TO POND OR NOT TO POND Creating Backyard Ambiance

BY: KARIN MELBERG SCHWIER

PHOTOS: BOB TURCZYN

There was a hole in the ground when Al Ritchie's spouse went in to work at the university one morning. By the time Sandra came home, Al had transformed the crater into a beautiful rockencircled pond and waterfall. It wasn’t Al’s first rodeo with a backyard fount. In fact, the rock pond went through a few iterations before he was satisfied, and he’s learned a few things about the life aquatic along the way.

Al, a public elementary school teacher, and Sandra, a student affairs administrator at the University of Saskatchewan, now both retired, purchased their Nutana Park home in 1981. Today, their backyard is a show stopper, as seen above.

As befits any true oasis, the water source is a serene focal point. First, a small waterfall sculpture dribbled its way into stone bowls. That evolved into a bathtub- sized pool. Al was still itchy to go bigger and more natural looking. That meant collecting big rocks from farmers’ fields.

“We love the peace and tranquility. It turned out beautifully,” he says, and shrugs. “But it’s why I have a bad back.”

Pondering the Possibilities

How does a homeowner determine whether a pond, waterfall or fountain—or all three—is good idea? Answering the question is either encouraging or discouraging to potential ponders.

Jonathan Ahlstedt of Ahlstedt’s Landscape

Contracting has worked on everything from smaller water features with hidden subterranean basins and waterfalls to elaborate large scale six-figure ponds.

“Ponds generally appeal to people who spend a lot of time in their yards who are already okay with sizable yard maintenance,” he says.

Whether or not a homeowner is a “pond person” is also a consideration. Like adopting a pet, it requires boning up on how to keep it happy and healthy. It requires an attentive master.

Attentive, yes. Fussy, maybe not, according to Al. “My opinion is that a perfectionist should never pond,” Al suggests. “A pond is better as a wild thing, not a sculptured yard or manicured grass.”

And it can be addictive. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a true pond owner who was satisfied with just an above-ground structure or their first in-ground pond. They’re always tweaking.”

Location Location Location

“It’s best to select a location that has some tree canopy for partial coverage,” says Jonathan. “Sunlight is nice so you can see the water and its inhabitants, but it also accelerates the growth of algae. It’s best to have a balance.”

Besides the issues of sun, shade, detritus from trees, wind and the yard’s traffic flow, selecting an inviting spot for enjoyment is an important consideration.

“Our pond was built at the same level as our deck. We put it right beside the deck so we can see and hear it as we sit with coffee in the morning, drinks in the evening or as we enjoy the afternoon shade.”

A pond doesn’t require the same inspection bylaws as do pools. Rather, it falls into the

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design “common sense” category, says Jonathan. That includes making sure where all underground utilities are located.

Drilling Down

When Jonathan installs a pond of any significant size, he uses a small excavator. A thick rubber liner is necessary to prevent leaks. Still, he forewarns clients that “there is no easy fix if it is punctured.” The pond must be drained, and damage patched. One pro tip: once the pond hole is excavated and once the lining is installed, an old rubber car floor mat or carpet can be placed under any object on top of the liner that may cause damage due to weight or awkward shape. This padding should be placed under any stones or sculptures on top of the lining as well.

Al was a long-time member of the Saskatoon Water Gardening Society. He put that knowledge to use when he decided to expand his own. “I believed 10’x8’x2’ was reasonable,” Al says. “Depth is important for anyone who tries overwintering fish with a bubbler and heat to keep the oxygen flowing and surface free of ice.”

Keeping water moving with a pump and fountain is the basic requirement. Adding oxygen is important and a waterfall helps. Adding an aeration machine “is the ticket when accommodating a large amount of plants and fish. The more oxygen, the better,” he says. It also means less algae.

“And mosquitoes don’t like moving water,” Al says. “Fish do like their larvae, so that combination tends to make our backyard pleasant during mosquito season.”

Getting Your Greens

The pond surface needs plant covering on up to half the surface to offer shade for stress-free fish.

“You should incorporate a shelf along one side of the pond or something like stacked bricks. Various plants prefer different water depths. Spider plants look good with bits trailing in the water,” he explains. “Of course, you need a bulrush and or a cattail which can be dug out of a ditch.” These plants clarify the water; they’re heavy feeders so a fertilizer tab pressed into the growing medium keeps them vibrant.

Keeping the water clean, and plants and other pondlife healthy, is a constant.

“You always have to net and skim debris off the surface,” says Al. “But not the bottom. You want to leave that little underwater environment alone so you don’t stir up sludge.” And unless it really gets out of hand, he adds, don’t worry about algae. Fish love to snack on it.

Small Sweat Equity

If the equipment is working properly and the lining is sound, the pond, fountain and waterfall can gurgle away happily from spring through fall. When it’s time to put it to bed in September or early October, Al drains his with a pond pump and hose, always moving the hose to various trees and plants around the lawn. Pond water and soil are rich in nutrients. After it’s drained and plants removed, he goes at the bottom with a wet-dry vac. The sludge is removed and the pond refilled. The refill is necessary since without the weight of the frozen water during the winter, the sides will collapse from the pressure of surrounding frozen soil.

“This process takes the longest time,” he says. “My 2,000 gallon pond takes four hours to drain and refill. I would guess add about five hours a year in maintenance. So mine isn’t much fuss at all.”

Fish Tales

What’s a pond without fish in it? Just a puddle. But fish have a pesky habit of hiding in the plants. That’s not to say he and Sandra don’t love their goldfish. So much so, they’re hauled inside to a 50-gallon aquarium in the fall where they can be enjoyed all winter in full view.

Pond people who want fish year around put them in an aquarium or cold storage container (cool but not freezing so the fish don’t eat and almost hibernate). Jonathan says most residential ponds simply don’t have the space required to go deep and wide enough to reliably sustain fish year around.

Transporting fish to their winter home is pretty straightforward.

“As the water drains,” explains Al, “we net the originals and the new baby fish and take them in a bucket to our big aquarium downstairs. As they reproduce outside in summer, we maybe put eight in and take out 12 or 13 in the fall.”

Pond Worthy Plants

Jonathan Ahlstedt of Ahlstedt’s Landscape Contracting recommends the following plants to bring life to a home pond, varieties friendly to this growing zone (Zone 3b, formerly 3a).

1. Hyacinth Floaters

2. Papyrus King Tut

3. Parrots Feather Red Stem

4. Corkscrew Rush Spiralis

5. Marestail

6. Moneywart

7. Prince Tut

8. Papyrus Giant Dwarf

9. Pickerelweed Purple

10. Banana Red Abyssinnian

Al Ritchie's favourite pond plants include:

1. Spider plant

2. Bulrushes or Cattails (easily harvested from ditches and sloughs for free)

3. Yellow Monkey Flower

4. Marsh Marigold

5. Hardy Water Lillies

6. Ultra Violet Tropical Water Lily

7. Water Hyacinths

All Good Things

At 85, Al is still fit and spry, and knows physical activity is a good thing. But the pond does take some effort and Sandra does a lot to keep it going. Since a recent knee replacement, he’s looking at the pond end game.

“I feel sad the time is approaching when I’ll have to put this satisfying hobby to bed. But,” he muses, displaying the serenity a gurgling pond has instilled. “I think we can donate our fancy goldfish, drain the pond, give away the boulders and offer our aquarium to the Aquarium Club.”

He brightens at a comefull-circle possibility. “We’ll buy one of those vertical water features again, the stone bowls that catch the waterfall. We’ll enjoy the soothing sounds of trickling water, bird and butterfly visits and dragonfly flybys. We’ll still have that peace and tranquility without quite as much effort.”

Karin Melberg Schwier

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BY: KARIN MELBERG SCHWIER PHOTOS: AMY THORP