Water Garden
A water garden is another name for a pond that is cultivated. The modern water garden can range in size from small water features to a pond covering an acre or more of land. A water garden contains three distinct yet interacting features: the water, the plant life (both aquatic and land based) and the animal life.
Most water gardens are created from ponds. The first were natural ponds that were later landscaped, but in the past twenty years a shift has occurred towards artificially created ponds. If you are in an urban area, it is vital to contact your local blue stake or other planning agency to ascertain where the buried utilities under your property are. Your municipality may also require a permit for the pond. Once you have the green light to excavate, you can dig out your pond.
Once it is dug, you will need to seal the pond’s bottom. This will prevent your pond from draining away into the surrounding soil. A natural sealant such as stone or clay can be used. Alternatively, you can use an artificial sealant such as a plastic sheath or poured concrete. If you decide to opt for the artificial sealant, you will need to overlay some silt to give your water plants a soil base to root in.
The plants are the second stage of a water garden, and they should be selected to both be visually appealing throughout the year and sustainable. Lilies are great water plants if your climate supports them, and reeds also make for a great waterside view. In addition to the aquatic plants, you can plan for water loving land based plants, such as willow or cottonwood trees. A well kept tree provides a beautiful visual contrast to the pond’s flat surface.
The last element of a water garden is the animal life. Goldfish and their larger cousins, Koi are both popular aquatic stock because of their bright coloring. You can also encourage amphibious wildlife, such as frogs and newts to frequent your pond, both fish and amphibians are important for keeping the bugs down around your pond. Aquatic birds such as ducks will visit larger ponds, and songbirds will visit ponds with adequate foliage nearby.