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Water Gardens
 by
Neil Moran
A frog leaps off the bank into a shallow pond just as a hummingbird
pauses for nectar from a flaming red salvia plant. Meanwhile, water
is splashing against jaded sandstone rock making it's way into the
pool where fish swim just below the surface. A few feet away are
two people taking it all in from their favorite summer perch.
For years now my wife and I have enjoyed the water garden that's
the focal point of our front yard. We enjoy the sight and sound
of water trickling between the statuesque plantings of delphinium,
lupine and hollyhocks. And we enjoy watching the wildlife that frequent
the pond like the frogs and hummingbirds.
Water gardens have become a popular item for folks looking to add
running water to their gardens and landscape. They're fairly easy
to install and will last for years. They come in two styles: a hard
shell prefabricated liner and a flexible liner. You can choose from
a number of prefab liners that come in various shapes and sizes
(up to about 8' X 10') to very large flexible liners. Prices range
from $40 for a whiskey barrel type water garden to around $130 for
a 5' X 6' prefabricated liner. Forty-five mil black flexible liners
start at about $135 for a 10'X15' liner to $500 for the much larger
liners. Whatever you do, don't settle for a cheap liner from a discount
store. Purchase a quality liner, such as one manufactured by MacCourt
or Tetra.
There are a few accessories you'll need to purchase to go with your
liner including a pump, hose, fountain heads, and additives. And
don't forget plants. A whole new world of gardening awaits you when
you go searching for water lettuce, water hyacinths, lilies and
prairie grass.
Before installing a water garden consider the overall location of
your pond in relation to your house, deck, flower gardens or recreation
areas where kids are playing. My wife installed a plastic prefabricated
pond in the middle of what started out to be a small flower garden.
The pond is located in the center of the front yard about ten feet
in front of our deck. The deck, pond, flowers and trees blend in
nicely to achieve the right effect.
Install your pond within reach of a garden hose and electrical supply
for a pump and other accessories you may wish to add, such as patio
lights. Avoid installing directly under trees where leaves will
clutter the surface of the pond. Nearby trees also make for some
difficult digging. However, if you must plant under trees, which
is after all a natural setting for a pond, consider purchasing a
light weight net to catch the leaves as they fall in the autumn.
Rocks are often used to add a natural look to a water garden. Here's
where my wife used her imagination to create the effect she really
desired, and you can too. You'll need a couple of wash tubs full
of rocks to create a waterfall and to line the outside rim of your
pond, should you choose to go with this type of design. Consult
a local contractor to see what kind of rock is available in your
area.
To achieve the waterfall effect, arrange the rock behind the pump
(facing your viewing area) so that the pump hose can be slid just
above the first layer of rock. It can be curved up behind four or
five layers of rock and poke out through the second to last layer
of rock. From there it can be wedged between two rocks and hidden
from view. The water is then allowed to trickle down over the layers
of rock. One problem with this design is that water can escape the
pond as it splashes off the rock. This can be avoided by laying
down a 40 mil black plastic piece of liner material under the first
layer of rock, which will direct the water back into the pond.
Of course, there are simpler ways to achieve the trickling water
effect. Fountain heads are inexpensive and simply sit atop the pump
in the middle or off to the side of the pool. They send water shooting
into the air, creating a mushroom type of effect. You can also attach
the hose to ceramic frogs and turtles, which will "spit"
water into the middle of the pond. As the old saying goes "you're
only limited by your imagination."
Water pumps come in different sizes as well. Choose a pump based
on how many gallons of water they pump per hour. A 300 gallon per
hour pump is sufficient to circulate water in a 5' X 6' water garden
and costs under $100. Seek the advice of a licensed electrician
to install an electrical supply line that is safe and practical.
The prefabricated liners are easiest to install for the do-it-yourself
homeowner. The flexible liners are a little more difficult, but
not impossible to install yourself. If you do plan on installing
a flexible liner you may want to watch the Hometime PBS series on
water gardening to get a good idea on how to install one of these.
You can purchase this video at major retail hardware stores.
Begin the installation of a prefab liner by outlining the shape
of the pond with flexible water hose, spray paint or rope. Dig to
the depth you need depending on the height of the pond you've purchased.
Dig out the bottom of the hole as evenly as possible so your pond
will be level. Level the rims of the pond by setting a liquid filled
level over a flat 2X4. Take readings from 2 or 3 different angles.
A pond that is not level will look awkward and should it overflow
with water, it will dump its excess to one end of the pond, making
that end quite soggy.
Now you're ready to fill the pond. The smallest prefab ponds and
liners hold around 60 gallons. A 5' X 6' pond holds about 300 gallons.
Incidentally, if done right you'll only have to drain and refill
the pond at the beginning of each season. The introduction of plants
and fish to the water garden is something that can be done a little
each season.
Avoid the temptation to grow more plant life and fish than a pond
can handle. What you're creating is an ecological balance between
fish, plant life, insects and algae (this ecological balance is
also what keeps your pond clean).
Less than half of your pond surface should be covered with plant
life. This will allow you the opportunity to see fish swimming beneath
the surface. Limit your fish to no more than a dozen per 4' x 4'
section of pond area.
Water lilies, water lettuce and water hyacinths can be planted in
the pond and are very attractive when in bloom. Some plants, such
as water lilies, need to be rooted in containers seated at the bottom
of the pond. Lilies are suitable for larger water gardens and spring
fed ponds.
Bog plants, also known as emergent and marginal plants, include
some hardy types such as pickerel weed, arrowheads, cattails and
yellow water iris; and shorter species including golden-club, parrot's
feather and spike rush. Bog plants root beneath the water or in
the shallow water at the edges of the pond and grow skyward, projecting
their pretty blooms to the heavens.
Goldfish, golden orfe, and different types of fantail fish do surprisingly
well in a pond, once established. Before you add fish, test city
water for chlorine dioxide and chloramine, both of which can be
treated with chemicals purchased at a nursery or pet shop.
Allow your fish to adjust to the change in temperatures by placing
bag and all into the water and leaving it a couple hours. The best
time to do this is when the outside temperatures have warmed your
pond. You may loose a few fish at first, thus its best not to invest
too much in this aspect of your water garden project right away.
Fish will scavenge for insects and plant life in the pond but will
also benefit from an occasional feeding of fish food. Avoid heavy
feeding in the fall--fish don't digest food well in cool weather.
In warmer climates, fish can be left right in the pool over the
winter. This may not be practical or desirable if the ice in the
pond freezes right to the bottom! My wife places a small heater
in our pond, which prevents the pond from freezing over. You can
also bring them inside to an aquarium.
Simply fill the aquarium with cold water and even some ice to avoid
the shock of a sudden change of temperature, assuming this is being
done late in the fall. Check the temperature before transferring
your fish into the aquarium. Use your imagination when landscaping
around your pond. Low growing plants are usually planted around
the edge of the pond and between the rocks that line the pool, to
conceal the rim of the liner. Pansies, petunias, dahlias, lilies
and even small shrubs can be planted so they extend a few feet to
several feet away from the actual pond. While you're at it, choose
plants and shrubs such as Scabiosa columbaria (pink mist and butterfly
blue), honeysuckle and salvia that will attract hummingbirds, butterflies
and other wildlife to your water garden.
You're not done yet! You will need a comfortable bench or set of
chairs to view your creation. Now sit back and enjoy your water
garden.
http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/watergardens.htm
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