MARK CULLEN: Water, Water Everywhere

By Mark Cullen

Of all the current trends in gardening perhaps the use of water as a garden feature has the legs to last a generation or more.  Take a look over the back fence of any home in the GTA these days and chances are you will find either a full fledged pond of some kind or a pot full of water with a papyrus or water lily growing in it.

In my opinion, this is all for the good.  For one, the presence of water in the microcosm of a residential backyard provides a drinking source for birds, dragonflies and other wildlife.  If breeding mosquitoes is a concern you can remedy that quite nicely with the addition of a gold fish or two: they have a voracious appetite for mosquito larvae.  If you control the larvae, you control the population of adults.

Several benefits

Secondly the presence of water in our ‘outdoor living area’ provides untold benefits to the human users.  It has this habit of calming us down.  If the water is moving, as in a backyard fountain, waterfall or stream so much the better.  The calming effects notwithstanding you will muffle out much city noise and the ambient sounds of urban life.

Pond Installation

This is a great time of year to consider installing a pond in your backyard – there are kits that make it easy to do-it-yourself at garden retailers.  Some have entire departments devoted to backyard water features.   Of course there are professionals always willing to provide you with a plan and installation.  Go to www.landscapeontario.com and click on ‘Find a Company’ for a list of quality installers.

What about Raccoons and other Vermin?

The famous ‘Toronto Raccoon’ can be a nuisance but only if you have fish.  Solve that problem by building the pond with steep sides at least at a 70 degree angle and provide lots of natural places for fish to hide: under rocks, plant leaves and floating driftwood.

Raccoons don not like to swim but they will perch at the side of your pond ready to scoop up the fish that come to the surface within arms reach.  If you can train your fish not to come to the surface of the water every time you arrive at its’ edge, that will help.  You do this by not feeding them at all or infrequently.  Training them to eat from your hand is the perfect way to help the raccoons scoop them from waters’ edge.  I make a habit of throwing the fish food out into the middle of the pond and like trained seals they always congregate out there when I arrive at the ponds edge.

Where located?

Whatever path you take with your water project, keep this in mind: a pond should be located in full sun light where plants can thrive, 60% of the water should be covered with plant leaves and flowers to provide the right balance of beneficial bacteria and protection of the fish from wildlife.  Try to get plants growing densely and keep in mind that almost all native water wildlife can live in shallow ponds: from dragonflies and amphibians to zooplankton.

When considering a pond for your backyard, remember that the greatest benefit of all is the cooling effect on your yard and the soothing sounds of moving water in the background.  I cannot count the times that a pond owner has endorsed their investment in a garden pond.  Seems you have to own one to fully appreciate this.

Mark Cullen appears on Canada AM every Wednesday morning at 8:40.  He is spokesperson for Home Hardware Lawn and Garden.  Sign up for his free monthly newsletter at www.markcullen.com.