Creating a Water Garden
Provided by: The Garden Moose
There is something special and tranquil about the sound of gentle flowing water. Just imagine sipping on a glass of cold, refreshing tea out on your back patio or deck, while enjoying your own water garden. Beautiful, blooming flowers generally surround water gardens with a sweet fragrance that enhances the water. You can create a water garden as small or large, as you like. Complete kits to include a heavy-duty rubber liner (lasts longer than plastic liners), submersible pump, water, and tubing can all be found at your local home improvement store. Add a small water fountain statue, some lights, a few fish, and you are all set. These kits are inexpensive and depending on the size, range in price from $75 to $500. Statuary, rocks, plants, lights, and fish are all extra but you can create the water garden that you will love.
Other ideas are using old metal tubs or whiskey barrels and purchasing a water pump/filtration system. The choice is yours as to how much room you have. In general, water gardens do not require a lot of special care. Basically, you add chemicals to keep algae away, scoop out fallen leaves from nearby trees, water the plants, and feed the fish - that's about all there is to it. In the winter, you will want to drain your pond to keep the liner from cracking but with little maintenance, the water garden makes a wonderful backyard choice.
A simple layer of sand underneath the liner will help keep it in place and protect it from protruding objects. The pump helps to keep water circulating to cut down on mosquito larvae.
If your water garden is a minimum of 2-1/2 feet deep, there are many fish that can easily survive harsh winter months. You will need to keep a few small holes open on top of the water for oxygen. Goldfish are by far the most hardy and you should consider a few bottom feeders as well to keep the pond clean. For fun, you can even add in a couple of tiny frogs.
You will want to add a variety of greenery around your water garden and should consider plants that actually sit down in the water such as Cattail, Bamboo, and Water Iris. Add Water Lilies, which grow quickly and can survive extremely cold winters.
The plants and flowers bordering the water garden will complete this overall oasis. Just as you would any other garden, choose colors that you enjoy and that coordinate well together. Mix height and texture. By keeping the area symmetrical and neatly trimmed, your water garden will offer a more formal appearance. For a more laid back casual look, plant wildflowers or a variety of colors scattered about. For either look, consider adding a nice stone garden bench for accent. To be even more creative, you can add in more statuary, stepping-stones, or other whimsical garden decor.
About the Author:
Garden Moose is the editor of GardenMoose.com, and a feature contributor to Greenhouses.com a leading internet destination for gardening and greenhouse information and ideas.
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