Water Gardening: Still ponds and all advice/input, 0 by nutsfordaylily

nutsfordaylily wrote:
Hello, all!

I'm really enjoying reading this info on ponds. I've been a member with Dave's for about a year now, but mostly participate in the Daylilies forums, as I'm a daylily fanatic.

I have just recently put in my own pond, though, using a kit I bought at Walmart. It's 3'x6' and about 15" deep. I have a fountain in it, and am working on a waterfall for it. I put in 3 calico fantail goldfish, a waterlily, water hyacinth, water lettuce, and pickerel weed. I plan to put in more fish soon, and perhaps more plants. Around the perimiter I planted miniature plants, such as crested iris, mini astilbe, mini solomon's seal, a mini daylily, and mini hostas. I am so excited about my new pond! This is all new to me.

Vicky, you mentioned you didn't want water hyacinth as it is so invasive in your area, which I have read that is so, but I think in a pond like you have it will be no problem keeping it under control. I would just cut out what excess you get and put it in the compost heap, but certainly not in the water ways.

Sue, it's nice to know you can just let your plants root into the muck in the bottom. Maybe I should do that in my pond. I have a liner. You don't think the roots would ever tear holes in it, do you? Of course, my pond is not a still pond, as I have the fountain and will soon have a waterfall.

Vicky and Sue, I was looking in a pond supply catalog for The Pond Guy, and I found something called barley straw that helps keep algae under control. You can get it in bales, pellets or liquid extract. The liquid works on contact, but the bales take 6-8 weeks and work up to 6 mths. The liquid works up to 3 mths. Might be something worth trying. It's still too soon to have algae in my pond yet, but I'm sure it will be there soon.

Here is a picture of my new pond.

Karen