Articles Directory | Free Articles | New Articles Daily | #Add# calming pond #to your# garden and attract all sorts of wildlife into your garden. It'll become a centre and a refuge for #all of# natures creatures.

Your pond or pool should be visible from your house, but not so near that animals will be scared away.
If #the ground# slopes, select a lower area in the garden: your pool will appear more natural here, as water naturally collects at the bottom level. A pond ought to be placed #away from# any fruit trees or plants that might be treated with chemicals. An open, sunny position provides #the best# conditions #to grow# most aquatic plants. Don't place your pond #in a# frost pocket or an exposed spot. This will restrict the plants you can grow in it and may mean that your pool requires protection through the winter. Only #add# fish if the pond is at least 80cm deep. Observe the water conditions in hot weather as the fish will suffer if ever the temperature gets above 25 degrees C.If #you would# like to lower the temperature and top up the pond, #add# tap water that has been left to settle and warm up #for a# day. A water feature #on the# terrace If you #do not# have space #for a# pond, #take a# tip and improvise. Make use of #a large# basin, stone trough or half-barrel, or frost-proof pots. Plug up drainage holes in pots using a silicone sealant and paint #the inside# #of the# pot with waterproofing paint. #To prepare# a half-barrel, fill it a number of days #before you# plan to plant it up so #that the# wood swells and becomes fully watertight. Pick out water plants that like warmth, as such #a small# quantity of water will heat up rapidly. Try a miniature variety of water lily, that will flourish in #less than# 40cm of water. #Add# to it a heat-loving floating plant, for example a water hyacinth, #and give# the arrangement some height #with a# clump of plumed foliage, like Typha minima, an attractive reed. Remember to incorporate a plant that will generate oxygen below water, like Myriophyllum aquaticwm. In October you'll need to bring your water hyacinth into shelter - a conservatory or heated greenhouse - in the winter, although other hardy species may be left #in the# water. Beware of drowning Water attracts children #like a#
magnet, and #it is# important to keep #in mind# that children can drown in as little as 10 cm of water. Protect small pools (under l gal) with wire mesh or a rigid grill - the vegetation will soon veil the #vast majority# of it. Surround bigger water features #with a# metre-high fence #with a# gate that must always be kept locked. Disguise the fence with honeysuckle, ivy or clematis. Avoid steep banks, which make climbing out difficult for a individual or an animal who has fallen into the pool. Tell your insurer of your water feature. Guard against electrocution by means of placing electric cables in a sealed water tight casing.