Water Gardening in a Small City Yard

February 17, 2010

Gardening
Love water gardens but think you can?t have one in a small city lot? Think again! Some of the most charming water gardens are found in containers that don?t need much space at all.

Water lilies and water hyacinths grow just as well in a container as they do in large pools and ponds. Water plants do best when they receive five full hours of sun every day and shade in the late afternoons when the sun is most intense. Remember, though, that placing a container water garden under a deciduous tree will require protecting the container from falling leaves that can clog pumps and harm fish or plants during the autumn months.

Here are a few tips to help you get your water garden stared and established:

Easy access to your water supply is important, especially as the water level needs to be periodically replenished due to evaporation to keep the water level constant and plants healthy. If your water is chlorinated, let it sit in the container for at least 48 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate. Some cities use a more stable form of chlorine called chloramines; if this is true where you live, you will need to purchase a product designed to remove chloramines from a water garden supply store. You can use water for replenishing water stores without first removing the chlorine or chloramine, however.

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Garden Tip...

Seeds that are exceptionally fine, like those of Lobelias, Petunias, Ferns, and other very tiny seeds, ought never to be covered deeper than the sixteenth of an inch, with very fine soil sifted on them through a fine sieve; the soil should then be lightly patted down with the back of a shovel. This will prevent the seeds from shriveling before they start to germinate.
~ James Sheehan
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Any waterproof container that can hold at least four gallons of water can be used for a container water garden. Old wooden whiskey barrels cut in half are particularly popular right now, but be sure you line them with heavy gauge plastic to protect plants and fish from harmful substances the barrels may have absorbed. (Note: A container the size of a half whiskey barrel will provide room for only one water lily, but you can plant slender water grasses around the edges. Glazed pottery crocks and old cast iron bathtubs with feet also make great small water garden containers.
When choosing plants for your water garden, remember that tropical water lilies have larger blooms, are the most fragrant, bloom more frequently and come in more colors than do hardy lilies. They will, however, require storing in a cool but not cold space during the winter in colder climates. Plant tropical lilies when temperatures reach 75? during the day and 65? at night.
To plant your water plants, you will need to first place a layer of garden soil in the bottom of each pot, and then position your chosen plants at their recommended planting depth before continuing to fill each pot with soil and topping it with a layer of gravel about half an inch deep to hold the soil in place. Do not use potting soil mixes that contain fertilizers or chemicals, perlite or vermiculite. Water plants until soil is well saturated, then place them in the water garden container on bricks.

Don?t be afraid to use a little imagination when designing and creating your water garden in the city. There is no reason that you cannot have your little piece of heaven with the serene sound of flowing water in your urban garden.

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Garden Tip...

It is so easy to mow the lawn with the light-running modern lawn-mower, that many fine lawns are injured by too frequent mowings. We should not follow any set time for mowing, but be governed by the growth of the grass and the weather. When hot weather approaches, the grass should be cut less often, for too close cutting will expose the roots, and if the weather be dry and hot for a considerable period, the grass as a consequence will wither prematurely.
~ James Sheehan
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