by Phyllis Cunningham

Created on: January 07, 2008

Create a Water Garden

Even if you live in an apartment, you can enjoy the tranquility a water garden can bring.

A water garden can be as simple as a large pot on a deck, patio or near a sunny window. We did this for my sister. We went to the local Home Depot and found a beautiful large porcelain pot. Next, we went to a local garden store and found some lovely miniature water plants. She chose a miniature cattail, waterlily and duckweed, but there were so many lovely plants to choose from. This type of water garden is beautiful with or without fish. [Note] Koi are not recommended for a pot water garden.

If you have a small yard you'd like to enhance with water there are even more choices. There are small to large pre-formed ponds that you can set onto or into the ground. My daughter-in-law and I set a small preformed pond right on top of the ground and built up around it, creating seating and floral beds to the outside. It was a quite beautiful addition to her small yard.

If you want to sink the pond, dig a hole according to the measurements of the pond, leaving 5-8 inches of extra space all around the form. You will want the hole to be at least 5 inches deeper than you want the pond to set. After you have dug a hole check the bottom making it as level as possible. You will not want any rocks in the bottom. Water weighs a lot and the weight of the water pressing the pond down onto a rock will eventually damage the integrity of the pond.

Layer the bottom of your hole with at about 6-8 inches of sand. Then set your pond into the hole. If the pond is small enough you can use a shovel handle to check that the rim of the pond is just slightly above ground level. At this point, add a little water. Does it cover the bottom evenly? If not, remove the pond and shift the sand to create level ground. Continue to test the levelness in this way until you get an even layer of water.

Next, you will use sand to fill in around the edges of your pond. Take your time and be sure everything is level and tightly packed. After you have filled in all the way around your new pond, lightly water the sand so it will settle. I am sure you are anxious, but let it set overnight.

Overnight, there will likely have been some settling in the sand. Top it off and fill your pond with water. Next, add an inexpensive water conditioner, available at most garden stores. You can now add a pump and filter system, then set your flat rocks and plants, if you like, around the edges. Make sure everything is working

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