Water gardening provides countless opportunities for the garden designer. The sight and sound of moving water is always a fascination and can attract all sorts of wildlife to your garden.
Themes for water gardens are wide and varied and include modern city designs, Japanese, lakeside, forest, seaside gardens and many more.
They create an opportunity to grow some different and fascinating plants and can provide relaxation and tranquility.
Guide Size
Good size is 30 m x 15m
Typical Features
Depending on the formality of the design they can include:
- A wild pond as large as possible which could include a bog garden close by – the bog garden can be fed by rainwater run off from pond
- Brick patio including a formal water feature.
- Lush abundance of plants so that pond and bog garden can be seen as one
- Rockery on high ground
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Trees and shrubs as backdrop - If you have a large garden include a large ‘natural pond’ surrounded by wildflower area that will attract wildlife.
- Rocky cascade could be added – include rock pools, rivulets, a fountain and rocky grottoes – rocks and water in a garden are always a good combination.
Typical Plants
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Water plants including lilies, ferns, rushes, etc.
Maintenance and Care
A pond will always be evolving – as marginal plants grow, the pond will appear smaller.
Within a few years, frogs, toads, snakes, newts, birds and creatures all attracted by the pond will appear in your garden.
Remove leaves and sludge as required and divide up plants if they get too big. Clean formal ponds once a year but a wild pond will generally look after itself.