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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.

Each and every year we get numerous calls about frogs, toads and tadpoles in and around the Oklahoma metro area ponds and water features. These amphibians are loud and obnoxious early in the year when it's mating season. You know that loud squeal that makes you jump out of bed and scream at them! Just remember you have a natural ecosystem in your yard they call home, along with other wildlife. But have you ever wondered....

​Frogs - Smooth skin, high round bulging eyes, narrow body, longer hind legs than a Toad, takes long high jumps and must live near water.

Toads - Tough bumpy looking skin, football looking eyes, wider body than a Frog, less powerful legs, runs and takes small jumps, does not need to live by water.

​Ponds that are at least 2 ft. deep, will not freeze solid, even when winters are very cold. When amphibians become cold, they need very little oxygen and burn very little food. Frogs will appear sluggish and lethargic as body functions slow down as the temperature drops. Ice crystals form in such places as the body cavity, bladder and under the skin, but a high concentration of glucose in the frog's vital organs prevents freezing. A partially frozen frog will stop breathing, and its heart will stop beating. It will appear quite dead. But when the hibernacula warms up above freezing, the frog's frozen portions will thaw, and its heart and lungs resume activity--there really is such a thing as the living dead!

For more information and pictures about Native Oklahoma Frogs and Toads - https://www.aza.org/frogwatch-usa-oklahoma

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.

We hear 'misconceptions' all the time when we talk to people about Oklahoma koi ponds. 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.

It Will Attract Mosquitoes
Nothing we all hate more than mosquitoes coming to harvest a meal from us during the middle of a nice get together with friends & family. And many times people often relate mosquitoes with backyard water gardens. But why? Because mosquitoes lay eggs in wet locations like neglected swimming pools, ditches, storm drains, and some ponds. I know what you're thinking, "You just said ponds! ..I think we're done here."..but hold on a minute. What do they all have in common? No moving water. You see, standing stagnant water is the breeding ground for those little flying vampires. Their eggs won't survive or hatch near moving water, in fact...moving water is a good way to deter mosquitoes.

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!

Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK  73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration.
 
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.

​Pond plants/Aquatic Plants are a huge part of the pond ecosystem and need to be there to make sure everything lives harmoniously. Pond plants in Oklahoma also enhance the beauty of any water feature. So, when your pond plants aren’t healthy, you know it. One sign that there’s something wrong is yellowing leaves. Listed below are some of the more common reasons why your Oklahoma pond plants are turning yellow.

​Be sure to fertilize your pond plants. If your plants are potted (which is what we recommend) poke a hole in the soil and push the fertilizer down inside, then carefully close the soil over the hole. Fertilizer should also be added whenever re-potting your plants is necessary. For floating plants, remove them from the pond and place them in a container that will hold water. Add your favorite water-soluble fertilizer according to the directions. Do not add more than the recommended amount. Too much fertilizer can cause plants to turn yellow too.

Inspect your pond’s plants just like you do your other plants. Pond plants are not immune to insects, especially in the winter if you bring them in the house.

Spider mites love the dry winter environment our homes have. Any insecticide that you can use on houseplants is safe to use on water plants inside the home. Aphids are sometimes problems in the house, but mites are more prevalent. Leaf Beetles​ are also a problem when growing plants in a container outside.

Aphids are usually the main insects to attack pond plants. Depending on the plant, you may be able to wash them off in the water where they will become yummy treats for your fish. Floating plants like hyacinths, water lettuce and lily pads and their flowers are good candidates for this. When you do water changes or add water to your pond due to evaporation, spray the water on the plants. This will wash the insects off too.

Healthy pond plants can burn just like us. A sunburned plant will have a bleached look or brownish cast to the leaves, sometimes they will yellow. When moving pond plants outside, if they have spent the winter inside, do it gradually. Move them first to a shady spot. Set the pot in a larger container that will hold water. Gradually over a 2-week period expose the plants to more sunlight. Do this in the spring when the weather begins to warm so that they also get used to the cooler nighttime temperatures.

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!

Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK  73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration.
 
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.