How to Build a Cheap Water Garden

Water lilies are an elegant addition to any water garden.

If you want to build an inexpensive water garden for your yard, look into container water gardening. You need only minimal tools, time and expense to create a green oasis in even a very small space. This cheap alternative lets you avoid the costs of in-ground pond installation, such as clay liners, underlayment materials and pumps to clear groundwater during installation. A container water garden typically has very low maintenance costs because you aren't contending so vigorously with the forces of Mother Nature as with an in-ground pond. Choose your container based on how much space you have and what types of flowers you'd like to garden. Water lilies need a deeper water, while tiny floaters such as pennywort will skim the top of even a shallow bowl.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel or garden spade
• Work gloves
• Large tub, urn or terra cotta pot
• Pea gravel
• Rake
• Garden rocks
• Garden hose
• Floating pond plants
• Bog or margin plants

Instructions

1. Select a location in a flat area that provides fertile soil. Your water garden will need up to four hours of sunlight each day to support flowering plants such as lotus or water lilies. Afternoon shade will help reduce the algae population.

2. Situate your tub into position atop the soil. Choose a container that's at least 18 inches deep if you plan to have water lilies or fish.

3. Drop garden rocks around the tub base to mark a border. Set the tub aside.

4. Excavate a hole about 3 inches wider than the border marked by garden rocks and 6 inches deeper than your container. Line the bottom of the excavation with a layer of pea gravel 2 inches thick. Rake the gravel smooth.

5. Install your tub in the center of the excavation. Backfill the sides with excavated soil mixed with peat moss to help retain moisture.

6. Fill your container with water. If your water supply is chlorinated, allow the water to stand for 24 hours before adding plants or fish.

7. Add potted plants such as water lilies and lotuses in water gardens that have a depth of at least 12 inches. Scatter floating pond plants such as pennywort, water lettuce or anacharis on top of the water. They will provide oxygen and discourage algae.

8. Plant bog plants and ferns in the moist soil that surrounds your container water garden. Flowering plants that enjoy the moist environment include Siberian iris and marsh marigold.

Tips & Warnings

• Clear debris and leaves from your water garden regularly.

• Don't add fertilizers or other chemicals to your plants or to the water. These can produce excessive algae growth and may harm tender plants and visiting wildlife.

References

• University of Illinois, Urbana Extension Service: Container Water Gardening
• The Water Garden: Patio Gardens, Tub, & Container Gardens
• University of Minnesota Extension: Container Water Gardening