You go out into your backyard on the weekend, or in the evening after work. You sit down in a lounge chair, listening to the sound of the breeze moving through the trees, the sounds of the insects buzzing among the flowers. It certainly is relaxing, isn't it? But could your backyard oasis be more relaxing? Chances are it could be. There is just something soothing about the sound of falling water. You can add this to your backyard with a pond or a waterfall. Can you just picture yourself relaxing next to a pond, watching goldfish gliding along lazily under the surface of the water, or relaxing next to a soothing waterfall? A backyard water feature may take some work, but the relaxation that it provides is well worth it. Just follow a few simple guidelines, and you can be enjoying your water feature for a long time.
One of the big issues with a pond is the problem of algae growth. One tip is to place the water garden in a location where it will not get a lot of direct sunlight. Sunlight is a big factor in algae growth. Adding some floating plants to help shade the water will help. A few fish will also help control the algae, especially if you add a species of fish that eats algae. Make sure that there is not too much chlorine in the water, especially if you have fish. A pump and filter will also help to keep things clean. A bit of prevention and a little bit of cleaning on occasion will go a long way in keeping algae from taking over the pond.
Plants will help to keep the water clean, and provide shelter for any fish that you have in your pond. You can find a wide variety of pond plants. Some of them will be planted underwater, while others will float on the surface. Don't skimp on plants in your pond, but at the same time, don't overwhelm your pond with too many plants.
If you do plan on keeping fish in your pond, you'll need to provide some plants to give them shade and a place to hide from potential predators. Don't overwhelm your pond with fish. Add a couple of fish, and give them a week or two to get established, then add more one or two at a time until you have a sufficient number of fish in the pond. You can find experts in your area that can guide you in the number of fish that your pond can support. Remember fish will need oxygen in the water. A waterfall, fountain, or pond aerator will add oxygen to the water.
If you are having your pond installed, then ask the installers for advice on getting started. There are also many books that can give you valuable advice, as well as websites online. Just do some research, and you'll be able to set up a successful water garden in your backyard. Then, aside from a little bit of upkeep, you can sit back, and relax to the sound of falling water.
