Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
by Leslie Patton
Where are you going to place your pond? You want your pond to be close to electricity to run your pumps and for heat in the winter. You don’t want your pond in direct sunlight because it will heat the water too much and your fish don’t like hot water. Shade is an issue because trees shed their leaves and contaminate the pond. The roots from the trees can also grow into your pond.
You can use goldfish or koi for your pond. Koi can grow to be 3 feet long, so if you have a small pond you should go with goldfish. Both fish are very hardy and beautiful.
The depth of the pond also needs to be planned. It should be deep enough to protect them from freezing and protect them from predators. It also need to allow plenty of room for your fish to swim.
You need to figure out some type of shelter for your fish. You can build a ledger and add as many plants as you want to give them a place to hide.
Ponds can be built with several types of materials. Concrete can be expensive and you have to test the water because of the lime in concrete. Premolded liners are fast and easy to set up, but are usually too small for koi. Flexible liners are great for different pond designs. It can be a lot of work and it will tear. Rubber liner comes in sheets and is made specifically for pond use. It can also last up to 20 years.
Get your hole dug before you go to get your liner. This way you can be sure that you get enough liner. It wouldn’t hurt to buy a little extra, you can always take it back.
Decorating your pond is where you can make it your own. You have alot of different options. You can do an island, waterfall, fountains, plants and even lights.
Plants are great for the water and provide a place for your fish to hide. You can get floating plants, shallow plants, and submerged plants. Be careful with the floating plants so your fish don’t eat them right away.
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Monday, June 29th, 2009
by Chris Channing
Rural areas give home owners the choice to start up a garden at will. For relatively little money, you could start a garden and watch it thrive. Urban areas are less forgiving to gardeners. However, you can still make your own garden and watch it grow even if you live in a small apartment area.
Don’t forget to advantage of the offer Mother Nature offers in direct sunlight. Place plants on the edge of windows to harvest the Sun’s helpful rays that are required for plants to grow. If you don’t have access to the proper window, no need to worry! A fluorescent light will do the job if properly configured. More high-tech lights can be obtained at gardening centers if you want to go that far.
Community gardens are another option for you. The apartment complex you live at shouldn’t mind you taking a hand in making the surrounding area more appealing. A condominium complex awards you even more ability to do so, since you own an actual stake in the building itself. Get the proper permission to see if you can plant a small side garden along a wall or in a common area.
Plants are just for decor- they are for consumption too! You can still have a small food garden in your apartment if you know what types of food will grow best in an enclosed environment. Some have gone as far as growing potatoes in a large bin of soil, although more practical options such as small tomato plants are also available.
Getting fertilizer poses a problem for apartment owners. The soil you use to pot the plant will quickly lose nutrients. The lack of water and sediment movement nature usually provides won’t be present. To motivate the plant and keep it growing, you can use a chicken to provide fertilizer. If you don’t know anyone who has one, you can raise your own.
Even long vines that you wouldn’t think would look good in an apartment can look great in a room if expertly placed. The vines can be stretched out to make a border around a room or make for a decorative centerpiece for the living room. Decorative plants are just as good as food bearing plants, and are a sheer joy to maintain over the lonely winter months.
In Conclusion
An apartment lifestyle doesn’t have to rob you of your yearning for a garden. Just try to get creative in how you create your garden with limited resources. Your local gardening center should have more information on starting a mini garden in your urban setting.
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