Water Garden | Home Grown

Notes on Choosing Garden Pond Plants

Image via Wikipedia

Notes on Choosing Garden Pond Plants

When you decide that you want to add plants to your water features, ponds or water gardens, there are certain considerations that you are going to want to make. There are essentially six different types of aquatic plants that you can install in your pond garden as need. In general, if you want your plants to be at their very best in your pond environment then you are going to want to make sure that they are being planted in completely full sunlight.

Approximately a third of your pond surface area should be considered to be the maximum amount of surface area for you to cover in your pond. Many plants are going to grow and spread at a very alarming rate, so it is important to be aware of what plants you are placing in your pond and what they are capable of doing so that you do not end up overwhelming your pond. You should make sure that you are providing pond plants for your pond life, because fish enjoy plants. Some plants are better suited for certain types of fish. Consider these four types of pond plants:

1. Water lilies are a favorite plant. They come in many different varieties in a seemingly endless selection of colors, sizes and even smells. Some water lilies bloom during the day and others only bloom during the night.

2. Marginals are shallow plants, also known as bog plants, and they generally have a medium depth.

3. Floating plants, such as the water hyacinth, are another consideration. They can grow out of control quickly if you do not keep an eye on them and keep them trimmed to proper size while growing in your water feature.

4. Oxygenator plants are the most important plants that you can put in your pond or water feature because they are going to add to the oxygen level of your pond. This is important for keeping other pond plants healthy and will also benefit your fish, improving their health and well being.

Filed Under: Gardening, Home Improvement Tagged With: Pond, Water, Water garden

How to add Value to Your Home With the Addition of a Water Garden

Nothing adds character to your living space quite like the addition of a water garden. The sound of running water is priceless and the accompanying plants and flowers that you can grow add character and even value to the home you spend time in.

If you’re concerned about the price or just aren’t a fix-it-up kind of person, most people can install a water garden by themselves, without professional help, all in the span of a weekend and for a price that just about any budget can afford.

1. Got a shovel – The first thing you need to do is purchase the water feature. Once home mark the area where you are going to install and dig a hole that is deep and wide enough to accommodate your new purchase.

2. Install the under liner – The underlayer of this project helps protect the plastic from tears from roots and rocks. Once the underlayer is down, spread the plastic over the top and secure both pieces with something heavy.

3. Make sure the pump is positioned correctly – Make sure the pump is at the correct height and make sure it is secure. This would be a great time to add the additional features that you are going to have around the water garden. Things like rocks, statues and anything that meets your fancy.

4. Finish the project – Ok so you’ve got a water feature now it’s time to fill it with water. Be careful to monitor the liner and all features so they do not expand during filling. Trip off any excess plastic and put any additional decorative items you have around the pond before testing your finished project.

Installing a water garden in your back yard is relatively easy and not that time consuming. Your guests will appreciate the added feature and prospective home buyers will certainly notice the addition when it’s time to see your home.

Filed Under: Gardening, Home Improvement Tagged With: Home, Water garden

Upgrade Your Yard by Installing a Water Garden

You know that sound a stream or river makes when you’re visiting the great outdoors? There is something about that ‘babbling’ brook sound that calms the nerves and makes every worry in the world seem to fade into the background.

By installing a water garden into your backyard, that same calm, peaceful feeling can be achieved all within the comfy confines of your own home.

Not only will the water garden upgrade the ambiance in your backyard, but birds and butterflies will inundate your living space, creating a much admired aviary right in your own backyard.

Sounds nice right, but there’s gotta be a catch like two weeks of back breaking manual labor or thousands of dollars to hire a professional for installation purposes.

Not necessarily!

Smaller water gardens can be installed by two people over the course of a weekend. If you’re handy with tools, that project can probably be accomplished within a day.

Couple things to be on the lookout during your pre-planning phase. For the very beginners, flexible liners are recommended. Do not just put plastic down, you need an actually liner that is supposed to be used for water gardens. Typical rule of thumb is, the thicker your liner is the longer it is going to last. Another thing to look for is the color of your liner! Over time, the natural light in your yard is going to degrade the liner so on your initial buy, look for a liner that has enhanced UV protection.

Not satisfied with a common pond? The internet is a great source for home improvement projects like water gardens. Whether it’s a fish pond or a waterfall, within minutes you should have access to some pretty good information and tips.

If there is one summer project that needs completing at your house this year, it’s the installation of a water garden.

Filed Under: Gardening, Home Improvement Tagged With: Garden, Water garden

Tips for An Indoor Water Garden

: Image by Englishpointer (9 days to Padstow) via Flickr

The first things that come to mind when a person thinks of a water garden is a huge area – perhaps an entire backyard – transformed into a water garden. These areas of usually large areas of land that are devoted to the use of a water garden. The garden will be filled with dozens of different water plants, fish, bridges and even water fountains. However, water gardens don’t always have to be so large. There are plenty of water gardens that are perfect for indoor use and are a bit smaller.

Whether you are considering apartments for rent in Atlanta or downsizing to a smaller house, there is no reason you should do without a water garden. Follow some of these tips and you’ll soon have a manageable indoor water garden.

Here are some tips on how to keep an indoor water garden manageable so that it doesn’t over take the whole apartment or small living space.

Small Container. You don’t have to pick a really small container but you will have to be realistic about the size. Make sure that you measure out the space you will be using and just how much room you want to devote to an indoor water garden. From there you can choose which type of container will best fit that space.

Wheeled Cart Option. Many people who have water gardens indoor consider using a wheeled cart that allows you to move the water garden around. Wheeled carts are very convenient for those who are building water gardens in apartments and might need to move it around from time to time.

Plant Choice. Consider plants that won’t grow out of control. Some plants will grow quickly and be out of control before you know it, others will grow slowly and take some time. Take this into account when choosing plants for your indoor water garden.

Filed Under: DIY, Gardening, Home Improvement Tagged With: Garden, Water, Water garden

Unwind with an Aquatic Garden Pool

: Image via Wikipedia

Take a Break in your own Water Garden

You know you need a vacation, and the stress of work is making your muscles so tight, something is going to snap. Not everyone can afford to just take off from their job, but you could create a place that makes you feel as if you’ve gone on a holiday. You need a quiet–soothing place right outside your home–where you can unwind and enjoy some peace and tranquility. You won’t need a green thumb or lots of time for gardening if you put in a water garden. Imagine a trickling stream from a waterfall right in your yard. Now picture the hummingbirds, butterflies and birds that will grace the fragrant blooms and pond.

Garden and Statuary Supplies

If you’re ready to get started, make your first stop to the do-it-yourself home center down the street. You’ll have lots of choices of statuary, ponds and waterfalls to fit anyone’s budget. Creating this oasis will take a little planning on your part as you pick a sunny location without trees that would drop leaves into your pond. Remember to find somewhere you’ll be able to see the water from your terrace, patio or windows of your home. You’ll want to capture every moment of the calming spirit of running water as you gaze out across the yard.

Be the Envy of your Friends

Choose a bog plant like King Tut to reach deep in your pond and anchor your floating flowers on top. A beautiful selection of waterlilies and lotus blooms will be both fragrant and pleasing to the eye. Now you’ll be the envy of your friends and neighbors who’ll tell you they must have their own garden pool of flowers and a moving fountain of water. Tell them to start at their local home center where they’ll find a selection to create their own water garden.

Filed Under: DIY, Gardening, Landscaping Tagged With: Flower, Water garden, Waterfall

History of Egyptian Water Gardens

: Image via Wikipedia

A long History of Garden Pools

Water garden flowers or aquatic plants date back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, India, Persia and China. Looking past the blooms natural beauty and fragrance, plants like the waterlily and the lotus were used during religious ceremonies, medicinal purposes and added to folklore. Water plants still remain in present-day horticulture in the world today, as they are cultivated and admired all over the world.

Waterlilies and Lotus Flowers

It was the ancient Egyptians who discovered the many benefits of the lotus as a food source. The sun-dried roots were mashed into flour and baked in bread. Lotus petals were found in the tomb of Ramses II, which may suggest what an important part of the Egyptians life, the plant had been 5,000 years ago. From hieroglyphics, historians say the lotus flower would unfold the sun god, Ra, in their legend of creation. Egyptian art shows the white lotus (Nymphaea) and the blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) throughout the centuries of their history. On Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s body, blue lotus petals were found during the excavation in 1922. During his time, the blue lotus was considered a health tonic with hallucinatory effects.

Hummingbirds and Butterflies

No wonder people today regard water gardens as a restful, beautiful oasis to be shared with loved ones in their own backyards. If you’re planning on creating a waterfall, fountain, pond or stream, start at your local do-it-yourself home center. You’ll find aisles of statuary fountains, helpful experts and friendly advice for installation. In no time at all, you’ll be sitting on your terrace or patio, admiring the hummingbirds, butterflies and birds that grace your new water garden. Relax, you’ve chosen floating and bog plants for your pond for their beauty, no need for any real gardening. So enjoy and be the envy of your friends and neighbors.

A long History of Garden Pools
Water garden flowers or aquatic plants date back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, India, Persia and China. Looking past the blooms natural beauty and fragrance, plants like the waterlily and the lotus were used during religious ceremonies, medicinal purposes and added to folklore. Water plants still remain in present-day horticulture in the world today, as they are cultivated and admired all over the world.
Waterlilies and Lotus Flowers
It was the ancient Egyptians who discovered the many benefits of the lotus as a food source. The sun-dried roots were mashed into flour and baked in bread. Lotus petals were found in the tomb of Ramses II, which may suggest what an important part of the Egyptians life, the plant had been 5,000 years ago. From hieroglyphics, historians say the lotus flower would unfold the sun god, Ra, in their legend of creation. Egyptian art shows the white lotus (Nymphaea) and the blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) throughout the centuries of their history. On Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s body, blue lotus petals were found during the excavation in 1922. During his time, the blue lotus was considered a health tonic with hallucinatory effects.
Hummingbirds and Butterflies
No wonder people today regard water gardens as a restful, beautiful oasis to be shared with loved ones in their own backyards. If you’re planning on creating a waterfall, fountain, pond or stream, start at your local do-it-yourself home center. You’ll find aisles of statuary fountains, helpful experts and friendly advice for installation. In no time at all, you’ll be sitting on your terrace or patio, admiring the hummingbirds, butterflies and birds that grace your new water garden. Relax, you’ve chosen floating and bog plants for your pond for their beauty, no need for any real gardening. So enjoy and be the envy of your friends and neighbors.

Filed Under: Gardening, History, Landscaping Tagged With: Ancient Egypt, Garden, Water garden

Choose a Water Garden

: Image by brewbooks via Flickr

Tropical or Rain Garden?

Now that you’ve decided to install a water garden into your outdoor living space, it’s time to choose what type of plants you desire. There are a variety of gardens that all require anywhere from light gardening to time consuming gardening. From King Tut bog plants that grow deep roots in your pond to stabilize the floating flowers above, to the waterlilies and lotus blooms that gently glide on top of the water. A rain garden requires a great deal of water, as does a tropical garden, so consider your regions abundance of water before making your choice.

Have a Plan and get Help

A good plan is to visit your local do-it-yourself home center where knowledgeable help and a range of fountains, ponds and waterfalls will be found. Consider the size of the space available and make sure to pick a bright, sunny spot with no trees that will drop their leaves into the pond. Once you install the components, you’re ready to set your plants into the water and surrounding soil. Colorful blooms will entice hummingbirds, butterflies and birds to your sanctuary, so try a variety around the pond. When you’re ready, turn on the water to gently flow and trickle across the stones of your waterfall. Now breathe in the sweet fragrance.

Enjoy the Butterflies and Fragrance

Now’s the time to invite friends, family and neighbors over–you’ll never tire of their excitement and desire to have an oasis of their own. Just send them to the home center to chose their own waterfall, pond and lovely flowers. You may consider adding ornamental fish or other water creatures, but check with your new friends at the home center for a filter and water conditions first. You’ve done such a good job, who needs a vacation–just step outside and experience the wonder of nature.

Tropical or Rain Garden?
Now that you’ve decided to install a water garden into your outdoor living space, it’s time to choose what type of plants you desire. There are a variety of gardens that all require anywhere from light gardening to time consuming gardening. From King Tut bog plants that grow deep roots in your pond to stabilize the floating flowers above, to the waterlilies and lotus blooms that gently glide on top of the water. A rain garden requires a great deal of water, as does a tropical garden, so consider your regions abundance of water before making your choice.
Have a Plan and get Help
A good plan is to visit your local do-it-yourself home center where knowledgeable help and a range of fountains, ponds and waterfalls will be found. Consider the size of the space available and make sure to pick a bright, sunny spot with no trees that will drop their leaves into the pond. Once you install the components, you’re ready to set your plants into the water and surrounding soil. Colorful blooms will entice hummingbirds, butterflies and birds to your sanctuary, so try a variety around the pond. When you’re ready, turn on the water to gently flow and trickle across the stones of your waterfall. Now breathe in the sweet fragrance.
Enjoy the Butterflies and Fragrance
Now’s the time to invite friends, family and neighbors over–you’ll never tire of their excitement and desire to have an oasis of their own. Just send them to the home center to chose their own waterfall, pond and lovely flowers. You may consider adding ornamental fish or other water creatures, but check with your new friends at the home center for a filter and water conditions first. You’ve done such a good job, who needs a vacation–just step outside and experience the wonder of nature.

Filed Under: DIY, Environment, Gardening, Landscaping Tagged With: Home, Pond, Water garden

Hanging Water Gardens

: Image by herrolm via Flickr

Ancient Gardens

You may not want to create anything as elaborate as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with tiers of trees, plants and cascading water. That garden was considered one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and joined the wealthy Romans, Chinese and Europeans for their own version of the water garden. If you’ve been dreaming of trickling water over river stones that flow past colorful blooms of lotus and waterlilies, you aren’t alone. Thousands of people everyday make the decision to add a simple or extensive garden with water as the focal point.

Planning Your Water Garden

Water is life-giving, soothing and for centuries major civilizations used their gardens for religious ceremonies and storage of fresh fish. With some advice from your friendly do-it-yourself home center, you can make a center of attraction in your outdoor living space in a weekend. Choose from a variety of pre-made pools, statuary and waterfalls then combine them with your own personal touch for the perfect oasis. You and your family will enjoy this slice of heaven for years to come, as hummingbirds, butterflies and birds–attracted to the flora–come grace your garden.

Enjoying Ornamental Fish

You’ll enjoy choosing the fragrant floating waterlilies and lotus flowers in different colors, then use a bog plant like King Tut to anchor long roots into your pool. If you’re concerned about the gardening, you’ll be thrilled to learn there is very little to do but enjoy your waterfall and pool. Ornamental fish like koi and goldfish are charming as they bob up and down to gulp air from the surface. Remember to get advice about the water treatment, filter and pump to make the best home for your new arrivals. Now invite your friends and neighbors over for a BBQ and get ready for the compliments!

Ancient Gardens
You may not want to create anything as elaborate as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with tiers of trees, plants and cascading water. That garden was considered one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and joined the wealthy Romans, Chinese and Europeans for their own version of the water garden. If you’ve been dreaming of trickling water over river stones that flow past colorful blooms of lotus and waterlilies, you aren’t alone. Thousands of people everyday make the decision to add a simple or extensive garden with water as the focal point.
Planning Your Water Garden
Water is life-giving, soothing and for centuries major civilizations used their gardens for religious ceremonies and storage of fresh fish. With some advice from your friendly do-it-yourself home center, you can make a center of attraction in your outdoor living space in a weekend. Choose from a variety of pre-made pools, statuary and waterfalls then combine them with your own personal touch for the perfect oasis. You and your family will enjoy this slice of heaven for years to come, as hummingbirds, butterflies and birds–attracted to the flora–come grace your garden.
Enjoying Ornamental Fish
You’ll enjoy choosing the fragrant floating waterlilies and lotus flowers in different colors, then use a bog plant like King Tut to anchor long roots into your pool. If you’re concerned about the gardening, you’ll be thrilled to learn there is very little to do but enjoy your waterfall and pool. Ornamental fish like koi and goldfish are charming as they bob up and down to gulp air from the surface. Remember to get advice about the water treatment, filter and pump to make the best home for your new arrivals. Now invite your friends and neighbors over for a BBQ and get ready for the compliments!

Filed Under: DIY, Gardening, Home Improvement, Technique Tagged With: Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Water garden

Care for Water Garden Fish

: Image via Wikipedia

Keeping goldfish, koi and other ornamental fish species is a natural part of keeping your water garden. They offer an appeal as pets, and they are also a large part of the water garden or pond ecosystem. If you want to maintain good health in your fish, you are going to want to take some basic precautions. You must keep the right number of fish for your pond size, you must feed them properly, and you must monitor the chemistry and temperature of the water. Backyard water gardens are not natural environments, and so you are going to be responsible for governing the conditions of this space.

The stocking level for your pond is going to be absolutely critical to maintaining good health in your fish. If you have too many fish, the level of oxygen will be decreased and the additional fish waste is going to lead to a build up in nitrites and ammonia. Your fish load can generally vary based on what level of filtration you have. If the filter is undersized, then you are not going to be able to keep as many fish. On the other end of the spectrum, if you have an oversized filter you may be able to keep additional fish. If you have an average-sized water garden filter then your stocking level will vary based on the surface area for your pond.

If you have any doubts about how many fish you can reasonably keep in your pond, speak to an expert where you buy your fish or your pond supplies for assistance. The experts and specialists there will be able to help you find the right number of fish for your unique needs, and will make sure that you are making the right decisions about keeping fish in your outdoor water garden.

Filed Under: DIY, Gardening, Technique Tagged With: Fish, Garden, Home, Koi, Plant, Pond, Water, Water garden

Water Garden Tips

Pond owners can enjoy and environment full of relaxation with the help of a water garden. These gardens open many areas of beauty for a new gardener who has never delved into this activity before. Most garden owners become completely obsessed with their water garden because of the unlimited beauty it brings. The following are some tips when collecting your garden:

Consider the early morning sun when gathering your garden. It is also important to note that, at the beginning stages, too much sun exposure will result in green water difficulty.

Look for ways to prevent external particles from falling into the pond such as dust particles, streams of chemical and leaves. When these elements get into the pond they will contaminate, rot and expose the fish to illnesses.

Remember not to stock the pond right away. The water should be allowed to rest for up to seven days especially if the pond is filled from with tap water. This will help allow the chlorine to settle down.

Try not to begin with stocking the pond/pool with fish. The pond should first be stocked with submerged oxygenated plants. This will allow the plants roots to become completed dunked. When the fish are stocked in the pond first, the fish will allow the plants to expand which may, as a result, cause problems. However, beginning with the plants will limit the amount of algae production. Additionally, the plants will serve to provide adequate amounts of shade for the water because the daylight that reaches the water will be hid, thus thwarting the green water effect.

Getting involved with a water garden may not only be therapeutic but can be fun for the entire family so through on your jeans and roll up the sleeve of your outfits from True Religion and start having fun.

Filed Under: DIY, Gardening, Landscaping, Technique Tagged With: Pond, Water, Water garden

Notes on Choosing Garden Pond Plants

How to add Value to Your Home With the Addition of a Water Garden

Upgrade Your Yard by Installing a Water Garden

Tips for An Indoor Water Garden

Unwind with an Aquatic Garden Pool

History of Egyptian Water Gardens

Choose a Water Garden

Hanging Water Gardens

Care for Water Garden Fish

Water Garden Tips

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