Planning a Water Garden

A small pond, waterfall, or circulating fountain in your garden provides aesthetics as well as a water source for small animals, birds, and butterflies. The calming effect of water in a garden space enhances the beauty. Most yards today have no natural source of water, but you can plan and create a water garden of your own. You can shop for individual supplies to create your own customized water garden, or you can opt for a kit that contains everything you need for a specific size and layout.

Whichever you choose, the backbone for your water garden will be the rock or earth arrangements surrounding the water, and the water flow you choose. For a small water garden, a pond with a circulating pump with a filter is a simple choice. Circulating water will help prevent your pond from becoming a mosquito breeding ground. It also aerates the water if you plan to stock your water garden with ornamental fish.

Of course the highlight of a water garden is the wonderful plants. There are many you can choose from, and most garden supply catalogs and garden centers have them in stock. Most aquatic plants tend to grow and bloom best in full sun of six hours per day or more, so keep that in mind when you plan the location of your garden. To vary the height of plants you can use rocks or stone arrangements on the bottom of your pond to raise or lower the plant bulbs. Planting on the borders and surrounding areas of your water garden with complementary flowers and interesting foliage will make your water garden area a favorite place to rest and relax.