Pond-er in your garden

You may not have the space for an actual pond but that should not prevent you from enjoying the benefits of a small water garden.

NT Features

A reflective pool has its allure, it is something that has always drawn mankind. There is an element to water that relaxes us, that makes us calmer and feels peaceful.

Water features are becoming common additions in gardens these days, even to the point where they have turned into a cliche. More often than not people choose to add lifeless statues amid flowing water. A pond, however, has a far greater attraction than a plain old water feature, since it is literally brimming with life. Anyone who has ever been around a pond, especially with living creatures like fishes, will know what a captivating effect it can have.

Most people in an urban setting neither have the space nor the expertise to construct a full-sized pond, but this does not mean they can’t enjoy the benefits of a small water garden. Water gardens in containers are easy to structure and “halfbarrel” water gardens are becoming quite popular for this very reason. Using a real wine barrel cut in half, or a similar-sized plastic container, a water garden can be finished in an afternoon.

Beyond mere aesthetics, a water garden has its place in a permaculture garden. It can be used to grow edible aquatic plants and fish, provide a breeding site for rare and endangered fish or frogs, and produce many other valuable outputs.

Before building your water garden, do a little homework to decide what size and design are best for you. Unlike regular gardening, where you can blunder your way through almost any experiment and start fresh the following year, a pond often involves a greater investment of time and money. A smaller water garden in a container may be a better fit for your lifestyle and pocketbook that doesn’t sacrifice the soothing beauty and colour of water plants.

For something on a smaller, more manageable scale, consider a patio water garden. Many water plants can be grown in a tub of water on your deck, and you can even add fish or a fountain. Use an ordinary whiskey barrel lined with plastic, or purchase a plastic tub that is specially designed for a water garden. Miniature water lilies, lotus, and many other water plants grow beautifully in as little as 20 to 30 gallons of water.. Place your container where it will receive at least 6 hours of sun a day for best plant growth and flowering. In hot climates, containers do best with afternoon shade.

Learn about the science behind water quality, and be attentive to what is going on in your ecosystem. Water gardening is a beautiful dance with nature. Whether you choose a small, intimate container garden or a fullscale pond, the soothing shimmer of water and light, the colourful and often fragrant water plants, and the wild creatures they attract will bring peace and serenity to your living space.