Green Space: With planning, water gardening adds interest
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By JERRY CLARK
Thursday, July 26, 2007 12:29 PM CDT
Special to the Herald
The sight and sound of water is an attraction to many. Not only are we attracted to water but also animals, reptiles, and insects can’t resist being in or around water. After all, water is needed in some manner for all living creatures.
A water garden provides an excellent setting for relaxation, backyard wildlife, and aesthetic value. By taking time to plan, select plants, and care for your water feature, you can enjoy all the benefits of a water garden for years to come.
Many times when we think of water gardens, we think of an elaborate combination of fountains, waterfalls, and systems of rockwork and lighting. A water garden can be very simple and still provide the attractiveness of more sophisticated systems. 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 for the water feature. Most aquatic plants and fish need plenty of sun, so a site that gets 6-8 hours of direct sun is best.
Try to choose a site away from tall shrubs and trees for best light and to prevent the accumulation of leaf debris in the water garden. Since the water garden is for your enjoyment as well as for the wildlife and fish, put the water garden in an area near a window or deck where it can be easily viewed from inside the home as well.
It is easy to plan your water garden using some basic principles. Consider the size of your property and your ability to maintain the water garden. Small ponds are best for small properties. A water container garden on a deck may be all that is needed to add just the right feature for your space. Features like waterfalls, rockwork, lighting and fountains depend on your budget, style of your landscape, and purpose of the garden pond. If your goal is to attract wildlife and keep a few fish, a small tub or bowl may be all that is needed.
Water that moves is a great feature to include in the water garden. Moving water creates the sound that attracts wildlife, keeps the water cleaner longer, and also provides the relaxing sound we tend to enjoy. Simple bubblers and pumps can make the water move just enough to satisfy our needs.
Plant selection for a water garden is critical as it will determine the overall health of the water feature as well the amount of maintenance. Considerations such as water depth, amount of sunlight and how each species relates to its surroundings need to be taken into account when choosing plant material.
Both floating leafed and submerged plants are needed for a healthy pond and need to be included in your selection. When choosing aquatic plants, keep in mind that the plants should cover no more than about 75 percent percent of the water surface.
Emergent plants are sometimes also called marginals. These plants are found along the edges of a pond where the roots are attached to the muddy bottom and portions of their stems are above the water. Common examples include cattails and iris. Other marginals can be planted between shallow and deep water where roots are attached to the bottom but have floating leaves above the water.
Submerged plants are those that for the most part remain beneath the water surface. They are often referred to as oxygenators. These plants help combat algae by consuming excess nutrients while at the same time providing cover for fish and producing oxygen during daylight hours.
Many oxygenators may be potted in gravel. Submerged plants should be stocked at the rate of about one bunch per two square feet of water surface area. Caging these plants is sometimes suggested if the pond contains fish, which tend to forage on submerged plant foliage. Water lilies are a common submerged plant and can add drama and fragrance even in small tubs.
The final type of plants for the water garden is floaters. Floaters are not rooted and are allowed to float freely above or below the water surface. They are the “ground covers” of the water garden world. They may be restricted by a framework to prevent them from moving around or allowed to float freely with the breeze.
This produces an ever-changing look to the water surface. Duckweed, water hyacinth, and water lettuce are common floaters. Some floaters are very prolific and may need to be kept in check by scooping out excess plants on occasion.
Fish can be a beneficial addition because they are good scavengers by cleaning up debris and eating mosquito larvae and other insects. Water gardens about two feet deep can over-winter some fish if the water feature has ample food supply. Some water gardens can be heated if the fish are planning to stay in the garden over winter.
All water gardens regardless of size will need maintenance throughout the year, especially those with pumps and filters. With proper planning you can ensure a healthy balance between living and decorative features of a water garden that can almost care for itself with simple maintenance inputs from you.
Jerry Clark is the Crops and Soils Educator for UW-Extension Chippewa County. He earned a B.S. and M.S. in agriculture education from UW-River Falls and serves as the advisor for the Chippewa Valley Master Gardener Program.
Green Space is a weekly feature written exclusively for The Chippewa Herald by a team of experienced gardeners in the Chippewa Valley. It addresses a variety of plant cultivation topics.
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