Garden Ponds

Regardless what type of pond is being planned, a rule of thumb is for warm and sunny sites, with its open end to the south. Trees and shrubs may cause problems, such as excessive leaves or harboring cats to catch birds—if birds are part of the design. Placing the garden pond outside of a window for observation of flowers, birds, and other forms of wildlife. The shape of the pond should have sloping sides for the birds to drink and bathe in, or for any spawning amphibians. But having as many types of slopes will enhance the pond for a total community—frogs, insects, and other forms of wildlife.

One aspect of the garden pond is whether or not fish are going to be in it. And if so, removing their waste would be an important aspect with beneficial microbes, which naturally eliminate the fish's waste products – or more technically, "aging of the garden pond water." Regardless where you purchase the garden pond, make sure they know something about the beneficial bacteria for the fish to survive, and the pond water to age.

Barley straw is an old remedy since the Middle Ages to keep the ponds clear and control algae. Another plant is lavender stalks, which when combined with barley straw will enhance its usability—especially with ponds that have some form of pumping process. Many studies, like the ones at San Juan Island ponds, show that this combination is also effective in the "well-oxygenated water" that is found in fountains or circulatory pond pumps. This plant combination can be used with a very large range of lakes to ponds that are pumped. A simple process, when the barley straw is placed into the water, it will break down through decomposing on a cellular structure level. The needed chemicals that inhibit the growth of algae are released at this time.