GARDENER'S READING ROOM
Ponds and Fountains

The Water Garden ...

2002 was a great year for water gardening at Sky, and this year we’ve broadened our selection to help you make the pond of your dreams.

For those of you building a new pond or expanding an existing one, we have a great selection of liners, including Tetra’s Xaran, a multipart liner that can self-seal small punctures. To keep a nice clean edge around your pond, try Super Edge from Oly Ola. This edging material allows you to bring soil, stone, or even lawn right up to the edge of the water.

Every year great new water garden products show up. This year they are the Sanio skimmers and filters. These state of the art units are ideal for fish and can be fitted with a UV unit. These are great systems. Also new this year are Perri Pumps. Perri Pumps are external pumps with high flows at low heads with very good energy efficiency. These pumps are available by special order and are a great value.

For those of us who are design challenged, Rockways waterfall systems are a wonderful way to get a waterfall or stream in your garden. These preformed concrete sections fit together easily and are available in a variety of styles and shapes. You can literally create a stream in an afternoon with this system.

We have finally found a pretty surefire raccoon and heron control. Fi-shock kits are electric shock kits specifically designed for use around ponds. They are available either battery or A/C powered and can protect up to 60 feet of pond edge. This is a great, humane way to protect fish from predators.

Finally, we do expect some new plant introductions this year. Make sure to stop by the plant ponds for some great new lilies and lotus and exciting new marginals. And plan to attend one of our free upcoming seminars on water gardening - see the events calendar in this newsletter or call the nursery for further information.

By Charlie Shull, W.C.N.
Skylights Spring/Summer 2003 Vol 17, No. 2

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