Louisiana Water Gardens

Construction

• To ensure that your water garden is as visually appealing, functional and economically sound as possible, incorporate certain construction techniques to your water garden. In Louisiana, Bobvila.com suggests elevating the soil around the pond so that excess rainwater can flow away from the pond and not interrupt the water in the pond. You should keep it far enough away from your house so that this runoff water does not disrupt your house, but close enough for you to enjoy the pond. Use a pump or filter to keep the water flowing to prevent algae buildup, which is common during the warmest months in Louisiana. A sterilizer can also help control algae and create ideal water conditions for fish and other forms of wildlife.

Foliage

• The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality recommends that you have a combination of submergent, floating and emergent plants in and around your water garden. Submergent plants grow under the water and are entirely hidden from the surface. They provide oxygen to the water and aquatic organisms. Floating plants, such as water lilies, have underwater roots, but leaves or flowers floating on top. Emergent plants grow in or around the water, but show off their stems and leaves above the water.

  The most popular emergent plant for Louisiana water gardens is the state flower, the native Louisiana iris. These irises are ideal for planting around or in a water garden because they thrive in aquatic and bog conditions.

Wildlife

• Water gardens do not need to contain fish, but fish can add an aesthetic, colorful value to the pond, and they can assist with algae control. Fish that survive well in warm Louisiana weather include koi and goldfish, which are typical choices for backyard ponds, or catfish, bream and bass in larger ponds.

  If you surround your water garden with Louisiana irises, tall grasses and other types of foliage, native Louisiana wildlife, such as frogs, birds and butterflies, will flock to this new habitat.