Geez Zany,least ya got rocks. I have to buy mine or collect them (which I do)Not only am I the weedlady, I am also known as the rockgirl! It sure makes for hard digging though. All I have is pure sand,can dig forever and never find a rock! Good Luck, your gonna love it! Oh yea, I dont collect weeds,just had them growing in the bed of my truck and everywhere else!
advice for first time ponder
Oh, what we would have given to have sand and not rock to dig in! But we have no shortage of rock here ;~) These will get me started and we will collect the rest down at the river a few at a time as we get the chance.
I wish I had taken a picture of the roots we hacked through. They ranged in size ftom about the circumference of a 50 cent piece to as thick as my thighs (huge)!
Zany-If you still like the idea of a waterfall, but think plastic "rocks" look too artificial, you can sometimes use the mechanics (pump, tubing, etc.) and create a waterfall out of stones. Just build a nice rockpile at the end of the pond, using flatter stones at the front for the water to cascade down. Run your tubing so it discharges at the top and flows down into the pond. It will blend in with the other rock you're using in the area and seem much more natural. Looks you've got LOTS of stones to work with!
Sooo many rocks! Wow, all I have is sand, easy to dig but nothing to landscape with. I have to buy them by the pound and that is mighty expensive. Haven't done anything else to my pond yet, will work on it this weekend, gonna plant a lot of little things and watch them grow, grow, grow if it ever rains here!
Zany, yours is gonna look great and the rock waterfall sounds wonderful. I would love to do that.
We decided that for this little space we will forget the falls and use the mound behind the pond for plants. I may make a fall later but finding flat rocks here is a challenge because most of them are tumbled river rock. But it is in!
Next stop...PLANTS! I still have a wheelbarrow full of rocks but don't want to put them down until I figure things out a bit more.
This message was edited Thursday, May 15th 1:15 AM
**clapping** It looks wonderful!!! Ya done good!!!
:~) *BIG GRIN* Thanks Sledder! I am determined to make this little bit of ground look good and this pond is so cute!
I can hardly believe how much we have acomplished with just 5 non rainy days at home to work on it! The Apartment manager was hanging out of her window watching along with the rest of the neighbors and said she has never seen it look so good in 15 years :~) And we have just started!
I just got back from checking for plants at a local nursery. Sure glad I had done some reading befor I went because I could have bought myself a whole lot of headaches and grief! The plants were overpriced and unhealthy and everything was covered in stringy algae and snails. The guy at the nursery tried to tell me the string algae and millions of snails are good for the pond and the more the better! I think I'll pass and try in town next week!
We went to the aquarium store and found a couple bundles of parott feather which I bought and hopefully he will get more in soon. It was cheaper than at the nursery and healthier looking too! We also picked up about 10 tiny feeder fish to put in and help stabalize the water.
Ooooh, I'm so jealous! How do you like the noise from that fountain? Sound ok, good, great? I'm not planning a waterfall at first either. Keep at it--I'm watchin every move!
Couldn't help notice your Japanese Maples--did you do them yourself? Look great!
Thanks Violabird. I love the sound of the water and it helps with privacy a bit too. Now we can have a quiet conversation without the neighbors hearing every word and it also cuts down on overhearing them.
I got the maples at Costco a week or 3 ago and planted them in large containers at each corner of the patio. So far they are doing great with no shock.
But why jealous? Your pond form is 3 times bigger than my wee baby! I'd trade you in a heartbeat if yours would fit in my space!
It has been such fun to be present for the birth of your pond, and I eagerly anticipate watching it grow up from this infant state!!!!!!
I know that DG friends have been such a help to me, both in terms of answering my specific questions, but also in providing generalized information that is quite useful. The string algae that gave me early concern has been curbed (by barley straw bales), and the water has cleared enough that I can see all the way to the bottom!!!!! I now have 3 frogs that are there all the time!! What fun!!!!!!
Kneff, I read your post about oxygenators and want to ask you something. I am in zone 5 also and I heat our ponds. The problem comes in the spring. The oxygenators are nearly all dead and what ones are not dead are slimy and sparse. I try to pull off the bad parts and keep the good and weight it down but it never makes it. My water garden sources carry hornwort and anachrys, both of which I havem as well as the usual marginal and deep water plants. What can I do so that the oxygenators overwinter? They are anchored and rooted and still don't make it. For five ponds (even tho none of them are huge) it is quite anmexpense to replace them.
Another question... I know I need to cover 2/3 to 3/4 of the water surface but how many oxigenators do I need on the bottom?
For lotusblossom--I'm not sure why my oxygenators overwinter. Most of what I have is hornwort, and it certainly doesn't look great by spring, but it comes back if I comb out the junk. Two things might contribute: First, it's pretty close to the heater, and is fairly shallow (12-15") so it gets the full benefit of the heated water. Second, we have some action in the water. For the winters of 2000 and 2001, neither of which were very cold, we had a small bubbler tube powered by an aquarium pump. This year I was disorganized enough never to get the pump turned off, so the waterfall flowed through all the freezing Michigan winter. I think we're pretty lucky that it is still working! I don't know if either warmer water or moving water make a difference or not, but the oxygenators did survive. Anacharis started growing a couple of years ago in in the water lily pot (I never purchased it; it was an unexpected bonus), which rests at about 18" deep, and I also have a pot of parrot feather, which is sitting at about 12". Sorry not to be of more help.
For Zany--a couple of bunches will do. Also, for the surface plants, I like water hyacinth best, because the leaves are beautiful even when it doesn't flower well in our partly-shady pond. But I'm not sure if you can buy it in California. It's outlawed in Arizona and several other warmer states because it's so invasive in waterways. In a cool-state pond it's wonderful, because it grows very fast and covers a large area in a surprisingly short time, then is killed by frost. So buy fewer than you think you need--maybe only two, three at the most. They'll look puny and lonely at first, but it won't take long for them to fill out, and like tomatoes and zucchini, you'll be looking for people to give them to.
Zanymuse can I back up my truck to your yard??
Went to check on river rocks for mine. 175.00 a ton. Figure I need four pick-up truck loads for mine. Big one or little ones same price. Clay here as far down as you want to go. Rock hard
You are doing great.
Just how fast is fast? Are we talking multiplying in weeks, months, seasons? I hear they make great fertilizer when you get too many and add a lot of nutrients to the compost heap.
TARogers, lol you bring the truck and we'll show you a place where you can drive down to the river and load it up at no charge. But I warn you, a good strong back is a necessity if you want to DIY! Or you can go down to one of the gravel plants, select which size you want and have then loaded by the company...about 175.00 for a large dump truck full delivered almost anywhere in this general vicinity! If you want a river rock wall you can also buy them in wire cages about 1 1/2 times the size of a large trash can presorted for size (about the size of a basketball) and in mixed or single colors...red, green, brown, gray, white and an an aqua. If that doesn't tickle your fancy you can go with sandstone which will almost always include some fossils embedded in them.But the presorted cost more...about 45.00 a ton! and delivery is extra. But for me it is mostly just what I dig up in the yard mostly.
Weeks--maybe 6. The plants make side offsets, so you'll have a center plant with 3-6 side plants connected by a stem--a lot like hens and chicks, only these float. The side plants can be separated when they're large enough, or left as they are. The parent plants get larger, too.
Hi folks. As you may know (or not) I also have many tropical fish aquariums. Hornwort will usually die off in my aquariums, kept at 76 or so. However, the hornwort in the pond returns every year. This past winter was a killer for the fish in the pond. Yet hornwort is growing nicely. I uaually dump into the pond hornwort that is 'going back' plus duckweed. They do seem to thrive, regardless of winter temps.
Kneff, thasnks for the additional info. I appreciate it.
Zanymuse, I started with one water lotus in each pond two and a half weeks ago and they each have already each produced at least one (and one has produced two) in that time.
Well, that tells me that they multiply so fast that I certainly don't have to break the bank buying duplicates to get fast coverage! Now the challenge is to find a local source that is selling healthy plants. I will go out Monday and Tuesday (my days off) and check out more local nurseries. In The meantime I enjoy the sound of the water and the Dog and Cat think it is a giant water bowl I put in just for them.
I came home this afternoon to find 3 new additions to my pond. The lady up stairs is getting impatient to see something in it so she tossed these momentos from her travels in! Think they'll eat the goldfish? LOL
Zanymuse, your pond looks great, You've done a great job. I keep a few plants that are not hardy to zone 5 in an old sink I had installed when my greenhouse was built several years ago. I don't have good luck with water hyacinths, maybe too much sun, mine is full sun. Still have green water. Never did before, but used a different kind of fertilizer this year and that may be the problem.
Sure wish I could share some of my rocks with all of you!! Donna
Thanks Donna, It is still empty except for two ;ittle bundles of parrots feather and 6 feeder fish. I hope to be able to add some plants soon. I am holding off on putting the rest of the rock area in while I mull over what final look I want. I figure the planning is half the fun so why rush it!
I know I want a dwarf water hyacinth and a water lily as well as a few floaters but am still trying to decide which ones. Once I have those in I plan to let it alone till next spring as far as additions so I don't get too carried away with plants in such a small pond.
It sure does make this little yard feel more inviting and cozy with the sound of water!
Zany.. I have elephant ears & Cannas in mine too. They are in pots so if they get too big I'll just yank them out & put more in. Our pond is only 50 gallons but got a lot in it along with 3 fantail fish. I love our little pond & the bucket ponds. The buckets each hold 20 gallons & have 2 goldfish. I took these pix today.
Zany I think it was U that said I needed some plants by the buckets.. BOY has it got plants by it now. You will love playing with your pond. I started out with 3 small Hyacinths & now need to thin them out. Our buckets can sure use the extras. Sure hope this works.
Edited as the link didn't go where I wanted it to Grrrrrrr
This message was edited Sunday, May 25th 4:33 PM
Bucket ponds..
I have a couple of canna I am thinking about adding into the pond. They are the old fashioned ones and seem to like wet soggy soil without rotting so I figure it is worth a try. I am still waiting for a chance to go into Eureka and look for Hyacinth and a couple of other floaters since the ones here were icky with string algae and looked like the roots were mushy and rotting. Hope to make it into town this week but may have to wait. All the family is coming up for my neices wedding and they start arriving tomorrow and will continue to converge upon us all week. That means I have to , GASP,, clean house ;~)
Zany, you are so funny! Sugar, your ponds look great, how long did it take you to get them to this point?
Weeds we put them in late last year.. this is the pond last year.
http://users.wfeca.net/dbaad/pond/pond8-31-02-a.jpg
Here is the buckets last year.. They sure look different *G*
http://users.wfeca.net/dbaad/pond/buckets8-20-02.jpg
Mint is a great pond plant. I am waiting for some that is supposed to be sent me for postage. I want more small water gardens & put skeeter dunks in them.
If U have the plants I think the pond can look great from day one.
Sugar
Sugar, do you use a pump in the tubs?
Zany be sure your cannas start growing in the ground..rinse the dirt from them & plant them in gravel. Put them on a shelf with not too much water over them. I think they grow slower than the ones in dirt but that is OK too. I don't have blooms yet.
In case anyone wonders about the tin can at the buckets..that has a pump for the air stones in it. We had it for the winter when we shut down the pump & just left it running. I need a new can & paint it with some flowers.. I had one on the pond this winter ..it quit on us but will get a new one before winter. Guess I better paint 2 cans *G*
Our ponds are small but we sure enjoy them.
I want something I can care for without getting in..I have a hard enough time not falling down on land *LOL*
Better get outside & fight some weeds..putting some homemade rough compost down hoping that will help. Maybe it will at least help the plants & OH NO..the weeds too. I'm removing most of the weeds 1st.
Zany just saw your post..
yes we do... it goes to a cascade (2 gallons) that is kinda like a veggie filter with lava rocks & lots of plants..that goes back into the top bucket..Then to the next & the next bucket down to the red one on the bottom..Then back up again.. U can barely see it in the pix.. there is one also in the pond. I can take closeup of them if U wish.
A pic would be nice.
About the canna, you don't plant then in dirt covered with rock like the waterlily?
Zany I came in to get the fish food... I plant everything in the pond gravel.
I'll take some pix later..need to go back out.
Zany,
Here is a pix of the pond cascade. It is in a 2 gallon container with nothing but lava rocks in it.
Bucket cascade done the same way.
Closeup of pond.
Sugar that is beautiful. Once we et the pond established and some other things done out there I may invest in a larger pump and try the bucket brigade tho add to mine!
Sugar_fl, your collection of bucket ponds is outstanding. The water stays clear for you. They are so pretty and must be nice to be near them. I have a couple of i guess you would call bucket ponds, but nothing like yours. They are buried to lip level in the ground and each has a trickle of water dripping. I planted a lotus from the lotus co-op in each of them. Until lately has been very cold, but today I think I see signs of growth from one of them. There is about 10 inches of water over the dirt, and that 10" of water is swarming with tiny polywogs. Don't know how they can all survive. Donna
Sugar, you have the knack! Those cascades look great.
The pond is still rather bare but should start filling in as things grow and the other plants I am expecting arrive. But the overall effect with the surrounding area is starting to look a bit better and not so raw looking.
Edited to add~ the blurry look to the rocks in the foreground is from my playing with photo shop filling in rocks where it was still a bit bare looking
This message was edited Saturday, Jun 7th 3:28 PM
