If you are looking for a new hobby to pursue at home, water gardening is worth looking into. Whether you enjoy landscaping and gardening already or you are looking for a new way to get outside, water gardens offer a great way to grow plants that not many other people have access to. At Fontana Ponds & Water Features, we are always happy to help people discover how to set up a water garden and we can offer many helpful maintenance ideas to help once the garden is going.
Steps for Setting Up a Water Garden in a Pond
The steps that you will need to take to set up a water garden will depend on various factors. If you already have a pond, rainwater reservoir, pool, or other body of water in your backyard, you will be much better set up to begin water gardening than somebody who is starting from scratch. In any case, you will need to decide how large you plan to make your water garden. These landscape features can range in size from a small bucket or basin with a couple of small plants to a large section of an ecosystem pond. Setting up a water garden in a pond will allow you to expand and grow a large selection of plants, so it is beneficial to know how to take advantage of your pond space to plant a water garden. If you do not have a pond already and you want to get into larger scale water gardening, speak with a pond expert about getting a pond installed.
Planning the Placement
Before figuring out what plants you want to install in your water garden, it is important to take a look at your pond and think about where the plants will rest. To have a good range of plants, your pond should have a range of shallow areas and deep points, with extra shallow plant shelves at strategic points along the edge of the pond. Sloping sides are an excellent way to ensure that you are able to plant a good variety of pond flora. The pond should be at least one metre deep to prevent it from freezing completely in the winter. Take a look at the type of sediment and stone that you have lining your pond. If you have a pond that is completely lined with rock, you might need to talk with a pond professional about getting plant zones installed to garden in. Some other things to consider when planning your water garden placement include:
- Consider which plants need more sunlight than others and where the sun falls on your pond
- Avoid areas that see runoff from your yard or the surrounding landscape
- Make sure the water garden is exposed and not shaded by trees
- Ensure that you are able to reach the water garden with a supply of freshwater
Picking Your Plants
There is a massive variety of types of plants that can be installed in a water garden, and each type of plant will require a different habitat and depth of water. Having a good balance of submersible plants, floating plants, and shallow shelf plants will ensure that your garden has good variety.
If you would like to learn more about how to set up a water garden, or if you would are interested in finding out more about the range of pond services and products we offer, please connect with us by filling out a contact form on our website and we will get back to you, or call us at 778-990-9773.