fish that find it an obstruction. Continue reading →

A garden pond constructed using a pond liner with at least one sloping edge to the pond will make an ideal wildlife haven in your garden attracting creatures such as frogs or toads. Please refer to an earlier Pond Liners Blog, Continue reading →

A fountain pump is the most crucial part of a pond water feature, as it is responsible for circulating water, creating sound, and preventing the growth of algae by adding oxygen to the water. The pump you choose is ultimately responsible for the performance and overall life of your fountain.

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A sign of a well planned and constructed pond is one where all the materials used in its creation such as pipes, cables and pond liners aren’t visible. The detailing in the pond edging is, therefore important. The edging has two important functions, to secure and protect the pond liner, as well as to give the pond character. Continue reading →

Any pond, large or small, can benefit from having a fountain. Most fountains are fitted to add a whole new dimension to a pond by bringing the elements of air and water together as water is forced upwards to fall back down again creating visual interest and sound effects. Fountain pumps with a wide range of fountainheads and outlets are available to create various effects and features from simple jets to foaming water pouring over a bolder and more sophisticated sculptural pieces. Continue reading →

The most important step in creating a natural pond is deciding where to site it giving enough space around the pond to prepare the ground for planting. The next step is to layout the shape and, once satisfied, start to dig your hole Continue reading →

Longevity is a very important issue in pond liner selection. Continue reading →

Creating an informal wildlife pond with shallow margins, lining it with a pond liner and adding a pebble beach will provide the ideal habitat for many displaced creatures. Continue reading →

Garden ponds are usually best constructed with a high quality epalyn or butyl rubber pond liner. These liners are flexible, tough, long-lasting and easy to shape to the hole. When creating a natural wildlife pond you may want to consider a layering approach when installing the liners with a protective underlay above and below the pond liner. This approach will help to achieve a natural look while also protecting the pond liner from leaks. Continue reading →