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HOjMES-6 - The Canadian Champion, FridayJun9,20 '1S6snmfuicn.*ý, t«imn otencsi Ponds can provide hourso Derby Browti _______________enjoyment for homeowners IBy LISA CARTWRIGHT The Champion IiB àt only takes about two weekends of work, but a backyard pond and ~# ~aéP I ~eJ ~ç. e I hours of enjoyment. "It's a beautiful added effect to the garden," said Roy MacKinnon, owner of MacKinnon Viaterfais and Ponds, an Internet compsny based out of Multon. 6"It's part of the garden that has movement and sound. It becomes the focal point." Mr. MacKinnon's company han been inatalling and maintaining ponds and watorfalls for the st 110)yeara. When he started, it was rare to aee a pond in some- one's backyard. Now they'ro everywhere. 'Statistics ahow that for the next 15 to 20 years,g Canada is on a ateady increaso in popularity for ponds," he aaid. "In Europe it has levelled out. One in 20 homes han a pond. I the U.S. and Canada it'a atili growing."1 Ponds and waterfalls have hecome popular additions to the gardon for several reasona. Mr. MacKinnon said more people are tuming theirf backyards into private getaways rather than going to at cottage. The sound of running water an well an the vegota- t tion attracta wildlifo such as birds and froga. "It's another piece of what nature needs," he aaid. Anid the sound of water tumbling over stones is relaxing, making working in the garden that much more enjoyablo, he aaid. Building a pond and waterfall isn't that difficult if people plan ahead, Mr. MacKinnon said. A pond should be placod where people will get the most henefit from it. The sizo of the pond han to be decided next, ho aaid. 'lThere it no set size but the larger the pond, the oas- ier it is to maintain," ho said. But the larger the pond, the harder it is to got into balance, he aid. Mr. MacKinnon aaid a pond'a water has to be in biological balance. There are sevoral ways to balance the water including aeration wîth a waterfall or fount- tain or adding fish to the pond. The result of an unbalanced pond is that the water Keep y-uf-mîly's best friend safe, happy, And at home wnih an Invisible FenceBrand Pet Contamnment System. Don 't compromise your dog's safety wt/ anyuing iess. SAE$50* IsibleFence Yordog safeO hom.- 876-1288 pecici "0 ept- PerennialS 3 In" and 4 pots .79e Io" HangingfBaskets '6.99 AU Annuol Fits V7.99 Taces InclJ Open Mon-Sat 9am-Spm Sun 88, ieryR. Eas 87 - E ---~ , Photo by GRAHAM PAINE A pond like this one becomes the centre iolnt of a gardon. Not only la lt soothlng to lia- en to, it attracta dlIdllie Ilke birds and froga. oea rnurky or cloudy and there's excessive algae irowth. People should alto docide how they want their vaterfaîl to look. There are several books on the mar- ethat will give people ideas for their own ponds ind waterfallt. Thon the digging begins. Thse pond should ho ne more than two-and-a-half et deep, Mr. MacKinnon aaid. People won't he able o s00 the fish if thse pond is any deoper. "The only time they will tee them is when they orne to the surface to feed." Marginal planta such an cattails, reeda and rushes should ho planted no more than a foot deep. Once the hole it dug, a nsbher pond liner ahould ho placed inaide. Rocks or other materials can ho used to Une the pond. To make the waterfall, hilîs should ho miade uting the dirt from digging out the pond, Me. MaacKinnon said. Rocks should thon ho placed over the durt. The pump aize depends on how much water falts over the waterfall. "With every cubic inch of water that cornet over tho rocks, you need a 100 gallon per hour pump to do that." People can use tap or well water to fili tho pond. "Vie suggest people use a wator prep treatment. It takes out the chlorine and a lot of the minerala!" Once the water is in the pond, honeficial bacteria - that can ho purchased in liquid form at mott gardon cen- Ires -should ho added. Some birds are trouble Blue herons have hocome the biggeat problem for pond ownert. The large birds are known for stopping by for a quick snack -of goldfiah or froga beooe flying on. - Roy MacKinnon, owner of MacKinnon Viaterfalla and Ponds, said thore's not much people can do to prevont the birda ('rom using their ponds an a drive-through. But there are ways people can stop ani- mals such an raccoons and cals from get- ting a free, easy me". "Scarecrows work," Mr. MacKinnon said. Mr. MacKinnon alto said aotting a motion dotector near tho pond also works. The animals trip the sensor, causing a pul- sating round. "It seares (hem." *-Mo s q uito es?9 Let nature tight nature. Stagnant, or motionleas water, is the prime breoding ground of motquitoes. To combat the problem, Roy MacKinnon, owner of MacKinnon Viaterfals and Ponds, suggested people put fish in their ponds. -The mosquito lar- vite are quickly taken care o. * Another way is ho. buy dragonfly, Iarvae andpilaco ir in the.pond. Vison dragonfiies hatcs, lhoy feed on mosquitoei.