Garden Ponds
A garden pond can be left to its own devices as a miniature nature reserve, but if flora and fauna are placed it will be a much more attractive feature. If the natural balance is maintained the pond will sustain itself for the most part, needing only occasional attention to keep it in good condition. When stocking a new pond from scratch, it’s best get the plants established before introducing the fish so that there’s a good supply of oxygen. Always buy fish from a legitimate vendor to ensure that they are healthy to start with. There are several distinct groups of plants to grow in or around a garden pond. Oxygenators are essential plants for keeping the pond healthy. Like all plants, these give off oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide. Some are rooted, but most simply float in the water. They multiply fairly rapidly, so start with a few small clumps. Hook out excess growth with a garden rake and let it biodegrade.
Marginals are planted in containers set in shallow water on shelves around the pond margins. This group includes various species of Iris, Flag, Marsh Marigold and the Arrowhead. Floaters such as Fairy Moss, Greater Bladderwort and Water Soldier are flowering plants that simply float on the pond. The Water Soldier, however, sinks to the bottom in winter.
Get a specialist’s advice when choosing plants to suit the particular pond size, containers and special pH-balanced pond soil. Using ordinary garden soil isn’t advised, nor is planting directly in soil spread on the bottom of the pond.
There are a few types of fish that can be used in garden ponds. The goldfish, which was bred in China and Japan, is the most common fish kept in garden ponds. The Goldfish family now has more than 100 varieties, including the Common Goldfish, the Comet, the multi-coloured Shubunkins, Fantails and the Veiltails. Other species to look out for include the Oranda and the Lionhead. Not all these species are able to survive harsh winter conditions, but the most hardy species are the Common Goldfish, the Comet and the London Shubunkin.
Other species to be considered are Tench and Golden Orfe. The former is a useful bottom feeder, scavenging food wasted by the other fish and therefore helping to keep the pond clean. The Golden Orfe is recognizable by its gold and black markings, and is an active surface feeder and an excellent display fish. It is not suitable for small ponds, given that it can grow to rather large sizes. Make sure to keep the water temperature relatively constant, as fish are cold-blooded and need constant temperature to remain healthy. They aren’t capable of regulating their internal body temperature. Food should also be regularly supplied, but in a limited are, where fish can easily access it.
