Swimming is a great exercise to keep your body and mind happy and healthy. It is considered a fun and refreshing activity, especially during hot summer days. While many homeowners choose to build a traditional swimming pool, there is a unique option that can elevate your swimming experience — swimming ponds. Although not as popular as swimming pools, swimming ponds are becoming a new trend for those who prefer to swim in nature's surroundings. Swimming ponds can be more beneficial than swimming pools for various reasons. In this blog, we will discuss why swimming ponds are better than swimming pools.

Natural Environment - Swimming ponds provide a natural environment to swim in, which means you can experience a unique swimming experience that you cannot get from a typical swimming pool. The ponds are designed to mimic natural bodies of water like lakes, rivers, and ponds. They feature a natural filtration system where aquatic plants and microorganisms help in cleaning the water. With a swimming pond, you can enjoy an eco-friendly atmosphere and cool off in the summer without any stress or guilt that comes with unnecessary chemical treatments.

Aesthetic Appeal - Swimming ponds can blend seamlessly with the natural landscape in your backyard. Unlike swimming pools, which tend to stick out like sore thumbs, swimming ponds add a touch of unique beauty to your outdoor space. With the help of fish, plants, and rocks, swimming ponds can be personalized to fit your desired aesthetic appeal. This customization ensures that the pond complements your garden and gives a beautiful, natural look to your outdoor space.

Health Benefits - It is well-known that regular swimming can benefit your health. Swimming ponds provide an opportunity for you to indulge in this healthy activity while receiving additional benefits. Exposure to natural environments such as swimming ponds has been shown to improve mental health and reduce stress levels. Swimming in natural water is also known to unlock health benefits for the skin, such as moisturizing and detoxification.

Low Maintenance - Swimming pools require constant upkeep, including regular chemical treatments, shock treatments, and general cleaning to keep the water clean and safe. With swimming ponds, the maintenance requirements are much less tedious. Natural biochemicals and plants in the ponds work together to clean and filter the water without the need for harsh chemicals. This makes the process of maintaining a swimming pond much more eco-friendly and cost-effective.

Versatility - Swimming ponds offer versatility in design, size, and functionality. They can be designed to fit various living spaces and can be used for both swimming purposes and as a natural water feature. Swimming ponds can accommodate more than just swimming and entertaining; they can attract unique wildlife like birds and dragonflies, creating a beautiful setting for nature lovers.

Conclusion:
Swimming ponds offer a unique swimming experience that comes with a bevy of benefits. They provide a natural environment, aesthetic appeal, health benefits, low maintenance requirements, and versatility. With swimming ponds, you can enjoy a dip in a cool, eco-friendly environment that touches the senses and promotes physical and mental health. If you are looking for a swimming option that complements your natural lifestyle and beautifies your outdoor space, swimming ponds are a perfect choice.

THE CHELSEA CHOP
 
When one talks of gardening in the month of May, without doubt the Chelsea flower show
will spring to mind. However, due to the unprecedented events this year and the prohibition
of the coming together of large groups of people and social gatherings has equated to the
nations favourite flower show unfortunately being cancelled.
 
For the first ever time the show will be a virtual event which can be viewed online:
Nevertheless, just because there is no actual Chelsea flower show it does not mean that
we cannot partake in the Chelsea Chop.
 
The Chelsea Chop, to clarify, is a pruning method to determine the size, shape and the
flowering season of many of the herbaceous perennial plants. It is so called as it is carried
out towards the end of May, coinciding with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

It is suitable for late flowering perennials. But, why should we carry out the Chelsea Chop?
It goes against the natural instinct to drastically cut back a plant prior to flowering.
If a herbaceous perennial is chopped down to half its height, using secateurs or shears, it
will delay the flowering until later in the summer. The plant will be more compact and
shorter which equates to less staking and the flowers can be more numerous if slightly
smaller. This is because the top shoots have been eliminated and side shoots lower down
will develop and produce the new flowers. Overall, the plants will look much tidier and less
leggy.

If only half of the perennial clump is cut down, such as the front section, this will induce a
prolonged flowering season as the rear section will flower first, then followed later by the
pruned front section.

Plants which can benefit from the Chelsea Chop are:

- Phlox paniculata
- Echinacea purpurea
- Helenium
- Rudbeckias
- Penstemons
- Nepeta

The following are suitable for coastal gardens:

- Anthemis tinctoria
- Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’
- Achillea
- Aster ‘michaelmas daisy’
- Campanulas

​The Chelsea Chop is hugely beneficial for perennials subjected to the coastal environment
of wind and salt spray. The chop creating shorter and stiffer stems and more stability.
The Chelsea Flower Show will be greatly missed this year, so why not visit the gardeners
world website and their own guide to carrying out the Chelsea Chop.

https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/how-to-do-the-chelsea-chop/