Ideas for Water Gardens and Ponds
When considering landscaping ideas to improve the look of their yards, some people choose to use water as a focal point, including the installation of water gardens and ponds. Installing a water garden or pond provides you with an active, vibrant feature that draws attention in ways that a flower bed or arbor can't. Does this Spark an idea?
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Water Gardens
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Water gardens are essentially small, shallow ponds that provide a home for aquatic plants. They are usually no more than 2 to 3 feet deep, and are sometimes as small as 3 to 4 feet across. Installing a variety of plants not only can provide a range of sights and scents, it also allows the plants to act as natural filters in the water, absorbing nutrients and producing oxygen. Sagitaria and elodea filter carbon dioxide from the water and produce oxygen. Some plants, like hyacinths, float in the water unattached to the bottom, free to absorb nutrients in the water. Plants that float on the water and block sunlight from reaching the bottom, such as water lilies, can help prevent the growth of algae in the pond. When choosing plants, avoid using plants that shed debris into the water, because the debris can clog the filters and suck all of the oxygen out of the water while it decomposes.
Fish Ponds
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Similar to water gardens, fish ponds are another option to consider. They are essentially water gardens that contain fish, most often goldfish or koi. A filtration system may not be necessary for a water garden, but you'll have to install one in a fish pond to keep the water clean and provide enough oxygen for the fish to survive. When digging the hole for the fish pond, dig different levels into the soil in order to provide different depths for the fish. Cover the soil with an underlayment, followed by a rubber pond liner. The liner prevents the soil from seeping into the water. Before filling the pond, place objects in the water that provide a place for the fish to hide. Rocks can be used for this, or even something like an old milk crate with openings cut into the sides and turned upside-down.
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Streams and Waterfalls
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You can take the idea of having a pond in your backyard one step further and install a small stream with waterfalls. This can work especially well if you live on a hilly property, as you can use the natural slope in the ground for the stream bed. A project like this usually involves digging a pond at each end of the stream bed, then digging out the stream bed itself. As part of this excavation, waterfalls are often built into the stream bed. The stream bed and ponds are covered with a rubber liner, then stones are placed in the stream bed and at the site of the waterfalls. A pump is installed in the bottom pond, with a hose running to the upper pond to supply water to flow downstream.
Enhancement Ideas
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There are steps that you can take to enhance the appearance of the pond or water garden. Landscaping the area around the pond and planting more plants can help it blend more naturally into your yard --- just don't place the plants into a position where they'll shed debris into the pond. Installing a waterfall along the edge of the pond can provide you with the soothing sound of water flowing over the rocks and into the pond. Adding lighting around the pond --- or inside it --- can provide dramatic effects at night.
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