From the glitter of a sunbeam reflecting from the water, the tinkle of a tiny fountain,
the scent of a beautiful tropical waterlily, to the lazy lacy motion of a long
finned koi, every sense is both stimulated and soothed by a pond in your garden.
It invites you to sit by it and to reflect with it. It has become the highlight
of your garden.
The creation of this tranquil little world within the garden is not difficult.
There are as many ways to accomplish it as there are individual people and settings.
It can be tiny, even in a container on the porch or patio. It can be huge, a
natural bottomed wetland environment, teeming with wildlife. For most of us
it is somewhere in between, and the planning and building of this special
feature can be as much of a joy as the end result.
Water gardens and Koi ponds are relatively new to most people in the U.S., but have
thrived for hundreds of years in Europe and Asia.
Water gardening is low maintenance gardening and requires less water than a lawn
of equal size. Cool and refreshing sounds of splashing water, or the serenity of
calm, still water make the enjoyment well worth the little time one takes to care
for the beautiful landscape of a water garden.
With the development of flexible pond liners, constructing a pond has become affordable.
Pond liners conform to the shape of the pond whether it is in the ground or
above, or both. They are easy to install and have a long life.
Water gardens can include fountains, waterfalls, small ponds and elaborate
combinations of rockwork and lighting. Basically, a water garden is just a
pool of water that is home to plants and possibly fish and other water creatures.
Natural ponds or large spaces are no longer needed for a water garden.
They can consist of a concrete dish, half barrel, plastic tub or anything else
that can hold water.
Perhaps the most important consideration in water gardening is to choose the right spot.
Most aquatic plants and fish need plenty of sun, so a site that
gets 6-8 hours of direct sun is best. Choose a site away from tall
shrubs and trees for best light and to prevent the accumulation of leaf debris.
When choosing aquatic plants, keep in mind that the plants should cover no more
than 50 - 60 percent of the water surface. There are many types to choose from.
Some are free floating while others are marginals to submerged. Selection
depends on the size of the pond and the kind of look you want. Water lilies
can add drama and fragrance even in small tubs. Some plants provide oxygen
and help keep the pool healthy. Fish can be a beneficial addition, because
they are good scavangers, cleaning up debris. They also can help control
mosquito larva, and other insects.
Thanks to modern plastics, the back breaking, time consuming, labor and skill
intensive processes of building a beautiful water garden have been reduced
to a weekend job with only a minimum of easily learned skills.
