How to Build a Water Feature

Water lilies add color and interest to a container water feature.

Water features range from fountains to ponds and everything in between. Although different in style, all water features add a certain element of tranquility to the space they occupy. One of the easiest water features to make is a container garden that not only introduces the serenity of water but also the beauty of aquatic plants. A half-whiskey barrel transformed into a water garden created is a relaxing embellishment to any outdoor living space.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 whiskey barrel
• 1/2 whiskey barrel liner
• String
• Stakes
• Landscape fabric and pins
• Scissors
• Bricks
• Potted water lilies, 2
• Potted submerged water plants, 2
• Floating water plants, 3
• Crushed gravel
• Crappie minnows
• Water snails, 12
• River rock
• Potted plants for outside of barrel
• Solar spotlight

1. Select a sunny location for the water feature. The location should be free from overhanging branches or aggressive ground vegetation.

2. Make a 4-foot square using small stakes a string. The container garden will sit in the center of this square.

3. Cut a piece of landscape fabric to fit the square and tack it down with landscape pins. Remove the stakes and string.

4. Place the barrel in the center of the landscape fabric.

5. Fill the container three-quarters full with water. If you are using city water, let the water sit for a day so that the chlorine will burn off.

6. Add a layer of crushed gravel to the top of the soil of the potted plants. This will keep the soil from coming loose in the water.

7. Stack bricks on the bottom of the container for the potted water lilies. Place the water lilies on the bricks. Adjust the height of the bricks so that the leaves are floating on the surface of the water.

8. Place the submerged plants on the bottom of the container.

9. Place the floating water plants on the water surface.

10. Place a floating solar fountain on the water surface.

11. Add a handful of crappie minnows to help control insects. Add twelve water snails to eat decaying vegetation.

12. Place an assortment of potted plants of different heights around the container garden. Add enough river rock to cover the landscape fabric.

13. Position a solar spotlight on the water feature so that it can be enjoyed at night.

Tips & Warnings

• Add fresh water to the container garden every few days or when needed.

• Add a fertilizer tablet from your local garden center when the water plants begin to mature.

• Refill the container garden with fresh water if algae develops.

• Empty the container garden in cold climates during the winter. Take the water plants inside or treat them as annuals and replace next year.

• Trim and divide plants as necessary so that they do not overtake the container.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension; Container Water Gardening; Beth Jarvis; 2000
• Colorado State University Extension; Container Water Gardens; Carl Wilson; 2010
• Water Gardens; Megan McConnell Hughes; 2006