Low-Maintenance Lawn Care

Having a nice looking lawn in front of your house is important. The lawn is going to make or break the look of your house - it’s really as simple as that. If your lawn is all brown and patchy, then your home is simply not going to shine. With a little care though, a lawn can look magnificent therefore making your home magnificent as well. If you have a grass lawn all you will have to do is get some fertilizer every now and then, and some insecticide and mow regularly. That doesn’t sound like too much or does it?

To keep your lawn looking lush and fabulous you are going to have to take care of it. Lawn care and lawn maintenance does not have to be hard but it does need to be consistent. The very first thing that you need to do when you move into a new home or when you are having one built is to decide if you actually need a lawn. There are other alternatives such as clover.

Planting clover instead of grass will make your lawn care and lawn maintenance much easier. You will not have to worry about fertilizer as much and you will not have to mow it even a fraction of the amount you would if you planted normal grass. And clover is a natural insecticide. This is nice because many people prefer not to lay down insecticide because much of these chemicals are not good for the environment. And let’s face it, fertilizer is a giant pain in the butt, not to mention that it can be pretty expensive.

Yes, clover seems to solve most of the problems that people have with their lawns. Easy lawn care is the key and with clover you have practically zero lawn maintenance to worry about. Easy lawn care is especially welcome in places where it gets super hot in the summer. No one wants to be dragging around a mower every few days in 100-degree weather. Cumbersome lawn care and lawn maintenance is virtually eliminated when you choose clover instead of grass.

If you still want a plain grass lawn you can add some clover seed to the grass seed. This will help to act as a natural insecticide and fertilizer. This kind of addition is easy, cheap and it will save you tons of money and work when it comes to lawn care and lawn maintenance.

I found the following quite informative report: http://www.special-reports-site.com/lawncare

James Wilson is author of "How to Write Search Engine Friendly Articles and Press Releases" and is founder and editor of Vegas Buzz News ( http://www.vegasbuzzz.com )

If you are a serious gardener, you spend lots of time outdoors. And, for sure, you would rather be tending your plants than swatting mosquitoes.

While there are many things you can do to keep mosquitoes away, there are some plants that will beautify your yard and help repel mosquitoes.

As one more way to keep mosquitoes away from you and your yard, try planting these attractive plants.

HORSEMINT

Horsemint has a scent similar to citronella. Horsemint grows wild in most of the Eastern United States, from Mexico, Texas up to Minnesota to Vermont. It is partial to sandy soils and will grow in USDA Zones 5-10. Native Americans used it as a treatment for colds and flu. It has natural fungicidal and bacterial retardant properties because it’s essential oils are high in thymol.

ROSEMARY

This wonderful herb we use for seasoning is also a great, natural mosquito repellant. It has been used for centuries to keep pesky mosquitoes away. Rosemary is a native of the Mediterranean, so it likes hot, dry weather and well-drained soil. It is hardy in USDA zones 8-10, and must be grown as a pot plant in colder climates. If you happen to live in a part of the country where rosemary does not grow, you can get a good quality rosemary essential oil; mix 4 drops with ¼ cup olive oil. Store in a cool, dry place. When it comes to fresh plant oils as natural mosquito repellants, there is every reason to have the plant in your yard, if they will grow in your area. It is an inexpensive and attractive way to boost the appearance of the landscape and have natural mosquito repellants on hand as well.

MARIGOLDS

Organic gardeners have used marigolds as companion plants to keep aphids away. Mosquitoes don’t like its scent any better (and some humans feel the same way). Marigolds are sun-loving annuals that come in a variety of shapes and sizes for almost any landscape. They are quite easy to grow from seed.

AGERATUM

This charming little bedding plant contains coumarin, and mosquitoes detest the smell. It is used in the perfume industry and is even in some commercial mosquito repellants. Don’t rub ageratum on your skin, though. It has some other less desirable elements that you don’t want to keep on your skin in quantity. Ageratums are annuals, and the come in a muted blue and white that compliments most other plantings.

MOSQUITO PLANTS

There are two types of plants that are called mosquito plants. One is a member of the geranium family that was genetically engineered to incorporate the properties of citronella. Citronella only grows in tropical places, but it is a well known repellant for mosquitoes. This plant was created to bring the repellant properties of citronella into a hardier plant. It will grow where any geranium will thrive. Many have questioned its usefulness as a mosquito repellant, but it is attractive enough to warrant planting for it’s ornamental value.

The other kind of mosquito plant is agastache cana. Its common names include Texas hummingbird mint, bubblegum mint, giant hyssop, or giant hummingbird mint. As you might guess, hummingbirds are quite attracted to it.

It is a New Mexico native, also found in parts of Texas. It is, in fact, a member of the mint family and its leaves do have a pungent aroma when crushed. In its native habitat, it is perennial, and is usually hardy in USDA Zones 5a-9a. It blooms late summer to early fall, so it catches hummingbirds on their annual migration. The long, medium pink flowers reel in butterflies as well.

CATNIP

One of the most powerful mosquito repellant plants is ordinary catnip. Recent studies have shown that it is ten times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes. It is a short lived perennial throughout most of the United States. It is easy to grow from seed, and quickly reseeds. Aside from its intoxicating effects on cats, the leaves make a very soothing tea.

With all of these plants, the leaves must be crushed to release the aroma. Otherwise mosquitoes can’t smell them. And, with rosemary and catnip, you can simply crush a few leaves and rub on your skin and clothing to enhance the effect.

So, next time you are revising your plantings, consider using some of these attractive plants to do more than just enhance the landscape. You can have pretty ornamentals that also drive mosquitoes away.

About The Author

Scottie Johnson is a life long mosquito warrior and freelance writer dedicated to eliminating mosquitoes from her life. She is also an organic gardener. For more information about mosquito control in your home and yard, visit her website at http://www.mosquito-kill-net.com. Copyright 2004 All rights reserved. Copies of this article may be used on websites and in e-zines provided the resource biography and URL are not removed prior to reproduction.

info@mosquito-kill-net.com

The Perennial Plant Association has picked Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’ as its 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year. The cultivar name is English for ‘Feuerhexe’ - the original German cultivar name. The common name for this easy-to-grow, sun-loving perennial is ‘Firewitch’ Cheddar Pink.

This dianthus cultivar, like other members of the carnation genus, has flowers with an appealing fragrance of spicy clove.

‘Firewitch’ has low-growing, bluish-gray leaves that stay evergreen in most climates. Its flowers are purple to magenta pink and bloom for weeks in mid-spring.

2006 Perennial Plant of the Year: How to grow

Dianthus or Cheddar Pink ‘Firewitch’ has a mat-forming growth habit. Its leaves grow about three to four inches tall, and the flower stems, which cover the entire plant when in bloom, grow about eight inches tall.

This Cheddar Pink is hardy from USDA Zones 3 to 9, and easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil.

You can encourage more flowers by shearing off the finished blooms right after flowering in mid-spring. This promotes a second flush of color in summer – and if you shear them again, you will even get flowers in early autumn. Remember: As with most perennials that rebloom, the first flush of color will always be the strongest.

The 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year - How to use in the garden

A low-growing perennial like Dianthus ‘Firewitch’ makes a great edging plant for flower beds or the herb garden. It also grows beautifully in the rock garden or between stones in dry stone walls, or when used as a ground cover in a sunny area.

Yvonne Cunnington is a garden writer and the author of Clueless in the Garden, a guide for beginner gardeners. For more information and to view a picture of this plant, see http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/2006-perennial-plant-of-the-year.html - For more gardening tips, visit Yvonne’s site at http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com

All good things eventually come to an end and so summer is waning, even as autumn gives most of us a fresh start. I’ll bet your summer container plantings aren’t really benefiting, though, from the "back to school-oh I love a clean notebook" boost and aren’t dying as gracefully as summer itself is. You’re going to have to help them through this!

Saving Summer

I understand if you just can’t bear the thought of waving good-bye to your wave petunias just yet. That’s okay - you can bring some of your tropical annuals indoors for the winter, to ease the pain of parting with them.

If you have the space, a sunny window and enough moisture, you can save palms, ferns and other tropicals. Likely though, you’ll have more success with taking cuttings and helping your plants clone themselves. (It’s kind of like Day of the Triffids without the evil.)

Pick a healthy plant with no nasty bugs or blights. With a sharp knife, cut off non-flowering stems 3-4 inches (8-11 cm) long, and strip the leaves off the lower two-thirds of the stem. Dip the cut edges in rooting hormone, available at your local nursery, and stick them in dampened sand or peat moss, or a glass of tap water. Place the pot, tray or glass in a sunny spot and wait 3-4 weeks. If the cuttings are in sand or peat, don’t forget to water to keep them damp throughout that time.

When the roots are at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, you can plant them in potting soil in attractive containers and winter them on a sunny windowsill or table. This method works well with annuals such as geraniums (pelargonium), coleus, and some ivies. You can also try propagating impatiens this way.

Cleaning Up

Now that you’ve rescued what you can, get ruthless and empty all of your other outdoor containers. If you have a compost heap, chop up the remains and toss them there. Soil too! This is particularly important if you’ve been using terracotta or ceramic containers, as the moisture in the soil will expand when it freezes and you’ll end up with cracked pots. (If there are any crackpots around my house, I want them to be of the human variety!)

Next, wash out the empty containers to remove any disease and fungal spores. If your terracotta pots have a white build-up from water, potting soil and fertilizer chemicals, soak them for 24 hours in white vinegar and water with some baking soda added. Then scrub them with a stiff brush in warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly.

Air or sun dry the containers and then stack them with layers of newspaper between each. If you have a spot to store them where they won’t freeze over the winter months, all the better. If not, as long as you’ve made certain the pots are dry and well layered with paper, they should be fine until the spring.

Now you’re ready to put on a show of fall color. I can tell you EVERYTHING you need to know. Check under “Fall Planting Tips” on the fre*e articles page of my webs-site.

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and Garden” is now available on her web site. Visit her at http://www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”.

debbie@paradiseporch.com

Roses are a favorite plant for landscaping and can be used in a variety of ways. These beautiful flowers can make the exterior of any home more elegant and inviting and choosing the right ones that will compliment your landscape and add to the style of your home is an important task.

Fortunately, the number of ornamental landscape roses make finding them an easy task. The difficulty consists of choosing the right ones from this variety. There are a number of classes of roses whose characteristics make them great for use as landscape ornamentals. For instance, the gardener who wants to grow roses up and over an archway or a trellis may want to use tall growing tea roses. Tea roses are renowned for their nodding blooms, therefore all who pass under the arch would be treated to the beautiful sight of roses in full bloom.

Roses are commonly seen climbing a wall or an arbor. For this type of landscape, the true climbing rose is the best choice. True climbing roses can be trained to many different effects, including climbing up the length of the structure, or accenting the tops and sides of a wall or building.

If you want a great background rose bush, the Polyantha or modern day Floribunda is a perfect match. These rose bushes have large sprays of blooms and can go well in a garden next to the house or anywhere that your landscape needs color.

Some rose bushes are rather large and should be planted at the back of your garden, but there are miniature or low growing China roses that are perfect to plant in front of other plants. Roses can even be used as hedges, with modern Shrub roses and Rugosa roses being excellent choices.

Color is an important consideration for your roses and you need to think about where you will be planting the roses and what color is needed for that area. Luckily, roses come in many shapes, sizes and colors so there is a rose for every spot in the garden.

When picking a rose plant for a certain area, be sure that it complimentsthe surrounding landscape. For instance, a spray of plain white tea roses can be striking against a dark red brick home, or an arrangement of pink roses can be the perfect compliment to a stone or marble entranceway. With so many colors of roses to choose from, it should be easy to find colors that compliment and enhance any decorating scheme.

One popular trend in the world of landscaping is to use a variety of different plants and flowers in the landscape. Whereas single species landscaping was in vogue a few years ago, most of today’s gardeners like to use a mix of different colors, species and styles of plants. Doing so not only makes for a vibrant garden, but it is thought to enhance the health of the soil as well.

Due to the large variety, roses work well in every concievable place in the garden and can be a beautiful part of an overall landscape of plants and flowers. There is also a rose for every climate so gardeners everywhere can enjoy this beautiful and timeless flower.

Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden and Patio where you can find more articles on gardening, garden ponds, garden decor and much more.

What is nicer that a lovely backyard garden pond. The lush growth rising above the water, graceful fish darting about and the soothing sound of the water. These are just a few of the reasons people are drawn to water gardens.

But when you think about adding a water feature to your garden, you are torn, because you know that a charming pond can also be a mosquito hatchery. And, everyone is concerned; rightly, about mosquitoes and the diseases they spread.

It is true, mosquitoes do need water to breed, but at the same time, there are so many effective ways to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in ponds, you should not let that stop you. Water gardeners are in a unique position; they can have wet spaces that can actually help stop mosquitoes from breeding.

Just a few simple precautions are all you need to feel safe and enjoy such a wonderful addition to the landscape.

If you have a water garden, or want one, try these suggestions.

With the growing concern about mosquito diseases, like West Nile virus, malaria, and dengue fever, it is natural to feel reluctance to add any water source around your home. With the right precautions, you can beautify your garden and still feel secure that you are not inviting mosquitoes into your immediate environment.

If water gardening appeals to you, just educate yourself, take the needed precautions, and get ready to enjoy the beauty and serenity a water feature adds to your home.

About The Author

Scottie Johnson is a life long mosquito warrior and freelance author. For more detailed information about mosquito kill and having a mosquito free life, please visit her website at www.mosquito-kill-net.com.

Copyright 2004, all rights reserved.

This article may be duplicated for use provided all biographical information and web links are preserved.

article@mosquito-kill-net.com

Having a pond in the backyard will definitely be an eye catching sight for everyone. The sound of water, beautiful fishes and exotic plants all makes your mind cool and relaxed besides feeling fresh. So if you think you can feel fresh, relaxed and cool by making your backyard beautiful, now is the best time to start it.

Having a pond in your backyard is not a tough job. It can be easily done with some proper planning and implementation. This article deals with various techniques and strategies that you can make use of while building a backyard pond.

Finding the best suited pond

Before starting pond building the first question you have to solve is in relation to the type of pond that you want to build. Solving this question will help to find answers for where to locate the pond, what features to include, how much depth and width to keep etc.

Generally home ponds are of the following kinds

1.) Basic ponds

2.) Water gardens

3.) Koi ponds

4.) Wildlife ponds

Basic ponds

These are ponds that have been built to include basic water features. Such ponds may not have any exotic pond plants or pond life. These kinds of ponds are easy to build and the calculations involved in building is also less.

Water gardens

Water gardens are ponds having water falls, pond plants and pond life like exotic fishes. The depth of these ponds should be at least 2-3 feet with a view to keep the fishes and the water plants healthy. This kind of ponds can be located in open spaces away from deciduous trees so that the maintenance can be reduced.

Koi ponds

Koi ponds are ponds that are specially designed to keep koi. The water capacity of these ponds depends upon the number of koi fishes that you are planning to introduce It is advisable to locate koi ponds in shady area away from direct sunlight.

Wildlife ponds

These are ponds specially designed for keeping wildlife. Such ponds include frog, turtles etc apart from fishes and pond plants. The specifications for this pond are similar to that of water garden.

Techniques to be followed while building ponds

In simple words any one of the undrementioned techniques can be used to your pond. The first two techniques can be managed by yourselves while you have to opt for professional labor if you have to go for the third one.

Making use of a flexible pond liner

The use of proper pond liner is highly appreciated, especially you are a beginner. This process includes finding out a best suited spot for the pond in your backyard. Even you can make use of garden hose or clack to mark the spot and at last measurements have to be taken for buying the flexible liner. You can have the liner from any shop dealing with pond products making sure that they deal with high quality products.

If you have got a shovel, you can start digging the marked spot. The depth of the dig depends on the type of pond that you are planning to make. After that the liner has to be placed into the excavated part and the edges are to be covered with decorative stones. The next step is to fill the water by garden hose. Pond filters can be introduced with a view to keep the pond water neat and clean.

Proper use of performed garden ponds

In order to make things simpler you can make use of preformed garden ponds that are available in the market in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can get them ready made and make use of them as wished by you. If you are interested in a below ground pond, then you have to start the digging process as mentioned and lay the performed pond. In this case with a view to help it settle down well water can be introduced into the pond at the time of laying. At that time you have to make sure that no dirt is inside the pond to prevent damage.

Proper use of concrete

If you are planning to make use of concrete, it’s better to take professional help, because the process involved. After the concrete pond is ready, first fill it with water and wash it to remove all the chemicals. You have to repeat this for two weeks if you are planning to introduce exotic fishes and plants.

By properly following the above mentioned techniques it is possible to make your back yard colorful and attractive. Cool Pondscaping

About the Author

abcponds.com is a site specially dedicated to information regarding http://www.abcponds.com pond building. It provides valuable ideas in relation to ponding resources and design tips.

The important question of whether or not to add salt to your pond is often confusing for beginners and forgotten by experienced pond-keepers. To newbies and pro’s alike we have this to say:

"Add Salt Today to Keep the Fish Doctor Away"

True, there are some negative effects of higher salt levels on plants in the pond, but overall we think it is absolutely the very best thing you can add to your pond in terms of keeping your fish happy and healthy. Salt acts as a natural ’stress coat’ and essentially thickens the slime coat on the fish’s body - which is it’s own natural defense system against bacteria and parasites.

Salt is also very effective in killing bacteria and parasites in the pond. When added in proper doses, salting your pond can dramatically reduce the threat of disease affecting your fish.

It’s just like with humans - we are always exposed to the common cold cells in their body, but can usually resist if their immune system is strong. Similarly, pond fish and KOI are always exposed to some degree of parasite and bacteria presence in the pond, but by keeping their immune system strong and their slime coat thick, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Pond fish actively maintain a natural balance of electrolytes in their body fluids. Electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium and magnesium are removed from the water by chloride cells located in the gills. These electrolytes are essential for the uptake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide and ammonium across gill membranes.

The lack of electrolytes can cause serious health problems to the fish. Pond Salt is an all natural salt, providing the essential electrolytes fish need to survive. Pond Salt is not just a table salt ( sodium chloride ). It is made from evaporated sea water. Evaporated sea water contains the necessary electrolytes pond fish need.

How Pond Salt helps Improve Gill Function to Reduce Stress….

During periods of disease and stress, healthy gill function is disturbed. This can lead to the loss of electrolytes through the gills, sometimes called osmotic shock. Osmotic shock interrupts healthy gill function by reducing the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide and ammonium from the fish. Pond Salt reduces the risk of osmotic shock by supplying natural electrolytes through the chloride cells in the gills.

Nitrite Toxicity

Overcrowding and overfeeding can lead to elevated nitrite levels especially in newly set-up ponds. The nitrite ion NO 2 enters the gills and prevents the blood from carrying oxygen resulting in nitrite toxicity or "methemoglobinemia". Pond Salt will temporarily block the toxic effect of nitrite.

All natural Pond Salt is safe and non-toxic to all pond fish when used as directed. Pond Salt can be used safely with Pond Care water conditioners, filtration materials and fish foods.

Directions for Use:

1. When used as a general tonic for fish, and as a stress reducer, add 2 -1/2 cups full (728g) of Pond Salt for each 100 gallons (378 L) of pond water. Sprinkle salt evenly around the perimeter of the pond. Avoid any contact between salt crystals and pond plants. If this is not feasible, pre-dissolve salt first.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once added to a pond, salt does not evaporate and is not filtered out. Pond Salt should only be added as directed; with each water change, or when fish have been treated with medications.

2. When used to reduce stress in separate treatment tanks or during fish transportation, use 4 tablespoons full (95.2g) of Pond Salt for each 10 gallons (37.8L) of water.

For the health of your pond and environment, it is important that you test pond water regularly. We recommend Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Dry-Tab Master Test Kit for Ponds to test for pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

For more information about Pond Salt, click here: http://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Additives/pondcare_pondsalt.html

About The Author

Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several pond-related websites including macarthurwatergardens.com and pond-filters-online.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000 pond owners. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive a complimentary ‘New Pond Owners Guide’ for joining, just visit MacArthur Water Gardens at his website.

It is known to everyone that landscaping will make the yard very attractive, at the same time attractiveness is not the sole benefit that we can enjoy from a properly planed and implemented landscaping. It is rightly said that we have to put our effort to gain some benefits. This is applicable in the case of landscaping also. But it is not possible for every one who is interested in landscaping to spend enough time for landscaping because of various reasons. Here’s where comes the importance of firms that are engaged in providing landscaping services.

The following are the simple but the most important points that you have to consider while choosing a landscaping firm.

Make an outline of your own idea

If you have your own idea with regard to landscaping, first convert that idea into a sheet of paper. After that decide on the things that you want in the landscape like patios, pools, vines, trees, colors etc. Then start looking for a landscaping company. But it is not necessary that everyone must have the idea about their own landscapes, in such cases the help of a professional company is needed from the very beginning.

Analyzing the options

It is very important to locate the company first for making use of the services provided by it. This can be accomplished through searching online or by using an online or offline landscape company directory. You can even ask your friends and relatives for collecting the contact details.

Contacting the concerned officials

The next step is to meet the officials of various companies’s, and if you are a person having your own idea communicate your idea with them or you can ask them for various plans. Also ask about the applicator (the person who is going to work with you) that will be associated with your loan and if possible meet him. This is because for better results there should be a good understanding between you and the applicator. If the applicator doesn’t suits you it’s advisable to move to another company.

Ensure the firm is authorized to do the work

This is a major point that cannot be ignored. You have to make sure that the company you are contacting is properly authorized by the authorities to do such kind of work. For this purpose you have to ensure that the company is having valid license, certifications etc. Always check for the firm’s federal identification number.

Verify the existence of the company

It’s always better to enquire about the time the company has been in existence. This is because of the fact that a company that has been in existence over a period of time will have the knowledge and experience in doing the work, so that they can implement your work in a better way than your expectation.

Analyze the past and present projects of the company

It’s always better to make an analysis of the past projects of the company directly by visiting. This gives you a good idea about the work of the company and what the company is really capable of. If possible try to speak to the owner of the landscape, so that you can have an idea of the service of the company. In addition to completed projects, visiting of on going projects will provide some idea about quality of work, job presence, crew’s appearance etc

Get assurances regarding maintenance

Landscapes require year round maintenance in order to keep them attractive at all times. So while choosing a landscaping firm it is very important to ensure that they will provide the required timely maintenance. You can give information about the maintenance offered from the firm itself as well as from people who are currently using their services.

Insist on a legally valid agreement

Once you have selected the landscaping firm, you have to ask for a legally binding agreement that contains each and every aspects of the contract. The contract has to be signed by concerned parties. The agreement should contain details regarding plants, proposed design and materials to be used, terms of payment, duration of work, maintenance, guarantees, total cost involved, starting and finishing of work.

The above mentioned tips will definitely help you in finding the best suited landscaping firm for making your yard attractive and beautiful. Happy Landscaping.

Author Descrpition

dreamlandscaping.com deals with advanced and latest tips in relation to landscaping. The site also provides design tips, http://www.dreamlandscaping.com landscaping information and landscaping resources. The site also includes a glossary that deals with various terms related to landscaping.

California has earthquakes; we in the south and east coast have hurricanes. One thing we all share is power outages. Ours are usually caused by storms. Most power outages last only a few hours and only happen a few times a year. A hurricane is always a threat that hopefully will never happen or have only a minimal consequence. Flooding may be more common then a power interruption and both can happen at the same time.

A well built well thought out well designed pond will survive a big storm with a long power outage, lots of rain and flooding. This pond also will be less worrisome during the numerous smaller but strong storms. The most obvious and the most popular is the garden pond. It has few fish so it does not need extra filter or aeration. There is enough surface area for oxygen levels to be sufficient. The surfaces of the pond and plants handle the filtration. A koi pond should be able to stand-alone for hours without danger of quick suffocation or toxic waste build up. The key is in the number of fish. Conditions in an over stocked over fed pond will quickly deteriorate. A lesser or under stocked pond will always be healthier, have less maintenance, and survive periods of no power.

Heavy rain can make a pond quickly overflow or be flooded out. Heavy rains can cause a rapid change in the pH and the temperature of your pond water. Check your inventory of chemicals such as pH adjustors, Amquel or Ammo Lock. Heavy rains can cause a change in the pH and the temperature of your pond water. Water with higher alkalinity will have a stable pH. Buffers can be used like baking soda will help keep ph stable. If it is possible use a tarpaulin a few feet above the surface to permit airflow yet keep rains out.

A pond should be built with the top above grade. Six inches is minimum and twelve inches is better. This can be a raised wall or lip. It also can be graded out and still have an in ground look. This will make rainwater drain away from the pond instead of into it. Choosing a spot that is not the low spot that always floods should be avoided or built higher. ? If at ground level consider surrounding the perimeter with a wall of sand bags 1 or 2 bags high. Drastic, but it has been done. This may protect your fish from being washed away and never to be seen again. Is it possible to set up a portable show tank, maybe in a garage or other protected area? We know that with changes to their environment, Koi will often jump. Murphy says that they will land in the worst possible location. A net surrounding the edge or covering the pond is therefore advisable.

An overflow drain is easy to build and may be the most used and important design of a pond. Without an overflow the water level will never be constant, be hard to maintain and get too high during a storm flowing over the top. An overflow drain should be large enough to handle large amounts of water I like four inch pipe. It can be above the waterline or stubbed up from below. It needs to drain to an area that can handle a lot of water. A storm drain, a dry well or a drain field, which is a large hole with gravel in it, then covered work well. Making a bog area where the overflow water goes also works. Just take care that it does not flood someone else. Having the waterline above grade makes any overflow drain simple.

Lower stocking and overflow drains are simple ways of making a pond storm proof but there is more we can do. Most of us like to be heavily stocked with more fish then we should have. We may not want our fish not to have periods of low oxygen or risk an ammonia build up. One solution is to have an emergency generator that can be started automatically when the power goes out. They may not be too expensive for the piece of mind and convenience they provide. A portable generator can be used for some or all your equipment but will have to be started and switched usually during a storm. Both of these solutions work but will need fuel on hand and tested regularly for events that may only happen once or twice a year or a big event that may never happen.

Lets say we are in a hurricane watch or a tropical storm warning and we have five days to get ready. There are a few simple things you can do and a few simple items you should have on hand that could save your fish until power comes back on in a few days.

1: STOP FEEDING!

Koi will be fine for a week with no food. With no food the amount of ammonia produced will be dramatically reduced. This is a common practice when taking koi to a show to prevent ammonia build up in holding tanks. Koi excrete the most ammonia right after they eat so if bad weather is approaching you may want to skip a meal. The longer the better. 3-5 days of no food will make a huge difference.

2: WATER TREATMENTS.

Products like Amquel or Ammo Lock are products that bind ammonia and prevent it from harming fish. These products should be on hand normally. You can test your water for ammonia and use these products to control it. Make sure your test is a salicylate type as opposed to a Nessler rent base kit that will give false readings with ammonia control chemicals. Mydor is one brand of test kit that will work.

3: SHADE

Storms happen during the summer when it is sunny and hot. A tarp on PVC legs or rope over the pond will help keep the temperature down. This will help keep the dissolved oxygen up and make the fish more comfortable. With no power or air conditioning it may also be a nice place to be. I have seen some inexpensive quick garden shade canopies that could be used.

4: EMERGENCY POWER.

A car battery and a power inverter can run an air pump and air stone for hours. The battery can be kept charged with a charger on low and a timer so it is not charging all the time. When the power goes out you plug your air pump into the inverter. Aeration using this method is very efficient, low in cost and easy to do. You may have these items already. For longer periods of time you can recharge the battery with a car, self start lawnmower, motorcycle or small emergency generator. You also can find complete units like the XP600 for $279.95 from Aquatic eco- systems. Small emergency generators are good on fuel and can provide many hours of aeration.

5: HYDROGEN PEROXIDE.

This is another item that should be on hand. It can be added to the pond and add huge amounts of dissolved oxygen to a system. Simply use ½ to 1 cup per 100 gallons. Apply with a squirt bottle forcefully under the surface of the water. 60 squirts is good for 100 gallons

6: FILTERS

Bacteria in a filter will go anaerobic without oxygen. It will start going bad and producing toxic wastes like hydrogen sulfide. A few hours may be ok but if the power is out for more than a few hours you should not pump right back into the pond. You should back wash your filter first. If it is an open filter you can have air stones on your emergency power to help keep the filter aerobic and living.

7: GROUNDING

Make sure that all equipment is grounded with heavy wire and GFI protected. This will lessen them being damaged by lightning, storm surges and shorts from wet weather.

This is only intended to be a brief guide and in no way details all steps that can or should be taken in an event.

In summary plan for flooding and power outages. Do not to over stock unless you have the equipment to support a livable condition. Plan for ammonia build up with no filtration by chemical treatments and halting of food. Emergency power works most efficiently with aeration. Most storms are short or do little real damage. Having a plan to handle them will make life less stressful for you and your fish.

To read the full article, click here: https://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Newsletters/Storm-warnings-for-ponds.shtml/

About The Author

Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several pond-related websites including macarthurwatergardens.com and pond-filters-online.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000 pond owners. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive a complimentary ‘New Pond Owners Guide’ for joining, just visit MacArthur Water Gardens at his website.

brett@macarthurwatergardens.com