17 September 2009

The Best Ways to Maintain and Enhance Your Outdoor Water Features

By Paula Alford

Big or tiny you can make your yard a place of beauty and serenity with a small pond. By employing a little imagination and some cash saving techniques you can enjoy a one of a kind focal point that won't break your bank.



Keeping It Clean

Use an aquarium vacuum that you can get at any pet store or pet area of a department store. This easy tool is mainly a long hose with a broad based suction head to cover as much area as workable while being comfortable to control. This should be done once a week in the summer months. You will need to replace the water you remove during cleaning.

Add a waterfall or other water freshening to hold algae down. A waterfall or aerator adds oxygen to the water which is beneficial if you want to keep fish in your pond as well as to restrict algae levels. They also help keep the water circulating and temperature lower to avoid an algae bloom that will make your water green.

Light It Up

Station lights in strategic locations around the edge of your pool in the plants, rocks, or even below the surface of the water. Set the timer to turn on a few minutes before sundown, and set it to go off a few minutes after your typical bedtime. Using timers will diminish the cost of lighting your pond so that the lights are only on during the times you are most likely to see them.

Save Money on Water Use

Make use of self contained pond and filter elements so that you only have to restore water once a week when cleaning your pond. Buy the best filter you can afford and make sure it is the correct size for your pond so that you have to replace dirty water less frequently

Plant Care

Plants can improve visual attractiveness to your pond as well as help keep the water in decent condition. Letting plants grow out of constraint, however, can have the reverse effect as well as letting them form mold and mildew. Keep your plants satisfactorily pruned and check on them often.

Chemicals

If your water gets out of hand on you in spite of your consistent efforts you can add chemicals to limit algae or other contaminants that can trigger gray water. If you have your pond populated with fish be sure any chemicals are nontoxic for use with live animals. Most pond supply stores only stock algaecides and enzyme products that are harmless to use with fish.

Conclusion

A pond is typically a highlight of any landscape and requires monitoring and maintenance. It can grow to be a hobby of sorts, because once you have one you experience a yearning to keep improving it. Stay within your funds and remember to enjoy it. By following the easy ideas mentioned you can manage your pond and appreciate its anticipated natural and emotional beauty.

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