Fish in ponds keep mosquitoes at bay
Q: I want to add a small pond in my garden — multitiered — just off the covered patio. I’m getting more and more concerned about mosquitoes with all of the scary Zika (virus) news of late. Would adding a pond put me and my guests more at risk of mosquito bites? — N.I., Albuquerque
A: I’m not totally informed; just like you, I have heard about that dreadful disease on the news, but here’s what I believe. Mosquitoes breed mainly in water that sits still. Since the water feature you are planning sounds like it’ll cascade from a top tier to a lower one, that equals water movement! With the moving water, the chances of your “pond” becoming a breeding ground becomes very slim indeed. If the bottom tier is deep enough — 18 inches or more — you can keep several goldfish in it and they’ll enjoy having the mosquito larva as a snack, further eliminating your cause for concern. Another benefit of keeping a few small goldfish in the pond is they really like to eat algae. There is a small fish called a mosquito fish that is renowned for keeping aquatic insect larva at bay, too. I’ve seen them offered at pond supply stores here in town, but let your fingers do the walking when you research their availability. I believe it’s too early to be putting them in a pond yet, considering the temperatures, but since your pond isn’t fact yet, there is time to research their availability as the time comes. We used to keep small goldfish in the horse trough and never had an issue with mosquitoes breeding in that standing water. Yes, the trough was cleaned often, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure to be sure. I don’t like mosquitoes, either!
As far as the Zika business goes, they seem to survive in a far more temperate climate than we have so that breed of mosquito shouldn’t be a real concern yet. Stranger things have happened, I know, but I think we’re safe from mosquito transmission for the time being. So, as long as the water doesn’t sit still and you consider adding a few small fish, I think you can have a “pond” next to your patio to enjoy for years to come without much worry about being lunch for a mob of Q nasty mosquitoes! : My neighbor hired a crew to tidy up her yard and she asked that I keep an eye on them while they worked. I noticed the gentlemen about to lop down a young lilac bush she had put in a couple of years ago and got them to stop. They thought I was crazy when I told them that, if they did cut it down now, there would be no flowers this year and pooh-poohed my intervening! I was right to stop them, yes? — L.L., Albuquerque
A: I think so, unless your neighbor wanted everything cut down or back. I can’t imagine planting a lilac and insisting on having it pruned at this time of year. Since the lilac is an early spring flowerer, your intervention did save the bloom. I’d be heartsick if a flowering plant that I’d put in was trimmed before it was allowed to show off its seasonal bloom. Since you saved the bloom, you might offer to trim the lilac, if it needs it, later this spring after the flowers are spent so it will match the rest of the pruned yard. In any case, I hope your neighbor will be glad you saved the bloom for her! Happy Digging In.