Comprehensive Guide to Gardening, Ponds and Pumps in South Africa

You'll find the answer to all your garden pond hassles here. Pond keeping is a joy but it can go badly wrong if you don't attend to the basics.  Follow the links on the left to help you understand pond keeping essentials... how equipment works and how to specify the right equipment to get the most out of it in terms of least capital cost, minimal running costs and no hassles.

Focus Garden Products was established in 1993 and through its numerous web sites has provided a source of expert and practical assistance to pond keepers world wide over the last 18 years. Please visit our shop to purchase the best pond products available in Africa!

List of Garden Articles to View...

View the range of articles covering many gardening topics.

These articles introduce the concepts behind the topics and provide ideas for gardening enthusiasts. As can be seen the range of topics hopefully provides some interest for most garden lovers. We welcome articles for publication on this site if anyone would like to contribute. Send to pondprof(at)gmail.com.

Greenhouses... Small Gardens... Cactus Herbs... Foliage... Climbing... Hanging Plants... Orchids... Vegetables... Fuchsia... Phostrogen... Ferns... Camellias... Clematis... Scented... Herbaceous... Water Garden... Rockery Plants...

List of Different Shrubs Arranged by Colour...

If you're looking for a shrub it is often the colour that becomes the first consideration. I have compiled a list of hundreds of shrubs arranged by colour as follows. In addition to colour each shrub listed has information covering the time of year when flowers are produced, the ideal location in a garden (eg a north or south wall, a rockery and so on). The entry also provides information of whether shrub is hardy, semi-hardy or tender to frost. In addition the final size on reaching maturity is provided as well as time for pruning.  ... Blue to Purple... Pink... Red... White... Yellow to Orange... Berry shrubs...

Solving Your Fish Pond and Water Feature Problems in South Africa.

There is a fact of life in pond keeping if you want to remove the hassles, save cost and enjoy the wonderful asset a pond makes. The fact of life is that you need good equipment that runs when it is supposed to (for example a pump must run 24/7 if you install a biofilter) and to buy equipment that needs the minimum amount of maintenance without costing an arm and a leg. Don't be tempted to skimp on essential pond items ... they really do make a difference.

IMPORTANT: All fish ponds need a biofilter to keep the water clean. The best low cost filters contain Alfagrog which can also be used to improve performance of almost any other biofilter.

Think of signing up to our free "Water Gardening Manual Series" ... 25 collectable useful and practical insights into how to get the most from your garden pond or water feature in South Africa. Keep them safe and return to them often.

If you're a complete beginner and don't know where to start then download our Pond Primer (PDF format so be a little patient while it downloads) . This will help you to decide how to proceed on the journey to creating a wonderful and everlasting source of joy to your home and garden.

When you buy anything from our online store you become entitled to get a free copy, worth R170, of "The Complete Pond Solver" by Tony Roocroft (aka world wide as The Pond Porfessor).. This is the best selling pond keeping book on the internet and is full of practical advice. You can also buy it any time by visiting this page ... click here for Complete Pond Solver information

On this site you'll find a wide range of articles covering pond keeping across the spectrum. Here are some of the topics covered ...

• Water ponds fish and oxygen ... why koi ponds need air and why waterfalls and fountains benefit every fish pond.
• Choosing the right waterfall pump in practice ... about measuring the water flow for your waterfall pump choice
• Pond algae blooms and why they are deadly serious ... in summer green water can cause sudden massive fish mortalities

 Visit our rock-like lightweight water features site to view our massive range of desirable water gardening products. You can even download our catalogue there.

The vast majority of garden fish ponds go green in summer ... Here's the solution

Suspended algae blooms cause pond water to go green or murky brown especially in summertime when water temperatures increase. There are 2 solutions to this dilemma and neither are well known. By the way a biofilter will NOT cure a green water problem despite what many retailers will tell you.

The first solution is to install an Ultra Violet light system which if sized correctly and maintained occasionally will work with certainty. These pieces of equipment are referred to as UV clarifiers.

The second solution is to use an UK product called Viresco (we now sell this at our online shop). Viresco reduces pond water nitrates to zero which then means it is impossible for algae to thrive. Water therefore becomes clear. Viresco is also the best solution I know for removing blanketweed type of algae (string algae) from ponds.

If you're looking for a low cost reliable and efficient (ie low elctricity usage) then the Hydro range will satisfy the vast majority of fish pod keepers. They are now available in South Africa and can be bought at our online shop. Alternatively ring the factory in Pretoria on 083-406-1677.

New pressure filter range just arrived ... excellent performance and easy to hide. More info here or ring Ken Lombard 083-406-1677. These filters have built-in UVC making installation a breeze.

Take a look at the compact design and cylindrical shape as shown in the image. Inside each one of these filters is an extremely efficient biomedia which means a small footprint can handle large volume soft water. The UV is a highly efficient modern lamp that only need changing every year.

When an effective biofilter and UVC are combined and sized and installed properly you will get crystal clear pond water all year round.

The unit can be buried since it operates under pressure. This means it is easy to hide the biofilter.

Water Features Direct from the Factory

For the last 11 years we have been heavily involved in promoting Fibreglass Water Features to the world-wide market with considerable success. These water features are the most realistic in the world and are manufactured to look like real rock and woodland features. And the good news is that you can now buy direct from the factory in Pretoria ... click the link or call the folks at the factory.

We won the product of the year award at GLEE, the UK's leading annual trade show for gardening.

You're welcome to arrange a visit to our large working showroom at the factory in Pretoria. Here you'll see a wide variety of water features from simple streams to complex waterfalls and self contained items. Something to suit everybody.

The range includes...

• ponds

• waterfalls

• streams

• self contained water features

• woodland products

• animals and bird baths

• swimming pool pump covers

• and much more too

Order Direct from Factory in Pretoria by calling 083-406-1677 or visit the site

Here's the link to the Pond Professor's main website... pond professor site .