Fish ponds make gardens interesting and attract wildlife

Every place where my family has lived has been equipped with a fish pond in the garden. Usually we or the kids excavated them and they gave us all enormous pleasure. Most importantly, they provide atmosphere and water for wildlife. Some of the ponds we had were full of fish, as well as tadpoles and frogs. Laying in bed at night listening to the songs of the frogs was relaxing.

During the days, especially in summer, water is essential for insects and birds, which are frequently visited. It is much more important to provide drinks than food, as they will always find their own source of nutrition and should not be dependent on humans.

Bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects all benefit from a pond. Keeping them stocked with fish is essential to keep the mosquito population low. A pump increases interest and keeps you oxygenated.

There are also beautiful aquatic plants that can be grown in and around the property. Some may be in pots or planted directly in the bank if it is a natural spring. Most ponds, however, are lined with plastic, rubber or clay and it is not a good idea to plant in those materials.

My ponds are usually formed in mounds on the sides, which makes them appear deeper than they are. The beautiful water lilies bloom during the summer and put on a great show. Hebe and other flowering shrubs bring bees and wasps and they all drink from the facility.

Another great benefit to the garden is the humidity that a pond offers. This allows special plants like ferns and the like to lodge around the edges and moss can even be encouraged to decorate strategically placed rocks.

For me, no garden is complete unless it has at least one water feature. At one point, my gardens had about six ponds scattered around them. The bottom line is that they are such an important asset that it enhances the appearance of gardens that it is a shame not to include them.