Water Gardens

Enjoy the peaceful and relaxing sights and sounds of a water garden in the privacy of your own backyard. Water gardens add an appealing element to landscaping and can include fountains, waterfalls, small ponds and elaborate combinations of stonework and lighting. A water garden is a pool of water that includes aquatic plants, fish and possibly other water creatures. Water lilies and other aquatic plants add fragrance and a dramatic effect even when used in small tubs of water.

Planning

Use some basic principles when planning your water garden. Consider the size of your property and your ability to maintain any plants, fish and other items you include in the water garden. Small ponds are best suited for small properties. A container on a deck may be all that is needed to enhance your outdoor space. Whether you add more elaborate features such as a waterfall, rockwork, lighting or a fountain will depend highly on your available budget, your landscape style, and the purpose of the water garden.

Perhaps the most important consideration in water gardening is to choose the right spot. Most aquatic plants and fish need plenty of sun, so an area that gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight is needed. Choose an area away from tall shrubs and trees to prevent the accumulation of leaves and other debris. Most containers used for aquatic plants are chosen based upon the size of the water garden and the purpose. The size of the pool or pond dictates the size of the container and the types of plants that will be grown. The choice will be made based on the plant and the fact that larger containers produce larger plants and smaller containers tend to keep plants smaller in size.

Choosing Aquatic Plants

Water depth, amount of sunlight and how each species relates to its surroundings need to be taken into consideration when choosing aquatic plants. Your selection depends on the size of the pond and the overall look you want. Plants should cover no more than 50 - 60 percent of the water's surface. A mixture of free floating, marginals and submerged plants should be included in your selection.

• Free Floating -
Plants that float freely above or just below the water surface. Floaters sort of act as the ground cover of the water garden and add the finishing touch. Duckweed, water hyacinth, and water lettuce are just a few examples of free floating aquatic plants.

• Marginals -
These plants are found along the edges of a pond where the roots are attached to the muddy bottom and portions of their stems are above the water. Examples include cattails, iris and pickerelweed. Bog plants are also considered marginals and available for when it is not possible to place a water garden in sufficient sunlight to support good plant growth.

• Submerged -
Plants that, for the most part, remain beneath the water surface and are often referred to as oxygenators. Submerged plants help combat algae by consuming excess nutrients while at the same time providing cover for fish and producing oxygen during daylight hours. Caging these plants is often suggested if the pond contains fish because they tend to feed on the foliage of submerged plants.

Choosing Fish

Fish can be a nice addition because they are scavangers and help keep plant debris clear. Fish also help control mosquitos and other insects around the water garden. Whichever fish you add to your water garden, be sure that they are pond fish suited for outdoor life as aquarium fish typically do not do well. We suggest using Japanese Koi and / or Goldfish varieties in your water garden. Both are members of the Carp family and can be mixed in your pool.

• Koi means brocaded carp. They are available in a wonderful variety of patterns and colors. Metallic golds, silvers and coppers, brilliant tri-color combinations, blues, lemon yellows, bright oranges and platinum whites are just some of the colors available. Koi have very distinctive personalities and can be trained to eat from your hands and do simple tricks.
  
• Goldfish are suited for an outdoor life. There are many goldfish varieties available. Comets have straight, darting bodies of red-gold. Fantails have flowing triple tails and graceful movements. The Chinese Moor has telescope or “popeye” eyes and a velvety black color.

In a balanced water garden, fish should never need direct feeding. They will eat the excess plant material, algae, and pests. However, when you first introduce fish to your pond you may need to supplement their diet for a couple of weeks until they get use to you and their new surroundings.

Maintenance

All water gardens, regardless of size, will need to be maintained throughout the year. With proper planning you can insure a healthy balance between living plants and fish as well as other decorative features of a water garden. With simple maintenace a properly designed water garden can almost care for itself.

• Water Level - Keep plants healthy by maintaining a water level that is even with the top of the water garden. In hot weather, water may have to be added to counteract evaporation. It's best to add a little every few days rather than all at once, since this could shock fish and accelerate algae growth.
• Bugs and Other Pests - If the water seems to attract mosquitos install a waterfall or fountain to circulate the water, or better yet, stock the pool with fish. To rid aquatic plants of pests don't use insecticides in the pond. It is better to remove the plant for treatment. Caterpillars and aphids are the primary pest problem for aquatic plants.
• Winterizing - Use a hand held skimmer to remove leaves from the garden to avoid clogging of the pump and disturbing the oxygen balance. During the fall, when leaves are the heaviest, cover the water garden with a screen or net. In colder climates water gardens may need to be closed during the winter months, by removing plants and fish, and reopened in the spring.
• Cleaning Tips - Weekly cleaning to remove leaves, dead aquatic plant foliage, etc., is recommended. A skimming net is essential. More expensive equipment such as a pool, spa, or water vacuum are completely optional. Gardeners who want to do a more thorough cleaning may rent a submersible pump and drain the pool. However, some water garden suppliers do not recommend completely draining the pool since it disrupts the established ecological balance.

You no longer need a natural pond or other large area to create a beautiful water garden. Anything that is able to hold water, such as a half barrel, plastic tub or concrete dish, can be transformed into a water garden. A water garden would be a wonderful addition to a patio, deck or even nestled among a bed of bright, colorful flowers.