From time to time, I also get gardening-related questions submitted to us, so every now and then I’ll give you some general gardening tips and strategies too.  Since us plant lovers need to stick together!  So here’s a gardening-related article you should enjoy…

Almost all farms and settlements would have a type of pond and it would most definitely be different in what we think of a garden pond to be today. Most people’s impression of a backyard pond is a small area of water with some fish and plants and a pond pump running a small fountain.

A modern day pond is nothing like a village or farm pond was centuries ago. A pond was a vital source of water in communities and farms. The water would be used by both animals and humans. When water supply and drainage became available everywhere many ponds were neglected and were either filled in or became overgrown.

This article is about how to plan to build a garden pond. The natural environment for pond life to survive is reducing every single day because of land shortages and pollution. To entice wildlife into their backyard many people build a pond.

This guide can help you with the planning stage. The planning stage of pond building is the most significant thing that you need to do. Its well worth the investment in time to get it right.

You really do need to sit down with some pen and paper and decide what your finished pond should look like. Without doubt the location of the pond is the most crucial thing to consider.

The location of the pond should not be exposed to direct sunshine for more than 5 hours per day. If your home does not have shelter from the sun consider purchasing a number of plants and bushes to provide some protection.

In countries that are cooler then the amount of direct sunshine exposed to the pond tends to get slightly less important. The pond should if possible be seen easily from your home as it will hopefully immediately grab your attention when you go out into your back garden.

A natural balance is more stable in larger ponds, and therfore much easier  when maintaing a garden pond, the size is calculated from water volume. If you are limited to size in your back garden then to gain more water volume then you will need to either construct a deeper pond or a raised pond.

The pond size will also have to match the type and quantity of fish that you plan to keep. It is vital that the pond is deep enough so that it can never totally freeze. During winter fish will spend most of the time in the deepest part of the pond.

It is a good idea to work out the actual water volume during the planning stage. When adding water remedies it is necessary to know the exact volume of water in your pond.

If you want to appeal to wildlife like frogs and newts to your pond you will have to build it at ground level. Design the pond so that other animals like hedge hogs can climb out if they fall in.

A good pond will have three areas, a shallow marshy, middle and deeper areas. This is ideal if goes around the whole circumference but this is often not practical for example if you want to create a waterfall. Roughly 20% of a ponds surface should be shallow.

One way of gaining this is to have a tiered pond design. Having a shallow area will enable you to have a variety of different pond plants. The middle region should be deep enough for planting water lilies and must give plenty of room for your desired fish to swim freely.

The final portion will be to deeper area, as mentioned this is critical for fish survival in winter months, typically 20%-30% of the surface area.

The shape of your pond is also a consideration. It is thought that fish favor a rounded shape rather than a square shape, but there is very little evidence to support this opinion. If the pond is built with a pond liner then you will be get a bigger pond if you make it an oval shape than if it was square or rectangular.

Finally if you have small children then make sure you build a pond surround to keep them safe.

From time to time, I also get gardening-related questions submitted to us, so every now and then I’ll give you some general gardening tips and strategies too.  Since us plant lovers need to stick together!  So here’s a gardening-related article you should enjoy….

If you are new to gardening , but have seen wonderful gardens around where you live, it can be scary to even get started. You will, however, get better with it over time. . You just need to know some basic things to get started with gardening .

Start the gardening process by planning what kind of garden you would like . Do you want herbs, vegetables, a flower garden, or a mix of all three?

If you choose flowers, do you want annuals that need to be planted every year, or do you want a perennial garden with flowers that have a shorter blooming period but will come back next year?

Also consider the region in which you live. Some plants are more likely to thrive in certain areas of the country . Often seed packets indicate which areas of the country produce the best results. Your local gardening center will also be able to help you make the right choice .

After you decide what you want to plant, you need to find the best spot in your yard.

Look for a place with easy access to water, proper drainage and direct sunlight. Consider putting the garden in a spot that you look at every day, such as outside a kitchen or bath window. It will not only be a lovely sight, but will also help remind you when the garden needs water and weeding.

Now that you’ve chosen the spot , it is time to start digging.

It is important to find the right time for this job – you can ruin the soil’s structure if you begin digging when it is too wet or too dry. One simple idea is that you should dig only when the soil is moist enough to create a dirt ball in your hand, but dry enough that the ball will fall apart when dropped.

Use a spade or spade fork to turn over eight to twelve inches of soil, and mix in organic matter as you work. Mix organic matter with the soil for approximately three weeks before planting your seeds. This will improve your soil’s water store and soil buffering.

Test your soil’s pH before you plant. Some plants prefer more acidic soil, some prefer more alkaline, and some are happiest in neutral soil. Pay attention to your soil’s pH levels – it really may make the difference between a thriving garden and one that fails .

After beginning the process of improving your garden’s soil , start shopping for plants. Visit your local gardening center, read magazines and brochures, or use this gardening guide to find inspiration for what you would like to plant in your backyard.

There are plenty of annuals, perennials and vegetables that are perfect  for beginning gardeners. Cosmos, marigolds, impatiens, geraniums, sunflowers and zinnias are perfect first-time annuals.

Beginner’s perennials include lambs ear, lazy susans, coneflowers and daylilies. If you are interested in vegetables, consider planting lettuce, peppers, tomatoes or cucumbers in your first garden since these grow quite well and are relatively easy to care for.

If you bought small plants instead of seeds, gradually enter them to bright sunlight. Many greenhouses and gardening stores keep their plants inside and away from direct sun.

Start by putting the plants on a covered porch , then move them to an area that gets sunlight for a portion of the day and finally plant them in the ground.

Water your plants only weekly, at first. Use a soaker hose in the mornings for the best results – this is also the eco-friendly thing to do.

Any more water and you will run the risk of drowning your plants. Once they start growing well , water according to the guidelines for each plant, as well as your area’s rainfall.

Don’t forget to keep your garden tools clean ! While this may may not seem to make any sense since you use the tools in dirt, it is very important. Dirty gardening tools can attract microbes that will harm your plants. Using clean gardening tools is one of the easiest ways to keep your plants free from disease and infestation .

If a full-blown backyard garden sounds too challenging , consider a kitchen garden, a container garden or a square foot garden.

Container gardening simply involves making use of containers like old porcelain bowls, and things like tires or other items you no longer need.

First, decide whether you would like to keep your plants inside or outside, then you can choose the containers that seem to be best for the need .

When picking a container, there are a few things to consider . The height of the plant when it is fully grown and mature , whether it needs partial or full sun and the length of the bloom time are all factors that will help you decide which kind of container you will need.

Square foot gardening is another great option . These are small gardens with lots of plants nicely packed in them . It is a form of organic gardening done in closely planted, raised beds.

Square foot gardening is a fine option for people who live in areas with bad soil, newbie gardeners or those with disabilities that keep them from caring for a traditional garden. Square foot gardens necessitate less weeding, less water and fewer pesticides than conventional gardens.

Now you are ready to begin planting just what you want! Gardening is a fun way to connect with nature and to give your family fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers to enjoy all summer long.

Families are always trying to save money any way they can, and gardening may be one of the best ways to do that!

You can grow healthy food right in your backyard. Not only will you be able to walk outside for fresh vegetables or flowers, you will know exactly what has gone into the food your family is eating.

And if you follow some of the elementary principles of organic gardening, you can grow safe and healthy organic food just steps from your kitchen window !