CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR WATER GARDENERS

Christmas is coming and the koi are getting fat! (hopefully, so they are fit for the winter slow-down). Along with the hopes for the forthcoming winter there is not much to do around the water garden. All the plants are cut back and the pond netted, so unless you are planning a brand new project you can relax to a certain extent, but it is the that time of year when every day brings a reminder that an expedition of Christmas shopping is looming ever closer on the time horizon; tinsel in the shops, festive events being arranged and gaudy catalogues dropping out of magazines. It can all get a bit daunting especially when it all seems to start so early. The temptation with having modern technology is to sneek a look on the computer and see what might be available from the web without having to step foot outside the door into the throbbing melee of irascible Christmas Shoppers. So what might be out there that might amuse, titivate or be genuinely useful to the water gardener in your life, especially taking the time of year into account?
So since you are here, what have we got to offer that may be seasonal and practical for the time of year?

Pond net: 6m x 4m clear strong net with pegsBLAGDON POND COVER NET

If the pond has not been netted for the autumn season to keep out the blowing leaves, it may be still a good idea to put one on in order to keep out any inquisitive herons. In fact if you have fish and if you or your neighbours have had any problems with herons over recent years then i would say a pond net was a MUST. These pond nets from Blagdon are particulaly good since from the angle you view your pond and from a distance of more than 10metres they are almost completely invisible. They all come with a selection of pegs.

A 6metre x 4metre (20ft x 13ft) clear pond net with pegs will be £20.99 plus postage and packing (£4.95)

4metre x 3metre (13ft 6ins x 10ft) clear pond net £15.99 plus postage and packing.

3metre x 2metre (10ft x 6ft 6ins) clear pond net £7.99, but there is very a stretchy black version for £5.49.

Larger sizes are 6metres x 5metres - £23.99 10metres x 6metres - £42.99

Laguna floating pond thermometer

LAGUNA FLOATING POND THERMOMETER

On the face of it and all things being as they were, winter and the season of festive cheer was a time for pond owners to sit back and sup the Port and forget all things aquatic. But now when summer sizzles into the early stage of autumn and tree leaves frazzle up and break off through drought rather than shake off in the advent of radically cooler temperatures. If your pond has precious koi carp in residence then they are hovering in a nether world where their metabolism is active enough for them to try to feed but it is cold enough to undermine their resistence to disease and pathogens which in turn are still active in the environment. So the watchful eye of the diligent pond keeper is best kept alert and informed with a good reliable thermometer. At critical temeperatures around 7 to 10 centigrade, you need to know exactly what it is so you know what to feed your fish for their own good.

The LAGUNA Floating Pond Theremometer is a bargain at £3.99 plus p and p

See below with regards to what fish food and when?

Nishikoi Autumn and Spring mix

NISHIKOI AUTUMN AND SPRING MIX

Fish food may not be at the top of the Christmas shopping list but it is definitely something to consider now that traditional winter temperatures (certainly before the festive season) seem to be a thing of the past. If you you feed your fish according to the temperature of the water, then you will find that the water is still nudging well above the level of 7C the point at which you should cease feeding fish and in particular koi. Now it is probably still below 10C, so that means that the fish should only be fed very easily digestible, very low protein food. For most koi enthusiasts this means wheat germ or a very highly respected brand of food that specifacally formulated for Autumn and Spring.

Nishikoi Autumn and Spring Mix for 550grmmes (1lb 3oz) is £8.99 plus post and packing. It is suitable for all fish in a mixed pond environment.

Nishikoi wheat germKusuri wheatgerm koi food

MORE SEASONAL FISH FOOD

For koi in particular you really need the floating pellet type of food. This enables you to be able to net any excess food off from the surface of the pond if it remains uneaten for more than five minutes. This is especially important in the colder months to keep to a minimum the build up of toxins in the pond. It is also important that the food is of high quality and easily digestible. Even so, dont overfeed even if the fish still seem to be taking food because they may not easily be able to digest all that their stomachs can hold, or if the water were to suddenly get cooler their digestive systems would be unable to digest the food until the water warmed up again.

Nishikoi Wheatgerm for 650grammes (1lb 7oz) is £9.99 plus post and packing.

Kusuri Wheat Germ 1.5kg is £17.95 plus post and packing. This contains propilis, kelp, garlic, krill meal AND wheatgerm. Almost makes you want to be a fish just to see what it would be like!

Pond Gloves

POND GLOVES

It may be the intention to clean that pond out at some point in the near future. The 'window of opportunity for the Autumn clear out has somewhat past so now we are looking at the Spring. It may be that you just want to fiddle around with a few plants and that wont be so bad. But if you've got creaking finger joints like mine or if you haven't and you dont want to get them by sticking them in cold water for hours on end, then these are essential.

Oasis Pond Gloves - £9.99 plus postage and packing

BOOKS

Designing and Creating Water Gardens by Peter J May £19.95 including p&p

Cover for "Designing and Creating Water Gardens" by Peter J. MayPerhaps you are after the perfect book that will be guiding hand through the maze and miasma of problems when it comes to designing and creating the perfect water garden. Look no further. The perfect companion to the novice and partly experienced water garden landcaper is here and all the very best book shops. It is Designing and Creating Water Gardens by Peter J. May, both inspiration and practical DIY manual it is at home on the coffee table or as an instruction manual in the garden shed. It is a guide for serious potential water gardeners who want to get it right first time, because you only intend to build one water garden, you dont want to have to learn from experience. Instead you can learn from Peter May's 25 years at designing and landscaping water gardens. You get everything installed in the right order and it all fits together in the best possible way.

All styles of water garden are covered using all the materials readily available in aquatic centres and garden centres, apart the magical Betonite matting from Rawell, which is covered in the puddled ponds section. This is only available from Rawell. The techniques on display are based on basic principles that will enable you to overcome any hurdle your site throws at you.

• The problems of an unlevel site and made up ground fade into insignificance.
• The secrets of a perfect stream with a limited water supply,
• how to make spectacular waterfalls as easily as doing a jigsaw puzzle are all covered
• as well as what plants to choose an how many from a directory of plants that are readily avaiiable.
• Also what fish to choose, what fish mix with each other and the suitability for for different styles of water garden.
• Bridges, stepping, pergolas, jetties and decking and the edging and beyond make you wonder whether this book has any limits.

At £19.95 including postage and packing it will easily save you that money tenfold but treating you to all the landscaper's tricks of the trade in making a perfect reliable sustainable water garden. For some views of the inside look for it in the shop.

The Perfect Pond Recipe Book by Peter J. May £4.95 including p&p

The Perfect Pond Recipe Book by Peter J. MayHere it is, you thought you would never find it. The legendary Perfect Pond Recipe Book is now on its fourth reprint and still selling world wide. At first sight this little volume might make you think that the vast amount of know-how required to build a water garden could not possibly be contained in these few pages, let alone in the variety of styles and the range and choice of materials there is at the modern gardenrs' disposal. What is more there is so little to read. One critic described it as "THE defintive guide". It is mostly in comic strip style drawings. But Peter May, ex-cartoonist, garden designer and landscaper of over 25years makes every line count. Everything on the page, every line, every word counts as being true and exactly all you need to create any water garden out of any pond products available at the aquatic centres, be it preformed or flexible, electrical, growing or moving or anything you imagine a water garden to contain including the water. One aquatic centre in Pembrokeshire gives one away with every large pond or liner he sells.

Originally it was devised Peter May to show potential clients who might want a water garden just how much was involved in such a project since most prospective pond owners did not have a clue. It was conceived as being good value for money just to match the expectations of what many people thought a water garden might cost. So as a result you have a really honest account of what is involved, but it has to be the cheapest guide for what can be a very expensive luxury especially in ill-informed hands. So if you are contemplating how much a water garden may take in time and effort and whether that effort should be yours or someone else's then buy this book. You will find that it is the best guide and contains all you NEED to know. The only better guide is it bigger younger brother, Designing and Creating Water Gardens (see above), which is has much more in the way of reference and inspiration. But it is the same basic ingredients.

At £4.95 including p&p, it is the best fiver spent in any water garden project.

The catalogues as they clump through the letter box as junk mail or as a result of having a membership to some otherwise worthy charity are the visible tip of the iceberg of possibilities and can be an obvious place to look, and very often its easy to order on line. Sometimes there are even discounts for internet orders.

THE CATALOGUES

THE RSPB CATALOGUE, www.rspb.co.uk, tel: 0845 1 200 501

Standard delivery £3.95

Monet Umbrella

The Monet folding Umbrella: robust high quality umbrella that collapses down to 25cm long from a 96cm wide fully open with 51cm handle. The unique feature is that the umbrella and matching cover are decorated with one of Monet’s delightful impressionist paintings of the lilies in his water garden at Giverny. £15.99.

Kingfisher doorbell and sign

Kingfisher welcome sign: “a colourful welcome for your home or garden”. This is a painted cast iron plaque of a kingfisher that can be pushed into the ground or a pot by the door. Including the spike it is 25cm tall. £5.99

Kingfisher doorbell: traditional and ornate painted metal doorbell with backplate for fixing. The back plate is 36cm long. £19.99.

Shelf Edge Frog

Shelf edge frog: “handsome snoozing frog ornament makes a perfect pet – it is fully housetrained and doesn’t need to be walked”. He just lazes on the windowsill or shelf edge. He is made in England and is 12cm long. £9.99

Ice Guard that prevents ponds from completely freezing over. It claims that it helps to maintain water quality “year-round” and is a safe haven for frogs – in which case I’d flog it as “a floating frog motel”. ItsIceguard made of polystyrene and steel and measures 32cm diameter by 24cm deep and comes at a whacking £32.50, so hopefully it should be pretty effective to be anywhere near value for money.

THE ORGANIC GARDENING CATALOGUE, www.OrganicCatalogue.com ,tel: 0845 130 1304

Orders over £25, free delivery. Under £25, £1.20 handling charge.

Solar OxygenatorSolar Oxygenator: a solar powered air pump suitable for small to medium sized ponds. It has two air stones that release air below the water level in sunny weather, particularly useful if it gets very hot. The extra oxygen in the water can help to prevent algae growth.
It can be mounted up to 5m(16ft) away. 2 year warranty. No operating costs. No wiring. £39.95

Pond Planter

Pond Planters: These are ideal for marginal plants and deep-water plants in ponds. They are made of a fine rot-proof geomembrane material that is flexible and that contains the root growth of vigorous plants. They are therefore ideal for preventing water plants from getting out of hand and for being placed on muddy or uneven pond bottoms. The will also contain vigorous plants like mint in the garden whilst allowing water to filter through to the plant roots. A pack of 2 planters- standard size £5.25 – large £7.25
Similar products are available at the Ferndale Lodge website: http://www.ferndale-lodge.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?product=MH155

FERNDALE LODGE CATALOGUE, http://www.ferndale-lodge.co.uk/ tel: 0870 444 0043

Delivery £3.95 0n all items

Pond Planters as above but at £3.50 for the large and £2.50 for what they describe as ‘small’

Multi-coloured Floating Solar Lights

Multi-Coloured Floating Solar Lights: light up ponds and pools in a rainbow of colours with our high quality floating solar lights. No need for electrical wiring - simply secure the waterproof bodies in position with their nylon anchor lines. They'll charge by day, and automatically switch on at dusk, glowing in a slowly changing cycle through all the colours of the rainbow for up to 8 hours. Rechargeable AA batteries included. Diameter 19cm (7½"). A set of 2 for £19.95

Waterproof Digital Pond Thermometer: keep tabs on pond temperature (as well as pools, spas and baths) with this superb, easy-to-read floating thermometer. It has a tough, waterproof overmoulded case, isFloating thermometer °C/°F switchable, has a max/min function, and indicates a range of 0-50°C. Complete with 80cm attachment cord, retaining hook and 3 volt lithium coin cell battery. £12.95

Solar Fountain

Solar Fountain Kit: Enliven your pond with the sound of a fountain and, after dusk, the glow of its LED lights. The Ferndale solar powered kit features a 1.7 Watt solar panel, and has a unique battery storage facility that allows it to store energy while the sun is out to power the fountain in poor lighting or even after dark (when fully charged the battery will operate the fountain for 24 hours or fountain and lights for 15 hours!). With no wiring, it's easy to install or reposition, and the pump produces a fountain height of up to 50cm (20"). £89.95.