Outdoor Pond – Tips For Successful Backyard Ponds

 Backyard Pond, guest writer  No Responses »
Oct 222009
 

An outdoor pond is a wonderful improvement to your garden or backyard, a place for relaxing and resting while observing your small part of nature. It’s no surprise that its popularity is becoming bigger and bigger.

waterfall2
Creative Commons License photo credit: annrkiszt

Below you will find 7 essential tips to make sure your outdoor pond project is successful.

1. Inspiration from books, magazines and the Internet. You can find inspiring pond photo books in your local library or bookstore; also websites like flickr.com and youtube.com can be researched for images, tutorials and tips.

2. Inspiration is all over the place. Once you start looking you will find ponds and water features everywhere; parks and public buildings just to name a few. Take pictures of things you like and dislike, so later on, when designing, you can easily refer to.

3. Choose your pond location. Remember that a pond is not a mobile feature in your garden. Think of how close you want it to your house or neighbors property. Keep it away from sources of debris like a tree that looses many leaves. Place it in a spot where you can enjoy it from a window or at a relaxing corner of your garden.

4. Choose your outdoor pond style. If you would like to match the architecture of your house then a formal pond is probably your choice. Formal pond examples can be found in palaces and monuments both old and new. If you are looking for something more natural that will blend with the environment and your garden, then informal ponds are your choice. Informal ponds will imitate nature’s rivers and lakes with sand shores and lots of vegetation. The most important issue here is to keep your pond in harmony with your backyard design.

5. Additional design tips. Waterfalls and other features can be added to your pond but take its style into consideration. What kind of fish will you introduce and what are their needs? Does your ground allow easy digging for a below the ground pond or maybe you need to build it above the ground with a nice brick or stone wall?

6. Keep a close eye on your budget. Make sure you have the skills and resources to complete you pond building project. Sum up the materials, construction and maintenance expenses, including professional help if needed. If you need to cut building costs or reduce your efforts take a look at pre-made pond kits in the web or local stores.

7. Keep your pond Safe. Safety is your number one priority when it comes to children and pets playing around your garden. Also keep the stable surfaces around the pond and your electric installations water proof. A good quality liner is a must to avoid holes in your ponds due to rocks and ground movement. Clean and uncontaminated ponds are not only a maintenance issue but a safety one, both for your family and your fish.

Pond building is a complex hobby that can become very enjoyable if you take your time to plan and maintain it. Get your family involved in it from the very beginning making it a project enjoyed by everyone in your household.

Want to find out more about Pond Building, then visit Michael W.’s site on how to build the best outdoor pond for your needs and dreams.

Posted by Michael Wezsky at 9:53 am  Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Preparing the Backyard for Winter

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Oct 182009
 

Our Squaw winter only lasted a few days, just long enough to remind me to get outdoors and get my last plants in the ground, perennials planted and the greenhouse ready for winter.

:: آخر لقانا في الخريف..تذكّر الثوب الخفيف ::
Creative Commons License photo credit: » Zitona «

I usually set up a cold frame or two and check all my indoor pots to make sure they are clean, disinfected and ready to use. Preparing soil for indoor plants is also on my list of activities.

I also gather all the garden tools, clean them and put them away in the barn until spring returns. The gardens will be cleaned and covered with a mix of grass clipping and leaves. This will protect the ground and will be worked into the soil next spring to enrich the soil.

Its time to get my windowsill gardens ready for a larger harvest of herbs, greens, a few tomatoes, peppers and even strawberries. And last year I grew a few beans – just enough to add to a salad.

We have for days of decent weather predicted and I need to paint the raised bed frame in front of the house and mow the yard two more times. One time to get the lawn the same length and to rake the excess grass clippings and leaves to add to my compost bins and the final mowing to make sure the yard is ready for winter.

I don’t know if you have noticed this, but it seems if I mow the yard as late as possible I don’t need to mow as early plus I don’t get snow mold in the yard. (Snow mold is not actual mold but if the grass is long it seems to get soggy and sticky looking) It just doesn’t look healthy and many people refer to it as snow mold.

I am also moving and diving my peony plants. I will just plant then in pots over winter and place them outside in the spring. By diving them now the roots will get over transplanting shock and will blossom next spring. If I wait until next spring there will be no flowers on these stunning heirloom plants.

Dahlia
Creative Commons License photo credit: my_southborough

I am hoping for a few more weeks of nice weather before winter decides to set in but NW PA was not blessed with a warm or long summer or fall so I plan to be prepared and start winterizing the yard and home this week.

And by setting up my indoor garden areas and working more with my indoor plants I will hopefully forget it’s a bit colder outdoors.

If you live in a warmer climate than my cool zone 5 you may want to look at thsi article at Best Flower Gardening for their fall clean-up tips.

Posted by Denise at 8:57 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Garden Landscape 101

 guest writer  2 Responses »
Oct 142009
 
by Althea Joy Ingrid

A garden landscape is a wonderful and relaxing place to be in away from the hassle and bustle of the noisy downtown. Garden landscaping is usually laid out in a large area but still some gardens are also made in limited space.

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Creative Commons License photo credit: gabrielsaldana

During the Renaissance and the 1880s in United States formal garden landscaping was popular. The basis of the formal garden landscape is on geometric shapes that has boundaries defined by stone walkways, walls, hedges, fences, fountains, and statuary. Today formal garden landscape still exist in Botanical gardens and large estate.

For limited space usually in urban areas the modern/domestic garden landscape are used.

The types of garden landscapes are Organic, Herb, Roof, Vegetable, Rock, Water, Flower, and Public gardens.

  • The Organic garden landscape is highly emphasize nowadays because it will not use artificial pesticides and fertilizers that harms living things. This garden landscape they use only biological fertilizers and pesticides to keep the plants healthy.
  • Herb gardens are found in botanical gardens and medieval garden. In this garden landscapes the plants have medicinal properties like parsley, fennel, thyme, marjoram, dill, and rosemary that is used in flavoring foods.
  • Roof garden landscape are found in urban areas which have limited space. The plants are usually in small pots and containers.
  • The Vegetable garden landscape is the healthiest garden landscape. This garden landscape needs open and sunny location. It is important that there is rotation of crops to prevent disease transmission between the plants. Being knowledgeable on the season to which to plant a vegetable is vital.
  • In rock garden landscape, it mimics the rocky hillside or a slope. It is vital that in this garden landscape the look should look like a part of a hillside. A bit of large boulders looks better. The rocks must be arranged that it should provide exposures to sun-tolerant plants like rock roses and shade-tolerant plant like primulas.
  • The next one is the Water Garden Landscape. In this Garden landscape it’s important to consider your location, culture, and climate. The shape of water garden landscape in Europe and North America are rectangular or circular pools that contain one or two water lilies and a fountain, or sometimes there are no flowers. Also in United States and Europe informal water garden landscape are irregularly shaped with profusion of water lilies and other plants that suit a watery habitat.
  • Water Garden Landscape in Japan has a particular and beautiful patterns in them that they preserved for centuries. While in temperate countries, the water garden landscape is grown under the glass in which the pools are heated.
  • Water Garden Landscaping represent some of oldest forms of gardening landscape. While based on Egyptian about 2000 BC the records and pictures showed the cultivation of water lilies.
  • Flower Garden Landscaping is perhaps what really caught our attention due to its colorful blooms. The vital components of this garden landscape is the blending and contrast of colors as well as the forms that are stressed in the design. It’s important to know which flowers can be planted in the garden.
  • The public garden landscape is the last garden landscape. The Japanese Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is an example of a world-famous garden landscape.

Now, there are many varieties of plants available. So choose whichever garden landscape you desire.

About the Author:
Learn more about garden landscaping.  Stop by Althea Joy Ingrid’s site where you can find out all about garden landscape and what it can do for you.
Posted by Althea Joy Ingrid at 5:51 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Natural Stone projects for the backyard: Part 2

 backyard design  No Responses »
Oct 122009
 

Pebbles,  stones and  rocks can add to your backyard design and garden areas. And if you have a supply on your property this will make for a reasonably priced backyard makeover.
Creative Commons License photo credit: vladimir.frolov

I happen to have an abundant supply of rock and gravel at the moment. Unfortunately the flooding and storms we had this summer did not place it in the correct place. But in time these rock piles will make small walls around the property and a new driveway for the front yard.

Paths and Drives

Paths and drives add to a landscape and become very low maintenance when covered with a topping of small natural stone pebbles. The pebble size you choose needs to take into account how the path or drive will be used. Heavy car traffic or foot traffic areas need smaller stones, as they are more comfortable underfoot and better for cars to drive over. Path and waterfall at inversnaid

Creative Commons License photo credit: www.a-middletonphotography.com

Gravel drives and paths should have retaining edging to hold the stones in place. This is especially important if you have a sloped yard and run off after a rainstorm.  Your drive and paths will need to be topped up with extra stone occasionally. I find every four years my areas need a small new topping.

Water Features

A garden water feature adds beauty and atmosphere to any yard or garden. They can be very small or quite large and bold. The main thoughts when selecting a water feature is how will it fit into the family lifestyle and how will it relate to your current landscaping?

When planning a water feature you can incorporate natural stone in a variety of ways. Larger stones around the edge of the feature can add character to your backyard design. And pebbles can also be used to cover the base of the water feature and to cover up any cords or pumps that are used to power it.

Tip: Before choosing your stone remember to wet a sample, as this is how it will look in your water feature.

Ponds

The same rule applies with ponds to wet your sample and check the color of the stone.

Natural stone is normally dusty when collected and when the dust comes off the real color is revealed. Collecting stone can turn into a family event and you will be surprised and pleased with what beautiful stone you can collect. Just remember to ask before you pick up rocks or stone on property that does not belong to you.

Ponds look great with a built-up edging. And by varying the edging you will create a natural look. Remember to mix and match various sized stones for a more natural look.

Ducks in a row
Creative Commons License photo credit: borkur.net

Adding stone to your backyard will create a new look quickly. You can even add a rock garden and add plants that thrive in such a surrounding. Slopes and hard to landscape area lend their selves to rock gardens.

There are many uses for rock, stone and pebbles in your landscaping plans. Explore the possibilities and see if using rock in your yard and gardens will cut back on time spend in the garden and yard.

Posted by Denise at 10:10 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Natural Stone Pebble Projects For the Backyard – Part 1

 backyard oasis  2 Responses »
Oct 102009
 

Natural stone pebbles are becoming very popular in homes and the backyard because of their wide range of colors, uses and to simplify gardening. Larger pebbles or rocks can be stacked as garden art by ponds or in gardens. (If you have small children you may not want to do this)

pebbles
Creative Commons License photo credit: jerseygal2009

It also makes for a fun relaxing day picking out pebbles from a store or collecting them from a beach. When I comb the beaches for pebbles I also like to mix a few pieces of washed glass into my pebble projects. Here are a few ideas for use in your own home.

Decorative Pots

Place pebbles around the top of a potted plant can make indoor plants more attractive. This also helps to keep the soil from developing rust. You can use a decorative ceramic pot as well and select the pebbles to compliment or contrast the colors. The pebbles and pot you choose should help focus your eye on the plant.

One other use for pebbles is to fill a larger dish or tray with pebbles and place the container on the pebbles. Also add a small tea candle or shorter candle far enough away from the plant that the heat will not hurt any foliage. At night light the candles for added atmosphere.

Vases

Pebbles are also very effective used in the bottom of vases. Glass vases in particular look superb with some colored natural stone in the bottom or the glass pebbles used in crafting. The pebble base will help hold the arranged flowers in place. Decorative vases make great table decorations for dinner parties. And by changing the vase, pebbles and flowers you will always have a fresh new look for the patio, balcony, garden area or indoors.

Japanese Gardens

Japanese Gardens are very popular and easy to maintain. They are known for their peacefulness and tranquillity. This style of garden uses specific plants as well as rocks and water to create this effect.

Kildare - The Japanese Gardens at Tully
Creative Commons License photo credit: infomatique

Japanese  gardens can be small in scale and are incorporated into an overall garden design rather than being the whole garden. Many Japanese mini gardens are the size of a table top and can be moved indoors or out. These gardens are wonderful for apartments and garden rooms. This is also a garden that can be easily changed.

Pebbles add color, interest and change to your garden areas. This is particularly beneficial to the gardener with small space who needs to make as much use out of what space is available.

Part two of Pebble Projects for the backyard will follow in a few days.

Posted by Denise at 11:01 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,
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