I have noticed in the last few years that many of my customers are starting to install their own Koi ponds with great success. Here are some basics I have learned from talking to them.

A Koi pond is a beautiful addition to any garden as a focal or relaxation point, but it does not necessarily have to be a part of a larger garden. Depending on the space you have available and your own do-it-yourself abilities, you can build one to your own liking so long as they promote a healthy environment for the Koi. If you have purchased a home or land with a Koi pond already on it and have not done so already, have a specialist check it out to see if any improvements should be made to it.

Koi are Japanese Carp, and Carp can grow to be a nice sized fish. Koi can hit 35 lbs and when properly cared for can survive up to 70 years, so a pre-established attractive Koi pond is a big selling point for landscapes and homes. This does not mean, however that once you make the purchase you have a great pond. Koi need a certain amount of depth, shade and oxygen to healthily thrive, and as better products become available they should be considered for use in your pond. A pond with at least 1,000 gallons of non chlorinated water in it with temperatures measuring 40 to 50 degrees is ideal. If you live in a “freeze and thaw zone,” then you need a deep point of around 5 feet or more for the fish to go over winter.

It is important to keep the pond clean and oxygenated which can be done mostly by adding certain plants (a gardening specialist can help you choose which ones are best for your pond) that add oxygen in the water and filter out carbon dioxide naturally. Surprisingly, these pond plants also keep the water clean and algae free.

Even with these additions, it is still necessary to have other tools on hand such as a pump, filter, and water testing kit and so on. Keeping a good amount of care and involvement with your Koi pond will mean an optimally beautiful focal point. They are a lot of work, but from what I have seen, well worth the effort!

In my last post, I talked about subtle blending of new elements in the landscape. Now I want to caution you about some common mistakes homeowners make when they are designing landscape and garden elements.

When you have made the decision to ‘beautify’ your yard and garden spaces, no matter what the size, you are landscaping. One of the most important things to keep in mind with landscaping is the level of work and time you can contribute, your budget and how things will look throughout the year.

There are plenty of options in the horticultural world for giving your surroundings some zest, but there are also other choices you can make to give you year round beauty and low maintenance.

People may like the idea of lanterns and sconces, stone walkways, vines and flower beds, but you have to shop for all weather options that can survive a harsh summer or winter. If you are planning on using some kind of lighting feature, either near your walkways or on your walls, consider solar powered options that never need to be plugged in. This will save you money when it comes to your energy bills, as well as providing you with the effect you want with no hassles.

A lot of people love the look of certain plants and purchase them without doing appropriate research. Some plants should only be potted, not put into your garden near your other plants. Vines such as purple loosestrife whose mature plants can have root stocks that send out a dense web of up to 50 shoots are one of the beauties to avoid. This is because a lot of vines, like Purple Loosestrife are very hardy and stubborn making unbelievably difficult to get rid of. Another invasive plant to avoid is bamboo. Are you getting the point here guys?

The idea I am driving at here is you need to research your choices before making them! If you do the math now, you will save yourself a ton of headaches later.