Online Only Articles

Article List

Thinking of Starting a Pond Shop
Chris Moore
Learn from a Pond Shop veteran what it is like to have successful retail outlet. It is important to have an inviting environment to attract your customers to new areas and new ideas.

Helping Those with Water Features to Deal with Drought
Mike Garcia
In view of the very serious drought, which many areas of the country are now experiencing, what can be done to save water if one has a water feature? Some commercial and municipal entities have actually drained their water features and put up signs, which basically say the water features were drained, in order to conserve water. Must we go to this extreme to save water?

Spring into the Garden Season
Melinda Myers
Make this your best gardening season yet. Melinda Myers, nationally known horticulturist and gardening expert, suggests you "Invest a bit of time now to insure a bountiful harvest and beautiful landscape throughout the season."

Predator Control – Otters: Unwanted Visitors
Randy LeFever
What does over four miles of fencing have to do with koi? Otters: Unwanted Visitors

Rainwater Harvesting
Mike Garcia
The reasons why Rainwater Harvesting is gaining attention are many. As the economy tanked, pond manufacturers wondered what would become of the pond world. All of us worked so hard to get ponds into mainstream America.

Ponding for the Birds and Butterflies
Pamela Schlett
In the 1980s, researchers found that viewing fish swimming in an aquarium could lower a persons blood pressure. I remember witnessing the increase of aquarium installations in commercial spaces and doctors offices. It was the beginning of the use of water in the relaxation movement.

Why I Don’t Like Turtles in My Ponds
David Curtright
Having cared for numerous ponds in San Diego County over the past 31 years, I have come to have an opinion about many things related to pond set-up and maintenance. One of those concerns involves which animals and plants we should try to keep in our ponds.

Why I Like Turtles in the Water Garden
Steve Stroupe
(In response to David Curtright’s Web exclusive article Why I Don’t Like Turtles in My Ponds) I enjoyed Mr. Curtwright’s article, and felt that his criticism of these three species of turtles in backyard ponds and water gardens was more than justified. However...

Designing Ponds for Water Turtles
Eric Triplett
In our web exclusive articles we have talked about the pros and cons of having turtles in your pond. If you decide to have turtles here are some of the elements you need to consider.

Getting Your Pond Ready For Spring- Web Exclusive
Rick Smith
Here are 10 important steps to getting your pond ready for the spring from our water gardening and water feature expert. A great review for you and your customers. Get a great start with these spring pond start up tips.

Daylong Build Brings Decades of Influence
Sue Ann DuBois
As water garden professionals we have long professed the benefits of “community-build” projects. Community builds served as the core of Chips Landscaping’s introduction to the profession and training as Certified Aquascape® Contractors (CACs). We found great value in these experiences over the years and continue the tradition of offering up a build annually within our community. Those of us who have participated in community builds know firsthand the camaraderie, teamwork and joy of the finished product after a good days work. But little has been written regarding outcomes after the build.

Evolution of an American Koi Farm
Ellen Kloubec
Read about one of the largest koi and goldfish producing operations in the nation, Kloubec Koi Farm. It has evolved over 40+ years and 3 generations, it remains a family owned business.

Koi Pond Class Project
Paul Moore
Inheriting a poorly built pond in his new home provided the inspiration for this teacher to build a koi pond in his classroom. His 8th grade science class students dove in to researching, designing, engineering, building, and maintaining an aquatic ecosystem that gave them the opportunity to practice workplace and career readiness skills, as well as a deeper understanding of nature's circle of life.