Download Water Gardening

Popular Addition
to Landscape
Water Gardening
• Sense of Tranquility
• Sign of Wealth in Historical Times
• High-Maintenance Feature
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Regular Leaf Removal
Refilling
Annual Winterization
Spring Set-Up
Location of Garden
• 5-6 Hours Direct Sunlight Daily
• Choose Tolerant Species if in Shadier
Location
– Some Bog Plants Can Survive in Shadier
Locations
• Shading in Afternoon more Desirable
• Ponds under Trees Require extra
Maintenance
Location of Garden
• Level Location
• Well-Drained
Soil
– So Soil Doesn’t
Shift around
Liner
• Convenient
Water Source
for Refilling
– Leaves and Debris can Decay and Clot Filters
and Fountains
Pond Construction
• Before Age of Plastics
– Only Way to Build Garden Pool Was to Use
Cement or Cement Blocks
– Mortared and Sealed to Prevent Leaks
• Concrete Pool still Good Alternative
– Last Longer if Properly Installed
– Expensive
– Tends to Crack over Time
Pond Construction
• Liners
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Flexible Plastic Sheets
Lightweight
Inexpensive
Can Be Molded to any Desired Shape
Common Liners
• PVC, extra Thick (20 to 40 mil) to Resist Tears
– Sizes Vary
• Choose Size Large enough to Overlap the Edge of the Pool
• Excess can Be Cut off when Fitted to the Excavated Hole
– Check Warranty for Life of Liner
• Should Be Durable about 10 Years
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Pond Construction
Pond Construction
• Butyl Rubber Liners Last Longer than
PVC
– Impervious to UV Light and as easy to Install
• Pre-Molded Fiberglass or Plastic Pools
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More Expensive than Liners
Preformed Shape Maintains Itself many Years
Tremendous Ease of Installation
No Molding and Shaping
Challenge Is to Make Sure Hole and Pool Fit well
without Gaps
– Most Fiberglass Pools will Last 5 to 10 Years
– Vast Number of Shapes and Sizes
• Some Pools Provide only Straight or Curved Sides that Slope
abruptly to the Bottom
• Some Pre-Molded Pools include Shallow Water Shelf for
Marginal Bog Plants
Pond Construction
• Fountains and
Waterfalls can Be
Included
– Some Plants (eg
Water Lilies)
Prefer still Water
Pond Construction
• Other Materials Needed
– Sand
• Line Bottom of Hole
• Cushion Liner against Subsoil
– Some Water Gardeners Lay Old Carpet on
Top of Sand Layer
• Adds more Cushion and Flexibility
• Helps Prevent Tears in Plastic Liners
– May Need to Walk in Pool
– Rocks or other Heavy and Sharp Objects Fall into Pool
Pond Construction
• Flat Border Stones for Plastic Lined Pools
– Need to Construct 2 Layers around Edge of
Pool
– Nice for Kneeling
– Secures Liner Edge to Shore
Pond Construction
• Filtration System and Pump
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Not Essential
Keep Water Garden Free of Debris
Relatively Inexpensive
Useful when Algal Growth Is Abundant
• Common before Plants Grow to Cover Surface of Pool to
Exclude Light that Stimulates Algae Growth
• Less Threat after Plants Cover ≥ 75% of Surface
– Some Gardeners do not Use Filters after this
– Allow Natural Decomposition of Debris on Bottom of Pond
– Fish will Eat some Debris
– Steady Recycling of OM should Occur if Proper
Number of Plants and Animals Are Present
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Planting and Stocking
the Pool
Pond Construction
• Fountain or Waterfall
– Option to Create more Interest and a Focal Point
– Geyser-Like Jets to simple Bubble Columns
– Keep Stream of Water in Proportion to Size of Pool
• If Water too High, It Dwarfs Plants
– Water Lilies do not Thrive if constantly Splashed
– Locate Fountain away from major Plants
– Position Intake as Close to Fountain Head as Possible
• Key to Water Gardening = Establish
Balance of Plants and Wildlife
– Too many Fish or Plants Causes Imbalance
– Nutrients and Gasses Disproportionate
• Pond can Become Overgrown with Algae
• Strategy to Balance Pond Is to Select the
Right Types of Plants
• Prevents Unnecessary Currents that Detract from Calmness
– $40 to $400
Four Categories of
Aquatic Plants
Four Categories of
Aquatic Plants
1. Deep Water Plants
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1. Deep Water Plants
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Plants Are Potted in Wide, Shallow
Containers
High Clay-Content Soil
Covered with 1-2” Pea Gravel
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• Keeps Soil Undisturbed
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Common Species
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Pots Placed at Bottom of Pond
Water Lilies (both Hardy and Tropical)
Lotus
Once Established, Broad, Flat
Leaves help Shade Water Surface,
Reduce Algae Growth
Tropical Plants Need to Be
Brought Indoors in Winter or Kept
in Heated Pond
Four Categories of Aquatic Plants
2. Bog, Emergent or Marginal Plants
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Grow at Edge of Pond
Often Potted and Set on Shallow Underwater Shelf
Examples
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Cattails
Iris
Bamboo
Rushes
Sweet Flag
Pickerelweed
Arrowhead
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Four Categories of Aquatic Plants
3. Oxygenator and Submerged Plants
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Plants often Float Underwater
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Iris
Bamboo
Rushes
Sweet Flag
Pickerelweed
Arrowhead
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Elodea
Fanwort
Hornwort
Parrot’s Feather
Use Carefully
Some can Become Serious Water Weeds in
Natural Water System
Four Categories of
Aquatic Plants
4. Floating Plants
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Elodea
Fanwort
Hornwort
Parrot’s
Feather
• Use with Caution
Pond Maintenance
Fish in Water Garden
• Goldfish and Koi
– Aesthetic and Ecological Benefits
• Fish Eat excess Vegetation and Consume
Aquatic Insects
• No more than 1-2 Fish/ft2 of Pond Surface Area
• Ponds at Least 3’ Deep Better for Fish
– Less Drastic Temperature Changes in Deeper Water
• Establish Plants 5-6 Weeks before Fish Are
Introduced
Help Reduce Algae Growth by Covering
Water Surface
Water Hyacinth a Favorite in this Category
Some can Become Serious Weed Problems
in Natural Water Areas
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Remove Debris from Surface
Skim Algae as Needed
Clean Filters Weekly
Keep Pond Full of Water
– Exposed Plastic Liner Subject to UV
Breakdown
– Keep Pond Topped off every few Days
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Pond Maintenance
• Periodically Remove Excess Vegetation to
Prevent Overcrowding
– Dispose of Carefully to not Create Natural
Water Area Weed Problems
• Divide Marginal Plants to Reduce
Crowding on Edges
• May Need to Fertilize Heavy-Feeding
Plants (Water Lilies) with Pellets Pushed
into Soil during Summer
Pond Maintenance
• Winterization
– Clean out Debris
– Remove Tropical Plants and Fish if Pond Is not
Heated and if It will Freeze Solid
– Remove Submerged Pumps, Filters
– If Bottom Water will Remain Unfrozen and Fish not
Removed, Break Surface Ice Covering if Ice Lasts
longer than 2 Weeks for Gas Exchange for Fish
– Pond-Bred Fish do not Need Feeding during Winter
Container Water Gardens
• Container Capacity of 15-25 Gallons
• Commercial Containers or other Options
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Small Kiddie Pools
Horse Watering Troughs
Lined Whiskey Barrels
Old Bathtubs
Container Water Gardens
• Water Weighs about 8 Pounds per Gallon
• Be Sure the Location can Hold the Weight
• Containers with Dark Interiors
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Dark Green, Charcoal or Black
Give Impression of Greater Depth
Discourage Algae Growth
Make Algae less Obvious when It Is Present
• Stones and Slate can Be Added for Interest
– Dark Colored Rock will help Discourage Algae
Recommended Book
• Water Plants for Missouri Ponds
• Authors James Whitley, Barbara Bassett,
Joe Dillard and Rebecca Haefner
• Missouri Dept. Conservation, Jefferson
City, MO
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