Water Gardens

The serene sound of water trickling amongst thick, colorful foliage - this is every gardener's dream. Luckily, it can easily be achieved by creating your own water garden. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money, and can be built in a day without installing a pump and waterproof liner, or digging a hole. You can place it anywhere you want, whether on a deck or deep within your garden.

Materials

Water-tight container a minimum of 24 inches across
Dwarf cattail
Water lily
Parrot feather
Water hyacinths
Small pots (if you decide to transplant plants)
Plastic mulch
Topsoil or dirt (not potting soil)
Pebbles
Goldfish (optional)

What to do

Place the container where you want it and check the rim using a level. If it's not level shim the pot until it is. For terra cotta pots remember to plug the drain hole, or alternatively, line the pot with plastic.
The deepest pot you will place inside determines how much water to pour into the pot.
Repot the cattail, water lily, and parrot feather in the containers you plan on putting in the larger pot. Use the plastic mulch to line the containers so that no dirt has the opportunity to fall out of the drainage holes. Fill the pots with topsoil to an inch below the rim.
In the small pots, cover all the dirt on the surface with small pebbles so that no dirt can float into the water.
Take your time and carefully lower the pots into the water - this will let air escape without pushing the dirt around. Because parrot feather has the ability to float, you can let it do so, or let it spill over the edge of the container.
Place the water hyacinths into your newly created pond to float around.

It's easy to create your very own water garden at home, with simple tools you can find in a good garden store or around the house. Everyone enjoys the beauty of water, which is why a water garden can create a tranquil atmosphere in any garden.

Find a local Landscaping contractor.
View more Landscaping articles.