Like most of us, you love the great outdoors and the peace and tranquility in which it offers .We all look forward at one time or another to relieving our day to day stress by relaxing and unwinding at our favourite natural outdoor Oasis.  A sanctuary where we can dwell in the songs and serenity of Mother Nature. Many home owners are now including rock gardens, waterfalls, and ponds in their landscaping plans to further enjoy Mother Nature’s full benefits in their own backyard.

 Just imagine your very own backyard Oasis… a place where you and your family can relax and unwind while enjoying all the wonderful wildlife and plant life in your own backyard habitat. Your family, friends, and your neighbours will be envious of the beautiful ambiance surrounding your home. Everyone will absolutely love it. Imagine a wayward trip that once took precious time out of your day to that Natural Outdoor Oasis… is now merely a few feet away from your own back door!

 Depending on your geographical location, your backyard Oasis will surely attract numerous varieties of birds, small animals, and even certain insects, all of which are attracted to your water source. A good idea would be for you to obtain some books with photographs showing all the different types of birds, small animals, and insects that thrive in your area, which could and most likely will pay your backyard Oasis a temporary…. if not permanent visit. I personally enjoy sitting out on my backyard deck, coffee in hand, listening to the sound of running water, and watching my prized Koi and Gold fish perform their little tricks and stunts and the birds and wildlife bathing and drinking out of my pond. It’s just such a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.

 Once you decide to go ahead and build your backyard Oasis and pond, make sure that wherever you place your pond there is adequate access to an electrical source which will be required to run your ponds pumps, filters, and any other electrical pond accessories you may need or desire. I installed and cemented in next to my pond a 4 x 4 wooden post with an outdoor electrical box which allowed me to plug-in all of my pond equipment, reducing the hazardous task of having to run outdoor extension cords above ground. The best location for your pond would be a place that is clean and free from any debris or waste material that would likely enter the pond and harming or even killing your fish. Choosing a shady area will help moderate water temperatures and provide some cover for your fish. You can design your pond using a pre-formed unit, cement, or rubber lining, and filtration system of you’re choosing.

 Speaking of fish, you may want to add some to your backyard pond and if so, I would suggest that you check with your local pet store in your area to see what types of fish are suitable for your pond, and the caring and maintenance of same. In my case I discovered that a mix of Koi and Gold fish thrived very well in my pond, and soon became very friendly pets. There are a wide variety of colors and types in which you can select. Be aware though….the addition of any fish to your pond can and most likely will attract certain types of predators.

 There is nothing worse than caring for and raising your prized Koi and Gold fish only to lose them to a predator like the famous “Blue Heron” whom in my neck of the woods thrives on feeding on outdoor pond fish. It’s a good idea to have fish that are a little less colourful and camouflaged, which will increase their survival rate, however there is no guarantee… so what I did was purchase a net from my local pet supply store and whenever I was away for any length of time, I covered my pond with the netting and protected my prized fish from predators. Believe it or not, I even once had a “Cat” reach into the pond for a fish….falling in and having a heck of a time getting back out. Funny thing is I never ever saw that cat back in my little Oasis again.

 A few things you should take note of here when it comes to adding fish to your pond. Generally and within reason, Koi and Gold fish will grow in size to that of their environment. This simply means that the larger your pond, the larger they will grow depending again on the number of fish you plan on raising. My pond was approximately 6’ wide X 12’ long, and 36” deep and held approximately 1200 gallons of water. During the winter months with this depth and the fact that I kept my pond pump circulating under water, I prevented my pond from freezing over. I also installed a small pond heater for these cold months, and my fish survived the winter just fine. I had a total of six fish with each ranging in size from 10” to 15” in length.

 I invite you to visit my website for more information on the creation of rock gardens and ponds as well as numerous tips on the type of plants, pumps, design idea’s, and how to create waterfalls in your backyard pond.Your imagination is the limit when it comes to creating the perfect rock garden, ponds, and waterfalls, that will provide an incredible habitat for your backyard, as well as increase your properties overall value.  However please keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to check with your local municipal office to see if any deed restrictions are in place in your area which may prevent you from building or having a pond in your backyard. There are numerous resources offering different types and sizes of pre-formed ponds in which you can choose from, available both online and offline.

Article Source: www.rockgardensandponds.com  Alton

Your backyard may be suffering from the blahs because every spring you just focus on your lawn or try to “stick plants in” to spruce things up for summer entertaining. This year, try these 10 easy, affordable landscape design ideas and add some bling to your yard. You’ll transform your terrain, boost your outdoor enjoyment in every season and cut lawn maintenance costs permanently.

1. Patios: A small, simple patio of stone, brick or interlocking pavers brings the house into the garden. It’s a bonus if you have doors that open onto the patio/yard. A few potted planters add captivating color.

2. Rock Gardens: Featuring a small rock garden at the end of a border or alongside a path gives a unique spiritual texture to your terrain. Use height, depth and variety in your rock garden for intensity.

3. Terraces: If you have too much slope in your yard, add some terraces to create level borders for planting. The gradated effect of having stepped borders provides dramatic, year-round color if you plant shrubs with the right foliage.

4. Pathways: Meandering paths showcase a beautiful lawn, keep traffic off the grass, and link features of interest like gazebos and garden beds. Natural flat-topped stones in varied shapes fit the bill nicely. Simply cutting the lawn around them makes them blend in with your terrain.

5. Poolscapes: Talking with a landscape designer early–before your pool is installed or landscaped–can save you from costly mistakes. When planning your poolscape, take note of the patterns of straight lines and curves in your house and any nearby garden structures. Use themes that display continuity of color and texture.

6. Flower Beds: Striking flower beds add character and flare to your landscape. Instead of plain squares or oblong beds, use kidney- or crescent-shaped beds or any amorphous shape you can imagine. Raised beds with built in seating on the edges or sides provide a relaxing backyard sanctuary.

7. Water Features: Add a soothing touch to your garden by incorporating a water feature. It does not have to be too large or deep–even a shallow lined pond finished with rocks around the edge infuses simple elegance that will attract songbirds.

8. Herb Gardens: Creating a small herb garden adds not only a European atmosphere, but also enhances your cooking! Just make sure that the herbs you choose are suited to your soil and the climate in your area.

9. Awnings: Putting up an awning in the yard can help you to make the most of a deck or patio during any weather and is an inviting oasis where you can entertain friends.

10. Landscape Lighting: If you want to be able to use the yard more, then attractive lighting makes all the difference. High-quality low-voltage lighting kits allow you to simply plug in a transformer and run a cable round the yard. You can just clip on the lights wherever you want them.

Kevin Godberson is Founder and President of Godberson Landscaping is a landscaping design and maintenance company that has been transforming yards for Suffolk County homeowners from boring to beautiful since 1991. For more landscaping tips visit us online at http://www.godbersonlandscaping.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Godberson

Looking for a way to beautify your garden, while

making sure it remains easy to take care of? Rock gardening could

be perfect for you in the front yard or backyard. Rock gardens are especially practical in

areas of your yard which are quite dry, but can look great in

water run off areas as well. Adding rocks in these runoff areas

mimics the look of river beds.

It’s rather easy to create a rock garden, but it’s important that

you plan well. You should begin planning by choosing an area in

your yard for your rock garden location. Then decide on

which plants and rocks to put in your garden.

Small river rocks and pebbles work very well most of the time as

a rock garden bed. Some people like to keep the color, size, and

shape of the rocks and pebbles similar throughout the entire rock

garden, while others just collect any rocks that they like and

use them. It’s up to you what you do.

The rock gardens that tend to look the best have small pebbles

and stones as a base, with plants sprouting between some of them.

Then, larger rocks and plants can be strategically placed to be

focal points, for shade, and for style.

By placing a few larger rocks or small boulders throughout the

garden create interest and variety, while also making it possible

to add a fountain or small stream. You can then plant moss or

other unique plants on the boulders close to the water. The

larger rocks can add plenty of options to what you can do with

your garden.

Before actually creating the rock garden, you need to completely

clear the area that you chose to create it. Clearing it refers

to pulling weeds and the roots of weeds, as well as any other

debris that may be in the area. You should be left with just

blank dirt, but it will be created into a beautiful space soon

enough.

Next, you will place the plants into the areas of the cleared

dirt where you will want them to grow. Being a rock garden,

plants are not the main focus, so there should be small plants

placed sporadically. It is a mistake to have too many plants too

close together.

The next step after the plants are in the ground are to place the

larger rocks or boulders in their chosen locations. Once the

large rocks are in place, you will lay down the layer of base

rocks or pebbles. This layer can be as thick or thin as you

wish, but it is important that it hugs the edge of the plants and

larger rocks as closely as possible. You may think that the rock

base is too close to the plants, but the plants in the garden

will naturally grow through the rocks, so it’s no problem for

them to be very close.

Finally, you can adjust the details of your rock garden to create

the desired focal points and style. One possibility is to use

water by creating streams or using fountains. Other

possibilities are to use pieces of driftwood, or even old wagon

wheels. You can use your imagination to design your own creative

space!

Keith Markensen examines the world of backyard landscape ideas and shares his decades of landscape knowledge at http://www.Plant-Care.com where you can always find professional houseplant care and landscaping advice online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Markensen

There’s nothing quite so beautiful and unique to add to your property, then a rock garden. Rock gardens provide a unique texture and visual interest, especially if you’re in a North American setting. It evokes images of something you would find over in Europe, as opposed to something in a western landscape. While in natural rock garden’s the view can be sparse and somewhat drab, that doesn’t have to be the case when you create your own. It’s a perfect opportunity to let your own green thumb creativity take center stage. You can pick plants and colors for your rock garden, that enhance or contrast your existing landscaping efforts.

The first key to a successful rock garden, is preparation and good planning. Proper excavation of the planning site is also an important component to be considered as well. Picture the space you have to work in, and that any weeds, or superfluous plants are removed. Otherwise they could interfere with the desired effect you’re going for.

You’re also going to need to ensure, that the soil is adequate for the plant life you plan on using. That’s assuming of course, you plan on having new vegetation for your rock garden. Some experts would suggest, that once excavation is completed you wait an entire growing season before beginning your garden. If you’re the impatient type (like me), that’s just not going to work out.

Let’s assume, that at this point your soil is good to go, and the area is excavated, and ready for the placement of your rocks. This is where the fun begins. It’s time to shop for rocks. It’s nice to have a common theme throughout your garden, but it’s also nice to include some diversity in terms of texture and size. Keep in mind such concepts as scale, contrasts, aesthetics, and flow while laying out your rock choices.

Additionally, don’t forget to leave space for any plants and foliage in between the rocks. And, not just space for the plants you see, but for the root system below the ground as well.

It’s not absolutely necessary, that the area you picked for your rocks to be graded totally flat. It’s a little more interesting actually if there are variances in height and slope for your garden. Give some thought though to water runoff. Think about where water may collect in or around your rocks, and what type of erosion could take place.

Once all your rocks are placed, and the soil has settled, it’s time to include plants. As with any kind of planting, it’s important pay attention to seasonal advantages. Depending on the plan, Spring or Fall, are likely to most advantageous times to do your planting. Good luck, and happy rock gardening!

If you enjoyed this article on rock gardens, don’t miss out on the latest news on rock gardens as it happens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Campbell

Pond fountains are a beautiful addition to almost every garden. However, choosing the right pump for your fountain may not be as easy as you think it would be. Before you choose a pump, here are some factors to think about.

Factors to Consider

Make sure to shop around before buying a pump for your outdoor pond. You will find a variety of pumps on the market today and you will run into many sales people who don’t know actually know absolutely nothing about the pumps so look at all of your options carefully before making a choice.

Otherwise eventually you will end up repeating the entire process very soon.

When making your decision, think about the following factors:

* Is a water pump necessary? – Even if you are only going to have a pond with no fountain element, you do need a water pump if you will be keeping living fish, such as koi, in the water.

* Is the water pump safe for outdoor use? – Not all water pumps are meant to be used outdoors. You will find some dealers passing off sump pumps or indoor pumps as ideal for your pond. While there are several problems with this tactic, the biggest is that indoor pumps are not safe to use outdoors. At the end of the article, you will find a list of characteristics that set outdoor pumps apart.

* How much water will be pumped? – Knowing the volume of water is important because some pumps are not made to handle a large volume of water. Look at the specifications on the package or do some online research to make sure the pump you choose can meet your needs.

* How much electricity is required? – Unless you want an enormous surge in your electric bill, you should choose a pump that is energy efficient. Remember that the pump needs to be plugged in and running at all times so that can put a strain on your usage.

* Does the pump come with a guarantee? – Most water pumps sold today do come with at least a one year guarantee. However, you really don’t want to settle for just one year of protection. Look for pumps that stand behind their products for at least two to three years. These are the pumps most likely to last.

Remember to choose a water pump designed to be used outdoors. Here is what to look for:

* Longer cords – Outdoor units come with 30 feet or longer of cord because they have to stretch further to reach a plug. Indoor units have much shorter cords.

* Three Prong Plus – Most outdoor products use three-prong plugs instead of the two-prong plugs found with most indoor electronics.

* Size – Outdoor pumps are typically larger because they are designed to handle more water volume.

* Check the box – If you’re in doubt, check the box. If it doesn’t say “Safe for Outdoor Use” then choose a different product.

Using the information will help you to purchase the best water pump for your needs.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For information on pond pumps, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of pond fountain pumps.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers