Keeping a Pond

By: Sharon Martin

Goldfish popluate a successful water garden in St. John's, NL. Photo: Sharon Martin

Mother Nature has blessed the landscape of Newfoundland with virtually thousands and thousands of ponds ranging from tiny gullies to large expanses of water. Why then would anyone want to build a pond in their backyard? In the nineties with our hectic, stressful lifestyles there is something to be said for coming home after a hard days work and being able to listen to the soothing flow of water as it trickles over a man made water fall, or watch with anticipation and excitement as a perfectly formed lily pad reaches for the surface, not to mention bright orange goldfish darting among silky parrot feathers.

Water gardening is a fast growing hobby and many Newfoundlanders are adding ponds or some other water feature to their garden to enhance its beauty. From small hand held fountains to elaborate pond systems complete with adjoining stream beds, water gardening is relaxing, rewarding and addicting.

Ponding Tips for Newfoundland

"When the fish come out of the dormant stage in the spring they will be sluggish. Feed them sparingly at first until they are more active."

If you have goldfish and would like to winter them in your pond, the pond must be deep enough so it does not freeze to the bottom.( 36 inches is safe). Stop feeding the fish around the beginning of November. As the water temperature drops the fish will go into a dormant stage and any undigested food in their system will be toxic to them.

Throw an old, solid sod in the pond, the fish will snuggle in it and keep warm. Remove any rotting vegetation, as it could be toxic to your fish.

When the fish come out of the dormant stage in the spring they will be sluggish. Feed them sparingly at first until they are more active.

Water plants are a necessity in a pond. There are three main types; oxygenating, marginal, and floating. The plants prevent algae bloom which causes the water to turn a murky pea soup colour. There are several solutions to algae bloom from filters to chemicals etc. but the best cure is to be patient, and to make sure the surface of your pond is 60- 70% covered with plants. This cuts down on the amount of sunlight on the pond. It takes a couple of seasons for a new pond to become a balanced ecosystem.

There are two main types of water lilies, hardy and tropical. Hardy water lilies will winter well in your pond if the tubers do not freeze but tropical lilies must be wintered in a cool place indoors. Tropical lilies are very expensive but colorful. The hardy ones are native to Newfoundland.

We were very lucky with our fish and water lilies. All of our goldfish survived the winter and two of three lilies survived.

There are several sites on the Internet related to water gardening and O'Neal's Nurseries in Spaniards Bay carries all the supplies one would need. They also have a beautiful system of ponds and streams on their property, "A must see".

Happy Ponding!

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