Where
to put a water garden?
Choose
the site carefully, using this checklist:
- Sun/Shade
– Most water lilies need full sun to bloom well.
- Leaves/Litter
– Leaves and other organic matter decay into sludge in a pond.
- Drainage
– Choose a level or raised site, not a low-lying area.
- Utilities
– A spigot for filling, and an outdoor electrical outlet.
- Fountains
or Waterfalls – Provides much needed aeration.
- Fish
– Fish can be wonderful pets in a good-sized pond.
Plants
for Ponds
Water
Lilies
– Water Lilies come in many colors and styles.
The flowers are usually double, often fragrant, from 2 to 10
inches wide.
Floating
Plants
– Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) forms rosettes of ribbed
leaves. Water hyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes) bears spikes of showy violet flowers.
Both plants float on the surface and do not need to be
potted. Floating plants
are not hardy to Zone 5.
Oxygenating
Plants
– Also called submerged plants, these grow underwater, although
their leaves may float to the surface.
They filter and clear the water, release oxygen, and provide
food and shelter for fish.
Marginal
Plants
– Marginal, or emergent plants live in the wet soil or shallow
water around the edge of a pool.
This group of plants can include hardy and tropical
perennials, grasses and ferns.
Fish
Ornamental
Fish
– The
most common ornamental fish are goldfish and koi; both have long
histories of being bred for their exotic features and beautiful
vibrant colors. Koi can
withstand a wide range of temperatures.
Koi can survive under the ice in extreme cold as long as the
water does not freeze solid.
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