Instant Pond, Just Add Water

Lusting for your neighbor’s… water garden, but not sure if it’s right for you? Love aquatic plants and the visual interest of water, but not the commitment of space and cash for a pond? Why not try a ‘sampler pond’ before you try a big one: a container water garden!

Why would you want a container water garden instead of going the whole nine yards? There are lots of reasons I do it.

Low Cost
For the one-time cost of a container (a large pot without holes or a half barrel), plants, and water to fill it, you have the feel of a pond without the excavation and hardscape costs of a pond.

Easy to Start
Pot your selections in a plastic container with plain soil (not potting soil, clay soils are good in this case), add pea gravel on the surface to keep the water from clouding, place in the large container you selected, fill with water, and you’re done. If you select floating plants, just drop them in! Heck, you’ll be enjoying your water garden 15 minutes after getting home with your plants!

Scale to Your Space
You can fit your water garden (or water gardens) anywhere they make sense in your landscape. The only consideration is a fairly level surface and 4-6 hours of full sun.

Low Maintenance
Compared to pots of annuals, perennials, or shrubs, water gardens can be planted and ignored for weeks at a time! Just fertilize now and then, remove dead leaves, and occasionally top off the water if needed. If you add a small fish, it will keep the mosquitoes under control too!

The Plants
They are the best reason of all! Iowa State University Extension offers great suggestions and care instructions in their publication RG604 Water Gardens: Aquatic Plants.

Floating Plants
Perky, little plants like duckweed, azolla, water hyacinth, and water lettuce float on the surface, and can be grown in small and sometimes very shallow containers.



Submerged Plants
Elodea and hornwort are graceful plants that remain below the surface and oxygenate the water.




Shallow Plants
Marginal or bog type plants like water iris, umbrella sedge, and papyrus give height and interest to your container.




Deep Water Plants
These are the key plants in most containers and include both hardy and tropical water lilies, as well as lotus in especially large and deep containers.

In no time, you’ll see your ‘sampler pond’ is a beautiful and simple way to enjoy aquatic plants. In fact, I’ll bet container water gardens will become an annual part of making your garden your way.