Spring is in the air. The Wild Animal Park will be hosting a Garden Society Celebration April 3 and 4, 2010 from 9am – 4pm. Come by and speak with representatives from dozens of local plant and gardening groups. Mat McLeod, owner of San Diego Ponds will be there with the Koi Club of San Diego to answer questions and share his knowledge of Koi fish, Koi Pond Construction and Water Gardening. Stroll the gardens of the Wild Animal Park and walk away with useful information. Make new contacts while networking with local experts. Admission into this special event is free with a paid ticket into the park.

See you there!

For more information visit the link below:

San Diego Wild Animal Park  Garden Society Celebration

San Diego Ponds specializes in the design and construction of Koi Ponds, Pondless Waterfalls, Water Gardens, and Lake Filtration. The possibilities are endless!

Contact San Diego Ponds today to schedule your FREE design consultation.

Send San Diego Ponds an email.

OR

Give us a call at 760-420-7127.

San Diego Ponds is Licensed and Bonded.

CA State License #842583

Add a splash of drama to your pond or lake with a floating fountain. Floating fountains are an excellent option when it comes to aerating your pond or lake and by now we all know how San Diego Ponds feels about aerating your water feature, an aerated body of water is a happy healthy body of water.  San Diego Ponds found a great product called Toba Fountains. Their product is completely wireless battery operated and is controlled by remote. Their floating fountains have an assortment of spray and light patterns that can be changed with a click of a button. Some of the most popular spray patterns are; the bubbler, bell shaped, geyser, ring, tulip or the multi-tiered.  There is an option to place your fountain on automatic which gives you a water light show any time you wish. Hey, who wouldn’t want a taste of Vegas in their own backyard? Think of what your house guests will say when they have their own private water show at your next party. It will surely be the talk of the town.

Check out Toba Fountains today!

www.tobafountains.com

San Diego Ponds was recently inspired while visiting one of our local desert communities. We came upon a beautiful stream bed surrounded by indigenous plants. The stream bed was made of round bluish-gray beach rock that curved in and around large boulders. All of these elements are quite familiar to San Diego Ponds, all except for one major detail. This stream did not contain water. This was a xeriscape! It was a dry river bed that gave the illusion of running water through using an assortment of pebbles, rocks and boulders. The pebbles were raked into ripples that curved around  large boulder islands. Low lying ground cover crept up to the stream’s edge adding to the illusion as larger draught tolerant plants followed the curve of the meandering stream. Cactus, agave and different succulents were placed as focal points. Lavender,thyme and sage gave this landscape height, color and an amazing scent that lured you in.

In the wet season this dry stream bed acts as a drainage system. The water is collected in the stream bed and channeled to appropriate outlets where  storm water can be used to irrigate surrounding plants.

Xeriscaping is yet another way to bring the peace and tranquility associated with  moving water even when water is not an option.

San Diego Ponds gives xeriscaping two green thumbs UP!

With the first day of spring less than a month away it’s time to start thinking about cleaning up your water feature. Aquatic plants will start to come out of their winter slumber and flourish.  Fish and other aquatic animals will start revving  up and growing as well. Clean pond water will help both your aquatic plants and animals thrive. Here are a few tips on spring cleaning your pond or water feature:

• Clear topical debris with your net.
• Some aquatic plants will need to be trimmed of dead foliage.
• Remove excess sludge and excess debris from bottom of pond.
• Do a partial water change.
• Clean your filters.
• Add beneficial bacteria to  jumpstart the biological process for the next season.
• Don’t forget to dechlorinate any water used in your water changes.
•   If your pond or water feature has a uv light this would be a great time to clean the lenses and change out the bulb.
• Don’t forget that it is important not to overfeed your aquatic animals. Any excess food left in the water will both get trapped in your filter and make for dirty water.

If you take the time to follow this short list we promise you will be rewarded with a beautiful water feature that you will enjoy for years to come!

San Diego Ponds  provides annual pond cleaning services. Check out our web site for more information or email us. We will contact you shortly to schedule an appointment.

Tropical Water Garden and Koi Pond

Have a “stay-cation” in your own yard. Imagine being able to disconnect from your every day routine as you lounge by your water feature and enjoy the sounds of splashing water, birds singing as the soothing sounds of nature take you away.

San Diego Ponds specializes in the design and construction of  tropical water gardens.

The Koi Club of San Diego is hosting their 23rd anual Koi Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.  February 12 – 14 2010. Check out the link below for more information.

Koi Show Del Mar Fairgrounds

Koi shows are a great way to network with experts of the Koi industry. Come check out  some of the most beautiful Koi in the world.

Hope to see you there!

I can not emphasize enough the importance of properly aerating your pond water. Pond water must circulate to maintain healthy oxygen levels. If oxygen levels drop there will be unpleasant and possibly deadly consequences. Low levels in pond and lake water can cause a number of issues.

The two main problems that occur are algae blooms and  fish kills. Algae blooms are unsightly and once set in motion hard to stop. It is so much easier to prevent an algae bloom than to eradicate one. Algae blooms further strip essential oxygen from your pond and lake water making it uninhabitable therefore, if things get bad a fish kill will follow. Fish require certain levels of dissolved oxygen in the water to survive. Without healthy levels they will in fact die.

So, how can you properly aerate your pond or lake? The answer is simple. Creating a waterfall that empties into your lake or pond is both visually pleasing and gets the job done. Other popular and effective ways to aerate your pond or lake include; fountains, spitters, and both floating or subsurface aeration devices depending on the size of your body of water.

San Diego Ponds installs every type of aeration device from small container ponds to lakes. We will build it or fix it.  

When San Diego Ponds is looking for inspiration we take a day trip to one of the many diverse gardens and water features open to the public. We recommend you do the same. You will be awe inspired. Take note on the elements of style that you enjoy. San Diego Ponds can work with you to design the perfect water feature to match your inspiration.

Self Realization Fellowship – Meditation Gardens – Encinitas, CA

Quail Botanical Gardens – Encinitas, CA

Gardens of Balboa Park – San Diego, CA