Water Gardens Are Growing In Popularity

www.agrinews-pubs.com
Tom Doran
2010-05-25

In today’s fast-paced world, even a tiny slice of serenity can provide relief, whether it is a walk around the block or reading a book by the fireplace. This desire for relaxation is among the reasons water gardening is among the fastest growing areas of interest for landscaping.

Water gardening takes backyard gardens to the next level, providing an entirely self-contained miniature ecosystem.

“When things get too stressful you want sort of a sanctuary, and that’s what water gardens provide. They are a sanctuary to relieve stress,” said Jessica Ford, water garden manager at Casey’s Garden Shop and Florist in Bloomington.

“It’s like gardening, they can go out and pull weeds and take out whatever stress they have. If you just want to relax, you can sit there, listen to the waterfall and watch the fish. It’s a slower pace and more relaxing.”

The first step in planning for a water garden is to do the research and determine the pond’s size and cost.

“Most people who start out begin with maybe three feet by five feet ponds – like a preformed one or something. Then they want to make it bigger,” Ford said. “It’s almost easier to start at the size you’re going to end up wanting than it is to start with a small one and expand. But most people don’t know if they’re going to like it or not, and a three by five hole is a lot easier to fill in than a 10 by 20.”

Most landscapers can install a water garden, but Ford said, “You can easily do a pond in a day if you have at least five or six people to help.”

Once a design is selected and digging is complete, a liner underlay is installed to protect the outer liner from tree roots, rocks and other items from poking through. A 45-milliliter EPDM rubber liner is then installed over the underlay.

The next step is to select the system.

“You can either do bottom drain which will keep your pond cleaner looking – crystal clear so you can see to the bottom – or you can do Aquascape which has a more natural look,” Ford said. “You could also have a concrete bottom. It all depends on what kind of look you’re going for.”

A filtration system is needed to maintain water quality.

“If you have a big pond you need to have a waterfall because that will put oxygen in the water to keep it cleaner and keep it more algae free,” Ford said.

“If it’s a smaller pond, just a water feature like a small fountain that sprays water will work. You just need something to circulate the water. As the water hits the surface it aerates it and moves everything around to the skimmer box if you have one.”

The pond can be filled with tap water from a hose, but if fish are in the plans, Ford suggests waiting at least two days to put them in. She recommended not to put expensive fish in the pond right away.

“If you’re going to get fish and you’re just starting out, I would start out with inexpensive fish,” she said. “There are people who have purchased the big koi fish that are about $25 for a five or six inch one. They get two or three of them and put them in, and the fish are dead in a week because the water hadn’t yet adjusted to where it needs to be for fish.

“It takes about a year or two for your pond’s ecosystem to get just right. After that, it’s pretty much smooth sailing. It’s just the basic things you need to do.”

Most plants, with the exception of some exotic ones, can be placed in the water garden immediately after the pond is filled. There are three types of plants used in water gardens –submersible, marginal and floating.

Submersible plants such as water lilies and oxygenators like parrots feather or anacharis provide food for fish and also provide oxygen in the water. A majority of the plants are the marginal type.

“Marginal plants can usually only stand to be maybe within six inches from the middle of the pot that you get them in is. They don’t usually like to be completely submerged,” Ford said.

“They’ll come as tropical plants and also as perennials that you don’t have to do anything with. Probably one of the hardiest ones is cattail.

“Like any other plant you have in a garden, you’d have to divide it every couple of years, especially with cattails because they grow pretty quick.

“Floaters would be like water lettuce and hyacinth, and they are probably the best for people who are just starting out with a new pond because they grow quickly and you need about 70 percent of your water surface covered in order to keep the algae down.

“The best way to do that is with plants. Water lilies are one good way, but it takes a couple years for water lilies to get established.

“It takes a couple of years for all of your pond plants to get established. If you put three or four hyacinth or water lettuce in you’ll have half your pond surface filled by the middle of summer

As is the case with any garden, a little maintenance is required.

“Most people spend I would say a little bit of time out there every day. Part of it is because it needs it, and part of it is they just enjoy doing it,” Ford said.

A skimmer net is installed or debris and should be cleaned out regularly, particularly in the spring and fall. Ford noted that once all of the debris collected through the winter is removed in the spring, it is not necessary to clean the skimmer net as frequently.

There are several water clarifiers that can be used. Barley bales are a natural way to decompose bacteria and algae, helps keep the pond clean and clear, and can be used at any time during the warm season. The bales come with a netting to help contain the straw and can be used in conjunction with any other pond treatment.

“It’s something you should put in every spring,” Ford said. “In conjunction with that, I usually put Sludge Away and Microbe-lift Spring/Summer Cleaner. The Sludge Away breaks up the sludge between and under rocks and brings it to the surface for easier removal.

“The Microbe-lift Spring/Summer does that too, but I use them both because you get more stuff out. Plus the Microbe-lift puts in beneficial bacteria.”

Ford was asked if any additional care is needed for the water garden in the winter.

“If your pond is big enough, you can keep your fish in there. You just have to make sure you keep a hole in the ice,” she said. “Some people run their waterfall all winter and it works fine. Sometimes the water will freeze underneath the waterfall and then it will siphon water out over the top of it. So it is kind of trial and error.

“The best way is to get a pond heater. They have them with thermostats. It keeps the noxious gases from building up in the pond by letting more oxygen into it. “It wouldn’t hurt to have just a pump bubbling underneath it or put like a fish tank oxygenator in it too.”

Once the water garden is complete, it will serve as a convenient haven away from the hustle and bustle of every day life.


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