Water gardens are a serene addition to any yard and can drastically improve its aesthetics. Having a water garden can provide a wonderful opportunity for peaceful relaxation and remind us of nature. If you are wondering how to create a water garden of your own, this post will inform you of the necessary steps needed to plan, choose a good location, and choose water-dwelling plants.
The Basics of Planning Your Water Garden
Developing a water garden does not follow any specific rules. However, you can choose to outline a few different steps that can be beneficial to you to get you started. One of the most basic steps is the selection of a site for the water garden, and in this case a backyard. If while completing this step the candidate has a site that has at least greenery, ideally a few plants that can be water submerged aquatic plants, this is even more of a bonus.
Choosing the Right Spot
Positioning planning is very important, so think of the area of the garden you want to highlight. Water garden planning is a systemic sequence of actions leading to a specific result, so be careful while executing it. Each water plant is unique in its demands and has its own features of how it can be grown in the North Carolina area, so be careful while selecting any specific.
Reviewing your plans lets you ask important questions that help in a deeper understanding of the situation. Take your time and think carefully about the features you plan to implement in the garden.
Sunlight: Find a site that ideally has at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight a day for the plants to grow.
Size: The choice of whether to have a small pond or a big water garden can certainly change the impression of the backyard. Make a decision on the size and shape that you want before moving on.
Accessibility: The site should be reasonably accessible for tasks such as filling the pond with water, moving the water plants, and removing trash.
Building the Water Garden: Buy or DIY?
Water gardens can be made in many different ways. Either you can buy a ready made water garden pond in a home and garden shop, or you can try to build one yourself. For those who want more of a personal touch, you can take a custom approach by marking an area and building a shape that you prefer.
After you have the spot chosen, remove any destructive features such as rocks, roots, and weeds. Dig to the proper depth and line the bottom with a pond liner to keep water from soaking into the soil. In many garden stores, you can buy preformed pond liners, or a more malleable liner for a pond that isn’t shaped.
Choosing Water Plants for Your Garden
Building a water garden is based on the most satisfying part: choosing the plants that will grow in your water pond. For your water garden to have personality, color, and life, a variety of plants will be needed. This will not only bring joy to people, but also to the useful wildlife such as dragonflies, frogs, and birds. Below are a few of the most appreciated plants that could be added to a water garden.
Water Lilies (Nymphaea)
Water lilies could be considered a staple of a water garden. Water lilies bring a wide variety of bright hues such as pink to a garden. In addition, water lilies have phototropic flowers that spend the day turning towards the sun. They usually bloom when the sun is shining. They bloom during the day and sleep at night. They float on the water with leaves as well as bloom on the surface of the water. Water lilies love full sun and can also be placed in a few feet of water. Water lilies, in addition, bring oxygen into the water which is helpful for water ecosystems.
Cattails (Typha)
Cattails are also one of the most frequent additions to water gardens. These graceful and tall water plants provide character and depth to your garden. Cattails flowers are also known as the most distinctive feature found on ponds and marshes. Cattails are very abundant on the shallow end of ponds, which allow their roots to expand and filter water, thus improving the quality of the water in the pond. Cattails also provide cover for a variety of smaller animals and insects.
Arrow Arum (Peltandra virginica)
Arrow arum is easy to distinguish thanks to its very wide, arrow-shaped leaves. Also, it is a wonderful addition to ponds and water gardens as it grows well in shallow water. The dark green leaves, which are quite large, provide a superb contrast as they cover the surface of the water. Arrow arum flowers white small flowers in the late spring to early summer, but they are commonly concealed by the enormous leaves and are thus difficult to notice. Arrow arum usually grows in a very wet and muddy state.
Water Willow (Justicia americana)
When it comes to water gardens that include thoughtful design, water willow would be a great choice. Appreciated for its stems which are delicate and bright green, along with a white flower blooming at the top, it serves a purpose beyond sheer beauty. Its long stems are quite effective at stabilizing sediment and provide food and shelter for tiny, aquatic creatures.
Bulrush (Schoenoplectus)
Their tall, linear stature plus the ability to grow stems in either shallow or deeper water makes Bulrushes a defining plant within a water garden. In addition to providing privacy along the border, the dense clusters of fine stems collected in rough patches makes a great home for other wildlife such as birds and insects. The roots even provide a useful function, as they purify the water by absorbing overheated or unneeded nutrients.
Maintaining Your Water Garden
Regardless of the season, the water garden must be looked after and maintained. Some elementary tasks could include a few of the following:
Water Quality: Assess the level of water at regular intervals. Fill with clean water as necessary. A pump or filter could also be of assistance to maintaining the water garden.
Pruning and Deadheading: To improve the appearance of the garden, it is wise to remove any dead or decaying plant material to avoid further contamination.
Winter Care: In colder areas, take care to prepare your water garden for winter by cutting back plants and possibly adding a deicer to avoid complete freezing of the water.
Source to Buy Plants for Water Gardening
The most straightforward and practical approach to obtaining plants for a water garden is to purchase them from online plant nurseries. One such dependable vendor is TN Nursery because it sells a variety of aquatic plants and supplies to improve a water garden. From colorful water lilies and lofty cattails to different specialty plants, there is a vast array of plants to suit all garden types.
Let’s Get Started on Your Yard!
With this newfound knowledge in mind, we can now begin to develop a plan. You can visit TN Nursery and find a variety of aquatic plants that can help you turn the yard into a quiet, nature-filled retreat.
FAQs About Water Gardens
What is the 70/30 rule in gardening?
The 70/30 rule in gardening is saying that 70% of your garden should consist of plants that will do well in your climate, and 30% should be left for trial and error. The concept is designed to promote harmony among the plants in the garden. This ratio will promote a garden that is easier to manage.
How do you build a simple water garden?
A simple water garden consists of setting a location, digging a hole, and adding a pond liner. You can either purchase a molded pond and configure it to your liking, or freestyle a design. Then, add a fountain with water and hot-mixed water lilies, cattails, and arrow arum. The serenity of your newly-made tranquil garden can be enjoyed with a filtration system.
What plants are good for water gardens?
Water lilies, cattails, arrow arum, bulrushes, and water willows are amazing plants for water gardens. These species are visually appealing, add to the aesthetic of the pond, improve the water quality, and provide shelter for wildlife. There are also many other plants that thrive in varying depths of water and differing sunlight exposure.
What plant soaks up the most water?
Water willows dominate the water absorption count the most and are most useful for water gardens. Their slender coated stems work for capturing and facilitating the filtration of the pond water. Water lilies and cattails also contribute to the water garden through their high water absorption capacity.
What is the 3-year rule in gardening?
The 3-year rule in gardening states that it takes at least three years for a plant to become established in the soil and for the root system to reach its potential. It is wise to let planted gardens age for a few years because it will not look nice at the beginning. After three years however, you may notice a fully developed, more established garden.
Is it okay to plant plants in October?
In October it is most suitable for planting certain plants, particularly perennials, and vegetables that thrive in cooler climates. In the warmer areas, most plants can still be put in the ground. In colder areas though, only winter hardy plants should be used. It is advantageous to plant in October because it allows the plants to root before the severe frost sets in.
