Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2004
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/watergarden.html

Fall Water Gardening
Sept/Oct 2004
Scott Davies, Johnson's West 13th Store Mgr., KS Certified Nursery Professional

    Fall is my favorite time of year. Usually we've gone through a long,
hot summer and the cool, fresh air of fall is a big relief. As I'm
writing, however, this summer has been an exception with cooler
temperatures and more rainfall than normal, which I don't mind a bit. As
summer transitions from summer to fall, it's a good time to implement a
few changes in the way we maintain our water gardens.

    As the water temperatures begin to drop, string algae thrives under
cooler water temperatures and can become a major nuisance. Continue
adding products like Microbe-Lift PL for the green algae, but begin
adding SAB, a natural enzyme that keeps string algae at bay.

    One of the new products we started carrying this year is
Microbe-Lift Barley Straw Pellets. I have heard only positive comments
about this product from customers using it. Barley straw bales have long
been applied to ponds to help control algae but the pellet form is a
much easier and faster way for the barley to be distributed throughout
the pond.

    With fall comes tree leaves which end up in our ponds. If you have a
lot of trees nearby, you'll want to cover your pond with pond netting
to prevent leaves from reaching your pond. We carry several sizes of
netting to help you select the right size for your pond. Microbe-Lift
Autumn/Winter Prep is a natural product to aid in the decomposition of
leaves that make their way into the pond. This is a good time to begin
incorporating Autumn/Winter Prep into ponds to help keep water crystal
clear through fall and winter.

    If you are thinking about building a water garden or upgrading your
current pond, take a look at our new pond kit from Savio. This is a very
affordable, high quality pond kit that can be purchased as a kit or each
piece can be purchased separately. There are three sizes of kits to
choose from. All three include a heavy duty out-of-pond skimmer box
which houses filters and the pump. The two larger kits include a
bio-falls waterfall with additional filters to keep water free of
debris. Stop by any of our three locations and take a look at the Savio
pond products.

    If you have questions about your water garden, we'll be happy to
help. Enjoy your water garden and have a wonderful fall!