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Simple
Water Features for
Small Spaces
In small spaces
a simple water feature can make a large impact. The addition of
a container water garden will transform, beautify and diversify
your existing garden into an oasis that brings relief during the
dog days of summer and beyond. Sit back, relax and enjoy the melodious
sound of dancing water from your garden pond, it will provide soothing,
background music to your summer retreat. Bring wildlife into the
garden by incorporating fish, frogs and snails into your mini aquascape.
A simple water feature may be placed in the garden, on a deck, patio,
and porch or added to a roof-top garden and can make a large impact
in a small space.
Choosing
a Container:
Container water
gardens can be created from practically anything that has the capability
of holding water or that can support a liner. Ceramic sinks or tubs,
half-barrels, buckets, pottery or planters and troughs can all be
used to create beautiful ponds. Remember, these features will look
their best when the shape and materials are similar in style to
that of your home and surrounding gardens.
Lining
Your Container:
If you have
chosen a whiskey barrel, or other similar wood container, follow
these simple instructions to incorporate a liner:
1. Center
your flexible liner over your whiskey barrel or other container.
Push down in the center so that excess material is evenly spaced
over the outside lip. Begin folding the liner over itself at 4 to
6 inch increments, working your way around the container. Fasten
each fold with a 1⁄2 inch staple placed about 1⁄2 inch
from the top.
2. Trim
the liner so it is even with the lip of the barrel or container.
3. Fill
your container with water, then arrange your aquatic plants and
pump/filter system.
Rigid pond liners are also available to insert into half whiskey
barrels for ease of waterproofing these containers.
With such a
wide assortment available, pots and planters make great garden ponds
when properly prepared.
1.
Plug the drainage hole with a small piece of pond liner spread with
caulk.
2. Seal
any minor cracks with caulk.
3. Paint
the inside of the container with a water garden sealant.
Picking Plants:
The use of aquatic
plants will help you avoid the use of algaecides by reducing pond
algae in two ways:
1) by removing
excess phosphorus and nitrogen from the water and
2) by shading
the water from sunlight. For a healthy balance, cover 50% of your
pond surface with floating plants for shading. Submerged plants
should be planted at a rate of one bunch, 6-10 plants, for every
5 square feet of surface area. Marginal or bog plants will complete
the ecological balancing act.
Floaters:
Water Lettuce
(Pistia stratiotes), Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Frogbit
(Hydrocharis morsus- ranae), Miniature Water Lilies (Nymphae spp.);
these plants provide habitat and will shade the pond water surface
to reduce the production of algae.
Submerged
Oxygenators:
Submerged plants
like: anacharis (Elodea Canadensis), Water Buttercup (Ranunculus
aquatilis) and Fanwort (Cambomba caroliniana) are great choices
that help maintain water clarity by consuming excess nutrients that
contribute to the production of algae. These plants can reproduce
rapidly; however, they are easily controlled in the small pond by
simply removing surplus growth.
Marginal
Plants:
Placed at pond’s
edge, Sweet Flag (Acorus spp.), Dwarf Cattail (Typha minima), Dwarf
Papyrus (Cyperus profiler), Iris (Iris pseudacorus), Camelion plant
(Houttuynia cordata), marginal aquatic plants add color, height,
and variation to the water garden. They also provide cover, habitat
and oxygen.Be careful not to overwhelm you container water garden
with too many plants or it will be difficult to maintain a natural
balance.
Fish
and Other Pond Life:
- Fish create
additional interest to a water garden by adding sparkle and movement.
Good choices for a small water garden are: Goldfish, Red Comets,
Calico Fantails and Shubunkins. Do not overstock your water feature.
As a rule of thumb, each inch of fish should have 6 square inches
to one square foot of water.
- Japanese
Trapdoor Snails eat algae stuck to the sides of the pond and will
consume excess fish food.
- Tadpoles
will morph into amusing frogs. Tadpoles eat algae and add motion
and interest to the pond, especially for children. Frogs will
lend sound to the garden and aid in insect control.
Water
Garden Container Care
Dealing
with Algae
Despite all your planning, it is perfectly natural for your pond
to turn green at first. Once the plants get to work, the green will
fade. If you find that you require a little extra help in algae
control, try Microbe-Lift or Barley Straw pellets, both are natural
algae controls.
Managing
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes may be managed in several ways:
1. Creating
water movement to the pond with a pump and small fountain.
2. Add BT (Bacillus
thuringiensis) to the water in the form of Mosquitoes Dunks.
3. Incorporate
small fish into your pond garden, they eat mosquito larvae.
4. Other mosquito
predators include: dragonflies, bats, tadpoles and frogs.
Maintenance
Check the pond weekly. You need to be observant to animal activity
and any abnormal growths or marks. Inspect plants and fish for health,
and insects or disease. Clean up any dead or yellowing foliage.
Replace evaporated water as necessary. If your water contains chlorine
or other chemicals, be sure they are removed before adding this
water to your pond. Chlorine is toxic to fish and beneficial bacteria.
Chlorine will dissipate after a few days if it is exposed to air,
do not add fish or plants until after this is accomplished. |
