If you’re wondering about what to do with that pond you put in last year. Here are some pointers on pond start ups. As the sun starts to warm things up, it’s time to clean out the pond. It is important to remove any of the decomposing leaves that were blown into the pond over the winter. Composting material in the pond will create an imbalance in the pond. Once you have cleaned out the pond you can install the circulation pump and check to make sure there are no leaks in the hoses or along the edge of the pond. Once the pond pump is running you should add some new bacteria to help rebalance the pond water. After you see that all is well in your pond, you can bring out your fish and place them back into the pond. It is still a little early for your tropical plants to come out, but you should see some life appearing from some of the marginal plants and water lilies. You might consider using “Pond Shade” to keep the sun light out of the pond until the foliage from the plants take over. Be careful not to over feed your fish, as they tend not to eat while the water is cold.

By planting deciduous trees on the south and west side of your house, you will reduce direct sunlight onto roofs, walls and into windows, which will reduce the strain on your air conditioning during the hot summer days. Be sure to keep in mind the mature size of the trees so that they are not planted too close to the house. A properly place shade tree is a much better energy saver than interior blinds or curtains.  

Because deciduous trees drop there leaves during the winter months, the sun’s rays are able to help warm the house.