Mark The Pond Guy's Front Yard

I miss going to sleep to the sound of water, feeding the koi, and even fishing in the big “Swim Pond”. So last week I purchased a Patio Pond for my apartment balcony. I chose the 24″ European Terra Cotta Patio Pond, which is small enough to fit comfortably on my balcony, yet large enough for a water lily, some floaters, a marginal plant, and a couple goldfish. I even installed a fountain and LED light to the Patio Pond for sound and aesthetic purposes.

Heather's Patio Pond

Patio Ponds are available through The Pond Store. They’re super easy to set up and require very little maintenance!

- Heather Harp

• Will not heat pond water
• Will not overheat when being used out of water
• Long bulb life
• Small compact design
• Contemporary look
• Photocell included – turns light on at dusk and off at dawn
• Complete with stand and soil spike

Aquascape’s new Pond and Landscape LED Light Kits are now available on our Online Store and at The Pond Store.

I. ensata

Iris

Habit: marginal aquatic perennial

Height: 8″-5′

Spread: 2′ or more

Hardiness: zones 2-8

Few gardens are without at least one iris, but regular gardens often miss out on the iris selections that prefer to grow in water. These classic plants will add a new dimension to your water feature.

Growing

Irises grow best in full sun but tolerate partial shade. The soil should be average to fertile, humus rich and moist to wet, in water up to 4″ deep.

Division is rarely required but can be done between mid-summer and fall when the plants begin to produce fewer flowers or to propagate new plants.

Tips

Popular plants for the margins of a water feature, irises can also be grown in bog gardens and in moist areas around the pond.

Recommended

I. pseudoacorus

I. pseudoacorus (yellow flag iris) grows 3-5′ tall and forms clumps of narrow, upright foliage. It bears bright yellow flowers with brown or purple markings in mid- and late summer. Cultivars with variegated leaves or double flowers are available.

I. siberica (Siberia iris) forms clumps of grassy leaves and grows 2-4′ tall. It normally bears purple flowers in early summer, but cultivars may have pink, blue, white, yellow or red flowers instead.

I. versicolor (blue flag iris) grows 8-32″ tall and spreads 2′, forming clumps

I. siberica

of upright foliage. This native of eastern North America bears flowers in varied shades of purple in early and mid-summer.

Problems & Pests

Usually problem free, irises have rare problems with iris borers, whiteflies, weevils, thrips, slugs, snails, rot, leaf spot and rust.

Excerpt from Water Garden Plants for Washington and Oregon by Mark Harp & Alison Beck, 2008, Lone Pine Publishing International Inc.

Colocasia

Violet Stemmed Taro

Habit: marginal aquatic or pondside perennial

Height: 20″-6 1/2′

Spread: 20″-6 1/2′

Hardiness: tender perennial often grown as an annual

If your pond is too small to accommodate a mature elephant ears plant, it can be grown on dry land in a large container of consistently moist soil. It will make a striking addition to pondside patios and sitting areas.

Growing

Elephant ears grows best in light to full shade. The soil should be fertile, humus rich, slightly acidic and moist to wet, in water up to 8″ deep.

These plants can easily be brought indoors for winter. Simply place your potted elephant ears in a dish of water in front of a bright window with plenty of space to keep it growing. If you don’t have enough space, you can allow the plant to die back in fall and store its tuberous roots in a cool, dry place until spring. In warm places on the West Coast, it may even survive winter outside. Elephant ears can be divided in early spring.

Tips

Plant elephant ears in your pond or in a moist or boggy area next to the water feature, where its large leaves, which can grow to 36″, create a tropical appearance. If you plan to lift this plant in fall to be brought indoors, plant it in containers.

Recommended

C. esculenta

C. esculenta 

is a tuberous, warm-climate plant that produces large, heart-shaped leaves. It reaches its maximum size

over several seasons. Cultivars with dark purple or red-veined leaves are available.

Problems & Pests

Occasional problems with aphids, bacterial blight, rot, spider mites, and whiteflies can occur. However, this plant can withstand heavy insect infestations before showing any symptoms that require treatment.

Excerpt from Water Garden Plants for Washington and Oregon by Mark Harp & Alison Beck, 2008, Lone Pine Publishing International Inc.

Circulation System is really just a fancy way of saying “pumps and plumbing.” The proper size pump and pipe diameter are extremely important for the aesthetics of a water feature. More importantly, an efficient circulation system keeps the water moving and provides the necessary oxygen levels for healthy fish and plants.

Proper Filtration System includes the use of both a biological and a mechanical filter. A biological filter provides surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize and remove excess nutrients from the water. A mechanical filter will not only pre-filter the water and house the pump; it will also skim debris from the water’s surface to prevent the accumulation of organic materials on the pond floor.

Fish are an integral part of any ecosystem. Unfortunately, fish are often seen as creating a maintenance nightmare. Contrary to popular belief, fish will actually reduce pond maintenance, as they graze on string algae and bottom feed from the pond floor.

Aquatic Plants are Mother Nature’s true filters. Plants are great for adding character to a pond by providing color and texture, but from a filtration perspective, they’re second to none. Thriving from the excess nutrients in a pond and depriving algae of its food source, the aquatic plants in a water garden, given proper coverage, are critical for the overall health of the ecosystem.

Rocks, Gravel, and Bacteria have been a controversial element in the hobby for many years. Many enthusiasts have steered away from rocks and gravel out of fear that their system will become a maintenance nightmare. On the contrary, rocks and gravel will not only make your pond look more natural, they will also protect pond liners from UV light degradation and they provide tremendous surface area for beneficial bacteria to break down excess nutrients in the water and dissolved organic debris on the pond floor.

Having all these things in place makes all the difference in the health and success of your water garden. Use them and work with Mother Nature, not against her, for a chemical-free wonderland of water! The truth is that most people opt for the ecosystem way of water gardening because it’s easier and it just makes sense. A low-maintenance ecosystem pond provides you with more free time to enjoy friends and family … while gathered around your pond, of course!

For more information, click here.

M. luteus

Habit: marginal or pondside annual

Height: 6-12″

Spread: 12″

Hardiness: half-hardy or tender annual

It is always useful to have annual plants that provide color and fill spaces around perennials and shrubs that haven’t yet reached their mature size. Monkey flower is ideal for this purpose; it loves the moist conditions of a pond.

Two other species – M. luteus, with yellow flowers, and M. ringens, with pale mauve or blue flowers – are hardy perennials in most of the Pacific Northwest but don’t flower as prolifically as the hybrids. Both grow in shallow water.

Growing

Monkey flowers prefer light shade or partial shade with protection from the afternoon sun. Too much sun can make them straggly and unattractive. The soil should be fertile, humus rich and moist – don’t let it dry out.

Tips

These flowering annuals can be used to add color around the edge of your water feature or to brighten a bog garden. In ideal conditions, they will bloom for most of summer.

Recommended

M. x hybridus

M. x hybridus (hybrid monkey flower) is a bushy, low, branching plant. The many cultivars offer flowers in bright and pastel shades ranging from orange, yellow and cream to burgundy, pink and red. Bicolors are also available.

Problems & Pests

Downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold, whiteflies, spider mites and aphids can cause occasional problems.

Excerpt from Water Garden Plants for Washington and Oregon by Mark Harp & Alison Beck, 2008, Lone Pine Publishing International Inc.

The Pond Store is in full bloom!  We just received our shipments of plants and koi fish.  We are now well stocked with various sizes of koi fish and plant varieties including rushes, lilies, and water lettuces.  Stop by The Pond Store to get your pond ready for spring!

We offer FREE SHIPPING from our website to all of our clients!  If there are any pond care products you need, place an order at www.markthepondguy.com. 

Your pond cleanout includes:

• Draining the pond
• Catching fish
• Pressure washing bigger rocks
• Rinsing gravel
• Cleaning/replacing filters
• Cutting back/removing dead pond plants
• Fertilizing pond plants
• Adding salt/dechlorinator
• Adding first dose of beneficial bacteria
• Other services/products are available for an additional charge