If you have a pond in your yard, now is the time to start thinking about how to care for it this summer. The following is a brief checklist of the things you'll want to make sure are in order so you can enjoy your pond all summer long.

1. Fertilize any plants in your pond. As a rule of thumb, lilies and lotus should be fertilized every 3-4 weeks, and marginals every 5-7 weeks.
2. Remove dead foliage from your pond. When the plant leaves turn yellow and brown with age, this is the best time to cut them off. Doing so reduces debris buildup in your pond and provides more room for new growth. Besides, this clean up helps improve the overall appearance of your pond.
3. Feed your fish well but be careful not to over-feed. Feed no more than the fish will eat in 5 minutes. Feed 1-3 times per day.
4. Clean your pond's filter as needed, making sure not to over-clean. You do not want to strip your pond of the excellent biome that's been created.
5. Maximize your aeration. Generally speaking, warm water holds less oxygen, yet the fish use more oxygen in warm water, thereby creating a huge necessity for added aeration by using an air pump or an additional pump. Make sure you have this running continuously, so your fish remain healthy. 

Enjoy!

Graham Landscape & Design has been designing and installing ponds in landscapes throughout the Willamette Valley since 2010. Give us a call today at 541-729-8029 if you're interested in a pond or other water feature for your yard.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designs, builds and installs one of a kind landscape ponds, streams and waterfalls.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designs, builds and installs custom waterfalls and ponds for landscapes large and small.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designs and installs beautiful ponds and streams, enhancing landscape designs big and small.

Graham Landscape and Design LLC designs, installs, and maintains residential and commercial landscapes in Junction City Oregon. Pictured below is a complete landscape in Junction City, Oregon designed and installed by Graham Landscape and Design LLC.

The Problem: Thistledown Farms in Junction City Oregon needed a landscape make-over for their courtyard landscape that customers look at while checking out at the cash registers. There had been a pond and landscape there before, but it had fallen into a state of disrepair and had become a large, prominent eyesore from the natural produce store. Randy and Pam Henderson of Thistledown Farms in Junction City decided to hire Graham Landscape and Design LLC, a professional landscape design build company, to draw up plans and install a landscape to match the scale of their amazing, historic farm.

The Solution: Graham Landscape and Design LLC created a multi-faceted landscape design to complement the look and feel of Thistledown Farms. We designed a decomposed granite walking path to leisurely stroll the grounds around the water feature and landscape in Junction City, Oregon. Knowing that many families and young children enjoy purchasing their fresh produce from Thistledown Farms and spending a half day or day there, we decided to increase the size of the lawn for impromptu picnics. Graham Landscape and Design LLC completely re-designed and installed the water feature that faces the check-out stands and plays the prominent role in this courtyard landscape.

Graham Landscape and Design LLC chose decomposed granite and Pro-steel edging for the pathway material for a number of reasons. The decomposed granite material drains really well, compacts nicely, and has a nice tan/gold color to it. The black Pro-steel edging, barely visible, keeps mulch and lawn separated from the pathway.

Knowing that the lawn would receive a lot of foot traffic from kids and families romping around in the courtyard, Graham Landscape and Design LLC decided to install a Fescue sod lawn for Thistledown Farms in Junction City. Fescue sod is more wear-resistant, requires less water than Perennial Rye, and also requires less fertilizer on a regular basis.

Thistledown is known for its earlier-time charm and Graham Landscape and Design LLC wanted to honor this with the water feature re-design. We decided to incorporate the water-wheel into the water feature and we also added some select pieces of driftwood to help with that old-time feel. We increased the water output and installed a new filtration system to make sure the water stays clear. Now Thistledown's customers are drawn to the site and sound of moving water while they are checking out with their fresh produce.

Graham Landscape and Design LLC even added the finishing touches of a hollowed out tree trunk found on the property and planted a Huckleberry in it, just like you might find hiking the forests of the Pacific Northwest.

The end result of the landscape design created by Graham Landscape and Design LLC is the finished product Thistledown Farms can be proud of. The automatic sprinkler system in Junction City Oregon, also installed by Graham Landscape and Design LLC, makes landscape maintenance easy. Managing farm operations and making sure the crops are watered properly is enough work in and of itself, let alone making sure the landscape will receive the right amount of water.

Problem solved in a very aesthetic and functional way!

Graham Landscape and Design LLC specializes in creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor living spaces. We are well-versed in making your property more usable and valuable.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designs and installs beautiful water features for residential and commercial properties throughout the Willamette Valley.

No matter if you're looking for a pond, a stream, a waterfall, or a combination of these, a water feature adds interest and beauty to any landscape design. Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designs and builds beautiful water features. Quotes provided at no obligation.