Turtle Ponds Serve As Pets’ Summer Home
Some people are simply amazed by turtles, the creatures that crawl on the ground and swim in the water while carrying their house on their back. In fact, some are so taken by them that they have them for pets and even build turtle ponds outside in which their pets, as well as other wild turtles can live in the summer. With the different species of turtle, ponds need to be geared for the specific type in order for them to stay healthy.
There are a few commonalities for turtle ponds regardless of the species and one of the general rules is the pond has to have sufficient surface area to provide oxygen for the turtle population. Having a waterfall or fountain in the turtle ponds helps with aeration and its base can also serve as part of the turtle’s playground. While turtle do spend a lot of time in the water, they also like to climb out and look around occasionally. Having a large strip of grass around the pond can provide an area for their strolls.
Of course, they are also not fond of being cooped up in one place and will attempt to escape seeking companionship of the opposite sex. When building turtle ponds a fence needs to be erected around the pond and grass walking area to keep them from disappearing. The bottom of the fence should be solid, about as high as the length of the turtle’s shell, to keep it from becoming entangled in open grid fencing.
Creating Restful Environment Keeps Turtles Happy
Turtles enjoy relaxing on logs and stones out of the water, provided they have a route for a quick get-away. Turtles are slow-moving on the ground but most can swim fairly fast. They also enjoy sitting under broadleaf aquatic plants and, when out and about, will be happy with a large planting pot lying on its side near turtle ponds.
One of the problems with turtle ponds is the access that natural predators have to turtle eggs and the hatchlings. Raccoons and other creatures will prowl the area seeking delicacies and many owners of turtle ponds have had to put a screen top over the entire area to keep the predators away. Taking the newborn turtles indoors until the are mature can help save their lives.
Building turtle ponds is can be quite a project, with the fencing and other appropriate accessories, but if the person is that infatuated with this creature it is an undertaking worth the effort.
How Small Can Small Garden Ponds Be?
The definition of a pond in my Funk & Wagnalls is, “A body of water smaller than a lake”. Technically, from that definition, a glass of water is a pond. But for the purposes of beautifying the garden and helping the surrounding wildlife, even an old watertight barrel would serve as a small garden pond. Having a reliable, safe source of drinking water is an invaluable aid to all the wild creatures struggling to make a go of it as the jungle decreases and the concrete jungle increases.
No Limits
If you are thinking of helping reclaim wetlands or making a honking great lake on your property, may I suggest starting with small garden ponds? With small garden ponds, you can learn the basics without having to make such a huge financial and personal investment. You can pick from ready made small garden ponds that can be plunked atop the ground or dig a four foot hole with pond liner and add your own accessories and tools.
What All Ponds Need
Small garden ponds of any size need a few of the same things, such as:
A water pump or agitator to keep the water from becoming stagnant. A filter, which can often be solar powered now. A nearby source of water, even the garden hose. You don’t want to be lugging buckets of water over hill and dale. A firm edge. If you sink small garden ponds into the ground, the edge around it will get very muddy. You need bricks or stones to serve as a walkway. Keep checking the edges of above ground small garden ponds that they don’t begin to crack and fray. Water test kits. Clear water isn’t necessarily safe water. Water testing kits are cheap preventative medicine for small garden ponds. A place that will fit them. A heater, if you live in really frigid areas.
Where To Get Them
You can get small garden ponds and all the equipment to set them up and maintain them from garden shops, hardware stores, large department stores that have a gardening section, aquarium supply stores and their online equivalents. Be sure to get a book or magazine about small garden ponds to help you with any questions that are sure to pop up down the line. There are many websites about the care and design of small garden ponds all over the web.
Using Pre Formed Ponds Makes Landscaping Easier
Possibly the easiest method of building a pond in the yard is to dig a hole, lay in some plastic sheeting and fill it with water. The pond will take the shape of the hole and may not be provide the ideal decoration for your yard. One alternative is to use pre formed ponds, available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The hole will still have to be dug, but once the pre formed ponds are put in place and back-filled with the dirt, they will maintain their shape.
Since pre formed ponds are available in different sizes and shapes combining different ones can help create interesting landscape designs. If the land has a slight hill, it could be transformed into a terraced pond using smaller pre formed ponds near the top and center of the hill as the water completes its journey to a larger pond at the bottom of the hill. A water pump moves the water from the bottom back to the top.
One of the downsides to this type of arrangement is during heavy rains, dirt from the hill can be washed into the pre formed ponds, requiring thorough cleaning and possibly needing the drain and refill the pond.
Ponds Of All Styles Need Constant Care
Whether pre formed ponds are used or a handmade design is dug into the ground, they both have the need to be kept clean. A pond without a filtering system to keep it clean and to help keep the water circulating is simply a hole filled with what will become stagnant water. It will serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other outside insects and will eventually need to be filled or removed.
The size of the pre formed ponds determines the size and type of filter, but every outdoor pond should be connected to a filtering system to remove the dirt and other organic debris that will magically find its way into the water. Frequent filter cleaning or replacement will also be necessary to help maintain the pond’s cleanliness. To reduce the chance of pre formed ponds filling with mud during bad weather, constructing a berm around the top can help divert dirty water away from the pond.
If the yard is surrounded by deciduous trees, a screen over the pond in the fall may keep it from being filled with falling leaves, which can also get caught in the water pump and filter.