Friday, February 24, 2012

Water Gardening

By Kathleen Burch


There are a lot of new trends surfacing in gardening, and water gardening is one of the new interests. Water gardening lets you have waterfalls, ponds, streams, and fountains along with plants, fish, and lighting. You can make your own water source if you don't have a pond on your property.

The location is a very important consideration when you plan a water garden. Sunlight exposure is very important because plant and fish need it, so an ideal place would be somewhere away from trees and bushes. This can help keep your water garden from collecting leaves and debris.

Next, you have to decide on the size you want for your water garden. This depends of course on the resources you want to dedicate to it, how much money and time you are willing to spend. Realize that a water garden can get expensive if you include all the works. You should also consider the size of your property.

Aquatic plants can be free floating, submerged, or marginal. What type you select is a matter of aesthetics and preference. Some plants are known for their scents, some for supplying oxygen keep the pool healthy, and some are just picturesque. Remember that the plants should only cover about half of the water, especially if you have fish. Fish are not only nice to look at; they're beneficial in that they help keep debris at a minimum and help in controlling larva and other insects.

One of the greatest challenges of a water garden is the algae. Algae usually form because there is too much nutrients in the water from fish food or from fertilizers. If you cut back on feeding and fertilizing, add more plants, install a filter system, or change the water, you can control algae. If a pond is constructed correctly and maintained properly algae problems can be kept at a minimum.

All garden pools require maintenance. If you plan things well, you can make a great balance between living and decorative features of your water garden that will require little maintenance.




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