Water Gardening Made Easy

Container Water Gardening

• Any type of container works for an easy water garden, whether it's a ceramic pot, a wooden half barrel or a stone trough. The best containers are those that are at least 24 inches in diameter and 16 inches deep. Because container water gardens heat up more quickly than in-ground ponds, the containers needs to sit in a spot that gets shade during the warmest part of the day.

Water Garden Plants

• A hardy water lily such as “Comanche” (Nymphaea “Comanche"), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10, is a must-have for its beauty and hardiness. Taller plant possibilities include yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) for USDA zones 5 through 9, which stands 3 to 5 feet, or a spider lily (Hymenocallis caroliniana), for USDA zones 5 through 8, which grows 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall. Because many aquatic plants are invasive, check what's considered invasive in your area before buying.

Wetland Plants

• With a wetland or bog water garden, instead of having only a few inches of soil, you fill the container with half peat moss and half sand and keep the soil soggy with a few inches of water on the top. A wetland garden frees you from the task of cleaning and refilling the container. Wetland plants include 8-inch tall hair grass (Elocharis acicularis) for USDA zones 7 through 10, and floating heart water lily (Nymphoides cristata) with fragrant white flowers for USDA zones 7 through 9.

Maintenance

• If you plant your water garden densely, water will evaporate slowly. Otherwise, you need to replenish the water every few weeks. Water garden containers need cleaning once or twice a year to remove accumulated debris and dead leaves. You will need to lift out the plants, drain the container and refill it using a hose. If your floors can accommodate the weight of the container, you can consider moving it indoors for the winter, setting it on a waterproof base, such as a tiled floor.