Garden Ponds

Garden pond is not just an ornament, but an alive and breathing ecosystem, tranquil focal point, and haven for all forms of plant and animal life. As specialists at Jackson's Garden Services, who cover Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, we have expertise at designing, constructing, and maintaining garden ponds to keep them healthy, appearing their best, and thriving for many years to come.

The beauty of the garden pond

Having a pond in your backyard is the key to appreciating this unique beauty and tranquility. It offers:

Sensory Experience: The gurgle of the moving water, the sparkle of the sun against the surface of the water, and the colors of aquatic vegetation and fish all harmonize to provide an enticing sensory experience.

Biodiversity Boost: Ponds attract all sorts of wildlife such as dragonflies and damselflies, newts and frogs, and visiting birds, and your backyard becomes a thriving ecosystem.

Dramatic Focal Point: The highlight of your garden can be an exquisitely designed pond giving you year-round beauty.

Well-being & Relaxation: The calming nature of water has a profound effect on well-being, the perfect setting for relaxation and contemplation.

Planning & Building Your Dream Pond

Whether you envision a peaceful wildlife haven or a healthy fish pond, careful planning and expert construction are the key. At Jackson's Garden Services, we guide you through every step:

Site selection: We help you choose the best spot, keeping in mind sunlight exposure (too much promotes algal growth), proximity to trees (falling leaves) and visibility from the prime viewing areas.

Design & Dimensions: From geometric shapes to flowing, natural lines, we work with you to fashion the shape you've chosen to best suit your garden style. We advise the ideal depth to provide the proper support and to allow for aquatic life to flourish.

Liner vs. Preformed Ponds: We will describe the benefits and limitations of flexible liners (more design flexibility) versus rigid preformed ponds (more convenient for small, specific shapes).

Filtration & Pumps: We provide the right filtration equipment (biological, mechanical, UV clarifiers) and pumps to maintain your aquatic ecosystem's well being and the clarity and quality of the water.

Edging and Landscaping: The area where the pond sits next to the garden is critical. We use ornamental edging with natural stone, wood, or plants to provide a tidy and attractive finish.

Different Types of Garden Ponds

Ponds can be built to have numerous various primary functions:

Wildlife ponds: Designed to attract and harbor native wildlife and vegetation. These would be shallow on the edges, with abundant native aquatic vegetation and naturalistic edging to enable hedgehogs and frog movement in and out. They would generally have no fish, since amphibian eggs and larvae are preyed upon by them.

Fish Ponds: Constructed with the welfare of the fish being the prime concern, typically with deeper areas, robust filtration, and aeration to maintain high-level water quality and oxygenation. Koi ponds represent a specialized category, with yet more advanced filtration required.

Ornamental Ponds: These ponds were created more for aesthetics, being filled with beautiful aquatic plants such as lilies, strategically placed rocks, and perhaps decorative fountains or statues. Fish can be introduced but are not the priority.

Formal Ponds: Characterized by geometric form (square, rectangular, round), sharp corners, and typically made of concrete, stone, or brick. Typically have minimalist plantings and formal lines and are well-suited to the modern or traditional formal garden.

Naturalistic/Informal Ponds: Built to resemble natural bodies of water, having irregular forms, sloping banks, and frequently integrated with rockeries or bog gardens, blending harmoniously with the surroundings.

Ponds: Maintaining a Living Ecosystem

A garden pond is a dynamic, ever-changing system that needs constant attention to flourish. Neglect to regularly maintain the system can lead to imbalances injurious to plants, wildlife, and fish eventually:

For Plant Life: There is a need to regularly remove blanketweed and thin out excessive submerged and floating plants. This is to prevent them from getting out of control and dominating the pond, causing other residents to die, starving the pond's oxygen at nighttime, and also to regulate the population of algae through competition for nutrient intake.

For wildlife: A clean and well-balanced pond is a healthy one. Excessive sludge, decaying plants, and poor-quality water can make the place toxic to visiting amphibians, insects, and wildlife. Clear edges also provide wildlife with an easy pathway to and from the pond.

For Fish Health: Fish are extremely sensitive to water quality. Neglect leads to the accumulation of toxic nitrates and ammonias and low oxygen levels, and increased vulnerability to disease. Cleanliness on a regular basis, checking the filters, and water testing are mandatory to their survival and health.

Prevention of Algae Blooms: Nutrient imbalance, too much sunshine, and decaying organics cause unattractive, and at times dangerous, algae blooms to form. Proper maintenance can regulate those causes.

Seasonal Preparation: Ponds need to undergo certain preparation to prepare them for the harsh weather, ranging from preventing winter freezing to ensuring proper oxygenation and cooling in the summer.

For all your Bournemouth pond care requirements, select Jackson's Garden Services.

Keeping your pond looking its best is best left to the expert hands of specialists such as those at Jackson's Garden Services who provide Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole homes with:

Expert Design & Construction: We possess the skill to design and build ponds not only visually attractive but ecologically friendly and easy to maintain. In-Depth Horticultural & Aquatic Knowledge: We comprehend the complex ecology of ponds, ranging from water and plant chemistry to wildlife attraction and the health of the fish. Pond Care Services: Regular pond cleaning, filtration service, plant care, water test, and seasonal preparation are provided to keep your pond in its optimum state. Problem Solving: We can identify and correct typical pond problems, ranging from constant alga blooms to fish diseases, with cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions. Respect for Wildlife: We conduct all our operations on the ponds with respect for existing and future wildlife, promoting the growth of a healthy natural ecosystem. Professional & Reliable: Rely on our professional standard of service, for the initial one-off clean, or booked-in maintenance of regular intervals. Let Jackson's Garden Services help you develop or maintain a healthy and engaging pond for your yard. We invite you to call today to schedule an appointment and learn the art of aquatic gardening!