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​Mosquitoes are unpleasant, and like many things in life that are unpleasant – they are tough to get rid of. Mosquitoes are attracted to stationary bodies of water and this is precisely what ponds and water gardens provide. Many enthusiasts have struggled looking for ways to keep mosquitoes away, using sprays and various forms of pest control, with limited results. Below are some tips which are far more effective.

​Mosquitoes prefer water which is stagnant, especially the females. This is so they can lay eggs, and pond owners who allow their ponds to fall into disrepair will cause the appearance of bacteria, plankton and algae which is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. The key to keeping mosquitoes away is a healthy, vibrant pond or water garden with lots of moving water. The best way to get the water moving is through fountains or waterfalls which maintain moving currents so that mosquitoes aren’t able to lay their eggs. Ensure your pond is cleaned regularly.

There are a number of fish and other species that enjoy eating mosquitoes, and you should consider adding them to your pond to keep these insects at bay. Some of these animals include tadpoles, catfish, bass, minnow and bluegill. These animals will not only keep the mosquito population under control, but will eat other types of insects as well.

The next best thing to filling the pond with animals that eat mosquitoes is getting rid of the food sources that mosquitoes thrive on. Any water garden or pond that is rich in algae or other types of plants will form a perfect breeding spot for mosquitoes. This is because the mosquito pupae consume the greens, but by reducing the algae and plants their population will decline dramatically.
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Mosquitoes reside primarily in the debris which encapsulates the pond. Wise pond owners keep these areas clear, which can be done using various types of herbicide to exterminate the aquatic grass and weed. Make use of weed removal tools such as rakes and cutters to get rid of overgrowth, decaying plants, and any other hiding spots that mosquitoes can use.

​Mosquitoes are more than just irritating, they’ve been linked to the spread of a number of diseases, including yellow fever, encephalitis and malaria. Unlike most insects, they provide few benefits to the ecosystem and some scientists have considered the possibility of exterminating them completely. In the meantime, these solutions will keep them out of your pond.

A healthy pond will attract all kinds of animals, from dragon flies to birds. While many of these species will fascinate pond owners, there are some that won’t, and one of the best examples is snakes. There are certain species of snakes that enjoy being around water and many are located right here in Oklahoma. Some good, some bad but they are all needed. Below is a description of the relationship between snakes and ponds, and what you can do about it.

Water snakes are the most common types you’ll encounter. They are attracted to streams, canals, ponds, marshes and lakes. They appear most frequently between spring and fall, when weather turns warm, as they will move about searching for food and a place where they can gain access to sunlight. During winter they will find a den and hibernate.

​Snakes have ectothermic structures, which mean they monitor the environment to determine the temperature of their bodies. Basically, when it’s cold they become cold, and when it’s warm they become warm. Unlike humans, snakes do not generate body heat, which means they must depend on external sources in order to maintain a specific temperature. This is why they bask during summer and must find a warm place to be during winter, such as burrows which are underground and beneath the freezing surface.

Most of the snakes that people will encounter near their ponds in the U.S., such as water snakes and garter snakes will be completely harmless, but then again, it is difficult for many people to tell the difference between these species and snakes which can be harmful, such as water moccasins or copperheads. However, even if a pond owner encounters a copperhead that bites them, the bite is rarely dangerous, and most of these snakes seek to avoid humans. However, there are two species of snakes in North America which are extremely dangerous to humans, and these are rattlesnakes and the coral snake.  Oklahoma Venomous Snake Identification.​

The greatest danger that most snakes pose to ponds is not the humans that own them, but the animals that reside in them. All snakes are carnivorous, even those that are harmless to humans. One of the reasons why they are attracted to ponds is because of the wide availability of suitable prey, such as fish and frogs. Therefore, if you have animals in your pond that you want to protect, you need to keep these snakes away from them.

​ For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!

Continental Ponds is offering this pond information for Oklahoma City pond owners as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.

When allowed to run crazy, a cattail population can rapidly take over your Oklahoma pond. Cattails are aquatic plants which are commonly found near lakes, streams and rivers and they can reach lengths of 10 feet while forming colonies. As the plant matures its cylindrical brown flower will grow, and then it will open and release its cottony seeds which will spread and lead to new plant growth around your Oklahoma pond. Before you know it your pond is surrounded by healthy cattails. While it has its place, below are some ways to keep it under control.

​Cattails, in moderate amounts, can be valuable to ponds. There are many types of birds, amphibians and fish that are attracted to them, and if you’re like most pond owners you’re excited about the idea of certain animals making a home in the pond you’ve spend time and money building. In addition, cattails do an excellent job of preventing erosion. However, like many species of plants cattails can grow excessively at which point they will become a nuisance. When too many are present they will make your pond look like a marshland.

There are three steps in keeping your cattail population under control. The first is to use an herbicide which can weaken them, which will typically come in the form of a spray. The second is to slash the spikes and leaves and then get rid of them. Finally you will have to continue repeating the process until the cattails have been brought under control.

After you’ve applied an herbicide to the plant, it will turn soft and brownish. This is when you will want to slash and eliminate the stalks. This is essential because it helps avoid the accumulation of muck, which makes it easier to manage other cattails that grow in the place of the stalks that have died. You can use a weed cutter on the plant’s base, which then makes it easier to remove with a rake.
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​Every Oklahoma pond needs submerged plants for a number of reasons. Surface and floating plants like hyacinth and water lilies add beauty and pops of color to your underwater garden. Just like any other plants used in landscaping, underwater cultivars deserve to be well taken care of too.  Healthy underwater plants play a critical role in the well being of your pond. Why are submerged plants important and how do they help your pond?

As we all know, living in Oklahoma can get HOT! So to help offset the direct sunlight, submerged plants can help provide our finned friends with some much needed shade. Thus, helping keep water temps down for our fish and also to help control algae. 

​As a byproduct of photosynthesis, underwater plants naturally produce oxygen. Oxygen as we all know is important for a pond’s health and vitality. Even if you invest in the best sub-surface aeration system, you still need to include colorful and fast growing submerged plants. This combination ensures cleaner water to support the inhabitants in your pond.

​It is natural that a pond with fish will have predators lurking around. Sub-surface plants offer a protective layer to prevent the fish from being too exposed to the predators. These plants also offer hiding spots for fish when predators come stalking. During an attack, naturally fish and other pond critters will swim into the lush growth to hide. The water plants provide an excellent camouflage for your fish.

Root systems, stems and leaves of submerged plants offer safe places where fish can lay their eggs. After hatching, the plants provide a safe environment for the tiny fry and also provide food and protection.

​​You need to know when to add submerged plants in your pond and which plants to choose. Without a proper plan your pond may end up being a mess and look like an aquatic jungle. How do you about adding submerged plants in your pond? Before getting water plants, you need to consider the following factors:

• Light level: Where is your pond located? Is it shaded by other plants, structures or trees or is it in an open space? The amount of light your pond receives will determine the kind of submerged plant you get.
• Mature size: What is the size of your pond? This will determine the plants you get according on how large they grow when they reach their mature size. You don’t want to get plants that will get lost in the pond because they are too small or outgrow a small pond.
• Hardiness: You need to get plants that are able to adjust to temperature changes. Choose plants that can survive winter and also hot seasons.
• Fish food: It is important that you get submerged plants that fish can feed on. However, don’t choose a species that fish will consume at a fast rate. If you plan to feed your fish on processed fish food, it is best to choose plants that they can only nibble on from time to time or ones that they will leave alone.
• Variety: It is good to have submerged plants of variety colors, sizes, heights and shapes. This adds an interesting look in your pond. Ensure these plants can cohabit.

To ensure you maintain a healthy aquatic life in your pond, maintain your pond often. At Continental Ponds, we have the necessary expertise, passion, equipment and creativity to help maintain ponds of all sizes the best way possible. 

​ For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!

Continental Ponds is offering this pond information for Oklahoma City pond owners as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.

​We hear 'misconceptions' all the time when we talk to people about koi ponds in Oklahoma...so we thought it's about time to dispel some of the most common ones we hear. Often times we get excuses like; it's too much maintenance, a pond is too much money, I don't have room for a pond ...and the like. More often than not, we hear actual misconceptions like, it will attract mosquitoes, it's not safe for my kids, or I'll have to use chemicals to keep it clean. Many times these misconceptions come from ponds done wrong (which is another topic altogether). So, here we are hoping to help dispel these excuses, misconceptions, and plain ol' myths.

​Really? That's interesting, because I'm betting that your small space could fit a small pond, a small pondless waterfall, or a decorative fountain. You don't believe me? One of the smallest koi ponds that we have installed to date is only 12' in diameter, which was installed in an enclosed area surrounded by concrete. You can see this project here. Maybe you have a space smaller than that, which is great, because we have solutions for that as well!

• A small pondless waterfall can be as small as 4'x5' (great for entryways!).
• Our spillway bowls could fit into a space about 4' wide and 6' deep (about the same area as a pondless waterfall, but give a different visual and sensory appeal).
• And if you don't even have 2.5' of space to spare, we have something called a patio pond bowl, which, you guess it, is a bowl (24"-40" in diameter) that acts as a water garden and can be enjoyed right on your deck, patio, or indoor space if your feeling adventurous!

​For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
 
Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.