A pond in the desert?!?! How in the heck can Koi and goldfish survive the 100+ Phoenix summer heat? Even the nights don’t dip much below 90! This is a concern that many Phoenix homeowners often have when considering a backyard pond.
NON-NATIVE TRANSPLANTS ARE WARY
Many people are very skeptical about ponds in the desert and aren’t even sure it’s possible to have an ecosystem pond here because of the summer heat. Folks who contact us for the first time to inquire about a pond installation ask about the perceived heat issue. This is a common concern, especially if you’re not from around these parts.
Recently, we had some new clients visit our office and showroom. This was an issue very much on their mind because they are new to the Valley. Being from Minnesota (or anyone moving here from the Midwest or East Coast), people are used to their pond fish surviving under ice. But what about the kind of heat we get in Phoenix in the summer?!?! It was tough for them to wrap their brains around that one. In the end, they LOVE their pond!
MYTHS ABOUT PHOENIX SUMMERS
People hear all kinds of wild tails about Phoenix summers: we fry eggs on our sidewalks (nope, not really), we bake cookies in the back window as we drive to or from work (wouldn’t that make your car smell great!), we keep oven mitts in our cars because of how hot the steering wheel gets (actually, that’s not a bad idea), we can’t leave the air-conditioned house or office without bursting into flame (there are days…), etc.
GARDENERS KNOW ABOUT THE HEAT
We also hear this question a lot from audiences of various garden clubs when giving a presentation at their meeting. Phoenix homeowners are used to their plants struggling through the summer but don’t realize that a water garden is an AWESOME place to garden in the summer and that aquatic plants are super happy and thrive in Phoenix summers (unlike many terrestrial plants that are not native or climate-appropriate). Aquatic plants are the exception.
Gardeners use shade covers and shade houses to grow year-round and think that needs to be done with a pond, as well. They’re usually delighted to hear that’s not the case with a well-built ecosystem water garden.
SO, HOW DO POND FISH SURVIVE THE PHOENIX SUMMER HEAT?
It’s actually very easy! We simply provide them with everything they need:
- Shade. The fish have shade over various areas of the pond in the form of water lilies and other aquatic plants. Sometimes a tree will be planted next to the pond, which not only provides shade, but adds to the “natural” appearance of the yard’s focal . point.
- Circulation. The ponds we design and build have 24/7 circulation so that the water is kept moving and well-aerated. You might think that’s expensive, but we use very efficient pumps. Think of them as aquarium pumps on steroids.
- Rock & Stone. We use rock and stone to cover the 45-mil EPDM rubber liner. We’re not creating a parabolic dish. The rock and stone also provide great habitat for the good guys of the pond world (beneficial bacteria, enzymes, and zooplankton).
The bottom line is that we adhere to the K.I.S.S. method of pond design, building, and maintenance. We’re big believers in working WITH Mother Nature, not against her. This philosophy makes for a very low-maintenance pond for people who just want to live the pond lifestyle.
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Arizona (AZ) & Surrounding Areas
To Learn More About Ponds in Phoenix: https://pondgnome.com/pond-construction-phoenix-az/
