Question: “There’s some stringy green moss growing from rocks in our pond.  Is that an issue and should we pull it out? – Minnesota pond owner Answer: Jeff says, ” Thanks for reaching out!  That stringy green moss is a plant- filamentous algae to be specific. Some string algae is not bad but the amount in your pond is close to undesirable. (I.e. large mats of stringy green stuff). Like other types of algae, the stringy kind is simply enjoying nutrient-rich warm summer pond water. You are welcome to hand pull it out but I would suggest adding some water treatments to your pond to co ..read more

Type: Water lily Flower: A velvety, maroon to almost black flower growing 5-6″ in diameter. Young leaves may be red but turn green as they age. Flowers may have a slight fragrance. Blooms summer into fall. Height: leaves float on the water’s surface. Light: Full sun. Zone: 4-11 but considered a tropical lily in MN. Water depth: 6″-30″, can go deeper with mature plants. Prefers still water so plant away from pumps or waterfalls to aviod splashing leaves. Feed with slow release tablets monthly for more blossoms.  Buy this Pond Plant!  12″ pot $39.95 Water lilies make great pond plant ..read more

​​Spring in Minnesota = Planting season! Several of our customers have shady ponds and were wondering which plants need sunlight. So, here are a few shady-pond-plant tips! Plant early spring blooming perennials. The plants come up and flower before the trees have their full leaf canopy.    Marsh Marigolds, Caltha palustris- The bright gold of marsh marigolds is so cheerful after the brown of early spring! Blue flag iris, Iris versicolor- also an early bloomer, gorgeous flowers in varying shades of purple. (I would steer away from the yellow iris though- it is invasive ..read more

Natural ponds are a bit tricky because of fluctuating water levels.  If you have a natural pond, you are probably familiar with the dead, brown line just above the water when a dry season comes and a soggy, grassy mess in wet years.  There is no “correct” method for edging a natural pond. For a healthy pond, the goal is to avoid erosion and stop or filter lawn run-off.  I like mixing large rocks and boulders, a dock, or driftwood pieces to provide spots to walk up to the pond and for birds and turtles to sun themselves. Below are a few beautiful pond edge options: Rock: C ..read more

Biofilters, also called biofalls, are an awesome tool in maintaining a clean, clear water feature.  Biofilters combine Mother nature’s way with containerized water gardening to clean the water using beneficial bacteria. The filter systems I am familiar with are black plastic boxes with filter pads, or bio balls, or strips of tangly plastic inside them.  The water from the pond is pushed up into this box of filters and pours over the lip molded into the box. It looks like a square pitcher. These filter things- mats, balls, strips, have the big important job of hosting bacteria.&nb ..read more

Q: Hi Jeff, Say, that algae killer you put on the rocks really worked quite well. Just wondering if that’s something I can do more often myself. What product did you use and is there a particular way to apply it? A: Hello! Algae grows because there’s nutrition in your waterscape that needs to be used up. I used Waterfall and Rock Cleaner, and also added a fair amount of bacteria (to prevent future growth and clean the water). Ecoblast is a similar “consumer grade” product similar to Waterfall Cleaner and comes in smaller packages. To apply Waterfall and Rock Cleaner, first turn off your pump ..read more

If you ask us, “Is my pond safe for my pet?” We will say, “It depends on which style of pond you have.”  If you have an ecosystem pond, the answer is “YES!”  Ecosystem ponds mimic nature in the way they use filtration systems, plants, fish, and beneficial bacteria to stay clean and clear.  ​If you are using a system other than an ecosystem pond, check before letting your pet drink or swim in your pond.  Chlorine, salts, or other chemicals are used to clean ponds but are not safe for pets. Even though your pond may be safe, you may not want your pet in your pond. Befor ..read more

Want to build a pond? Should you use big rocks or smaller rocks? Take a quick picture tour of several ponds built near Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN using a machine versus setting rocks by hand. Building a pond is a fun way to spend time outdoors! Whether you hire it done or do the work yourself, an important question to ask before you begin is “How do I want this to look?” By answering that, you will know whether you should use rocks that require a machine to set or if you will be using smaller rocks, set by hand. Generally, basketball sized rocks can be moved by man power and larger rocks wil ..read more

As winter is giving way to a new beginning for spring, we look forward to meeting our fish friends, who are similar to our “snowbird” friends that disappear for the winter! While our pond fish weren’t someplace warm, we sure do miss them!  Twin cities residents, is your pond ready to start for spring? Our spring maintenenace techs can help make your spring go a little easier! There are a few options for spring pond cleanings. We’ve labeled them as a “Pond Simple Start” and a “Pond Deep Clean”. This blog is a guide to our “Pond  Care: Deep Clean.” While we’re waiting for summer to ..read more

As winter is giving way to a new beginning for spring, we look forward to meeting our fish friends, who are similar to our “snowbird” friends that disappear for the winter! While our pond fish weren’t someplace warm, we sure do miss them! Twin cities residents, is your pond ready to start for spring? Our spring maintenance techs can help make your spring go a little easier! There are a few options for spring pond cleanings. We’ve labeled them as a “Pond Simple Start” and a “Pond Deep Clean”. This blog is a guide to our “Pond Simple Start.” ​Our Pond Simple Start is for people who do a ..read more