If the idea of a tranquil woodland pond in your own back yard appeals to you, go ahead and create one! With materials available today, in about a month you could have a peaceful water garden, reflecting billowy white summer clouds, just a short walk away. Creating that garden is no more difficult nor expensive than establishing a traditional one.
To create a traditional flower garden, you simply use existing soil, add some nutrients, and plant some plants. But if your soil isn’t perfect, you create a growing environment by trucking in new soil, mounding it, and shaping it, then planting.
Water gardening isn’t that much different. You create a growing environment for aquatic plants by removing soil, lining the depression you’ve created, adding water, and then planting. It’s not unrealistic to be able to install a below-ground pond on a weekend, plant it, and have it in full bloom in 6 to 8 weeks.
Don’t let the word, "pond" scare you. Your "pond" can range from a small container or birdbath to an elaborate pool with fountains, waterfalls, a stream — you name it.
Here’s how to build a water garden. First of all, plan it in proportion to the size of your yard. A large yard will accommodate a large pool, but a small one may accommodate only half a whiskey barrel in a sunny patio corner. Even a whiskey barrel can hold a dwarf water lily, some smaller plants, and some fish.
If you plan to grow water lilies, choose a location away from trees since lilies need at least six hours of sunlight to bloom well. You’ll also avoid having to scoop out leaves that fall into your garden.
To prevent groundwater from seeping into your pool, select an area that’s higher than the ground around it or build up the rim of the pool so it’s higher. Make sure you select a site well within reach of the garden hose and an electrical source if you’ll need a pump.
When you’re ready to proceed, determine how you’ll line the pond —with concrete, a prefabricated pool liner, or with a flexible liner. These liners are 45 mil EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), a synethetic rubber, and are formulated to be fish-safe.
Preparing for a prefabricated pond is easy. Simply dig a hole the size and shape of the pool, line it with sand, and fit the fiberglass pool into the hole. Then edge the pond with rocks or bricks or conceal the edges with trailing plants, and fill it with water.
If you prefer to use a flexible liner, outline the shape on the ground with string or rope. Then dig the hole, lay the liner into the depression, and fill with water. Trim the edges with stones, bricks, or sod. Create a setting for your pond by planting ornamental grasses and small shrubs around it.
Once your pool is filled, you’re ready to transform it into a water garden. Water lilies are the most common aquatic plant, but you’ll find nurseries and catalogs full of floating-leaved plants, lotus, and bog plants you can choose from. Put the plants into pots so you can easily move them around in the water. Follow planting instructions for each type of plant you add to the garden. One caution: Don’t get carried away and overplant or you’ll destroy the beauty and health of the garden.
You’ll want to add some oxygenating plants to help control algae and maintain an ecological balance in your pool. They, too, can be planted in containers. After a few weeks, you’ll also want to make a home for fish. Common ones are goldfish, golden orfe, and fantail fish. Koi are THE fish to have if you’re building a large pond. You’ll need to neutralize the chlorine in your water if your water source is from a municipal system. Pet stores and mail order firms that specialize in water gardening have products for this purpose.
Maintenance is not difficult. Keep up the plants as you would a traditional flower garden — pruning, and removing yellowed leaves as needed. Keep the water clear by scooping debris off the bottom of the pool periodically. Depending on your climate, you may want to drain the pool before each winter or every year or two.
Another caution: water gardening can be addicting! Once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to add some extras — waterfalls, lighting, fountains, statues, bridges, stones, paths.
There are many resources to help you in your quest for the perfect water garden. Check the Internet, your local library and bookstores. Local nurseries will also point you in the right direction.
Source: Soni Forsman, water gardener extraordinaire and water lily grower, (forslilly@aol.com), was the inspiration for this article.