Among the latest new trends in gardening is the water
garden, which can combine elements such as waterfalls,
ponds, and fountains, often enhanced by intricate
rockwork, elaborate lighting, specialized plants, and
exotic fish. There are water gardens to fit every
budget, as well. All you need is something that will
hold water to use as your garden's centerpiece.
The placement of your water garden is your most
important decision. You'll want to choose a spot that
gets as much sunlight as possible, generally away from
trees or bushes that shed their leaves, because most
plants and fish require a fair amount of sunlight to
thrive, and deciduous trees and shrubs can make keeping
your water element a chore in the fall.
You're only limited by your budget, the size of your
space, and your imagination, but always bear in mind
that your water garden will require a certain amount of
maintenance, which you'll have to do if you want your
garden to continue to look great. If you incorporate
fish into your garden scheme, they'll also need to be
fed as part of your routine maintenance program.
If you use aquatic plants in your water garden, only
cover about half the surface of the water. It will allow
you to see your ornamental fish underneath. You may also
want to plant flowers around the edge of your pond, and
there are some plants that will actually add oxygen to
the water, which is important, especially if you have
fish in your pond. Fish can help keep the pond clean by
eating insects.
Algae is one of the primary problems encountered by
water gardeners, and it's often brought about by
overfertilizing water plants or feeding fish too much or
too often. For many years, people in England have used
barley straw to help reduce the amount of string and
filament type algae, but it may not work in every
situation. If you experience algae problems--and you
probably will--pay close attention to the feeding regime
of both your fish and your water plants.
To keep your water oxygenated and fresh, you'll need a
pond pump and filter, which can also help reduce insect
and algae problems. Water plants also remove nutrients
from the water that could create pollution problems.
Some good plants include water hyacinths, water violets,
and water crowfoot, if you bear in mind that they tend
to reproduce vigorously and can quickly take over a
pond.
Like all gardens, water gardens require a certain amount
of care, but the results can give you years of pleasure.
Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher
