| Water Gardens | | | | by eating insects. |
| | | | |
| The placement of your water garden is your | | | | Algae is one of the primary problems |
| most important decision. You'll want to | | | | encountered by water gardeners, and it's |
| choose a spot that gets as much sunlight as | | | | often brought about by over fertilizing water |
| possible, generally away from trees or bushes | | | | plants or feeding fish too much or too often. |
| that shed their leaves, because most plants | | | | For many years, people in England have used |
| and fish require a fair amount of sunlight to | | | | barley straw to help reduce the amount of |
| thrive, and deciduous trees and shrubs can | | | | string and filament type algae, but it may |
| make keeping your water element a chore in | | | | not work in every situation. If you |
| the fall. | | | | experience algae problems--and you probably |
| | | | will--pay close attention to the feeding |
| You're only limited by your budget, the size | | | | regime of both your fish and your water |
| of your space, and your imagination, but | | | | plants. |
| always bear in mind that your water garden | | | | |
| will require a certain amount of maintenance, | | | | To keep your water oxygenated and fresh, |
| which you'll have to do if you want your | | | | you'll need a pond pump and filter, which can |
| garden to continue to look great. If you | | | | also help reduce insect and algae problems. |
| incorporate fish into your garden scheme, | | | | Water plants also remove nutrients from the |
| they'll also need to be fed as part of your | | | | water that could create pollution problems. |
| routine maintenance program. | | | | Some good plants include water hyacinths, |
| | | | water violets, and water crowfoot, if you |
| If you use aquatic plants in your water | | | | bear in mind that they tend to reproduce |
| garden, only cover about half the surface of | | | | vigorously and can quickly take over a pond. |
| the water. It will allow you to see your | | | | |
| ornamental fish underneath. You may also want | | | | Like all gardens, water gardens require a |
| to plant flowers around the edge of your | | | | certain amount of care, but the results can |
| pond, and there are some plants that will | | | | give you years of pleasure. |
| actually add oxygen to the water, which is | | | | |
| important, especially if you have fish in | | | | Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. |
| your pond. Fish can help keep the pond clean | | | | |