pondcraft
This is the second of three articles on using auto-fill devices with ponds and watergardens. Auto-fill devices for use in managing water levels in ponds and watergardens come in three main forms: mechanical float valves, electromechanical timed valves and electronic sensing systems. In this article, we’ll take a look at each system and weigh advantages and disadvantages. Let’s tackle price first: Of the three
More and more people are enjoying the way ponds and watergardens help them keep in touch with nature, enjoy tranquility and slip into peaceful reflection. But these watershapes are small ecosystems and can pose a range of challenges – some of them, as we shall explore here, related to maintaining proper water levels. The average pond can lose its water in a number of ways, anything from small leaks or wicking from waterfalls to evaporation or small animals taking their share. Pond professionals and pond owners all know this, of course, but most rely on manual refilling methods – that is, a bucket or a nearby garden hose – instead of devising more elaborate filling systems. To be sure, the classic manual methods are tried and true, but some have
Most people know that an ecosystem is, by definition, an ecological community that, together with its environment, functions as a unit. Fewer probably know that the word ecology comes from two Greek words: oilcos, meaning “house,” and logos, meaning “the study of.” Together, the word literally means “study of the home.” The result is a word packed with meaning and power, both emotional and practical. Its implications reach everywhere, even into the realm of watershaping and especially
In places where winter’s chill really takes hold, pond owners and those who maintain them face a big question: Should a pond run through the whole winter? Some say yes, pointing out that keeping a watergarden in operation right through the frozen months will enable anyone who sees it to enjoy the beautiful ice sculptures that
It’s accepted wisdom in the pond business that most homeowners who get bitten by the watergardening bug will commonly own three ponds before they’re truly satisfied. They’ll start with a simple, small pond and work up through an intermediate stage before acquiring a large, full-featured pond that reflects their growing confidence and competence in
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 www.watershapes.com ESSENTIAL Integrated Views A spectacular site is often the foundation for…
It’s a simple fact: When it comes to ponds and watergardens, leaks happen – and they can be devilishly hard to find and repair. To do right by the plants and fish that inhabit these watershapes, you need to understand a few basic principles of leak detection and be well versed in the sorts of fixes that may be required. Before we get there, however, it’s important to recognize that leaks
