Adding a water feature to your garden is a beautiful way to enhance your yard. Unfortunately, many people think that a water feature has to cost a lot of money or take up a lot of space. Well, the next time you find yourself yearning for the peaceful serenity that water brings, consider planting a water garden in a container. All it takes is water, plants and a large pot, or a collection of smaller ones, to create a harmonious garden space. Container water gardening is a beautiful option for those with limited space and limited funds. So try this quick and easy project to add some pizzazz to your décor.

Select the right location

Ideally your container water garden should be placed in a place where you will enjoy it the most. Try placing it as a focal point on your patio or deck. The biggest advantage to a container garden is that if you don’t like its location you can move it to a more appropriate place. The most important thing to know is what sort of light requirements each of your plants need. If the plants you choose thrive in the sun then choose a sunny location. On the flip side, choose a shady spot for shade loving plants. Regardless of where you position your water garden try to avoid placing it directly under anything that may drop debris inside the container, such as a tree or bird feeder. This will only make for extra maintenance later on. Your water garden should also be close to an outside faucet or hose as it will be necessary to refill your container periodically as the water evaporates.

Selecting the right container

Truly, any size or shape container will serve your purposes. It really just depends on what is pleasing to your eye. Do you like terra cotta or is shiny metal more to your liking? The only containers you should really avoid are those made of wood, as they are prone to rotting. If you have your heart set on wood, however, line your container first with heavy gauge plastic or a commercial liner cut to fit. The size of your container depends on how many plants you plan on putting inside. Obviously, unlike with regular container gardening you don’t want any container with drainage holes. Make sure whatever you choose as your container, it is in sound condition and won’t leak over time.

Selecting the right plants

Clearly, a water garden requires plants that grow in water. There are a variety of these types of plants to choose from. There are floaters, which simply float on top of the water. They are also a good option in reducing algae formation in a water garden. Types of floaters include water hyacinth, and water lettuce. There are bog plants, which grow in shallow water. If you choose these plants make sure the water in the container doesn’t cover the soil. You can also place them on top of bricks or small rocks in your container to create a naturally shallow pool. Marginal plants are those plants, which like to be placed with 1 to 2 inches of their crown submerged under water. Some good choices for marginal pants include umbrella plants, rushes and papyrus, which do best when placed around the edges of a large container. Then there are deep-water plants like the beautiful and ever popular water lily. To grow these flowers successfully you will need an extra large container as they need to be submerged at least one foot of water above their root system. Water lilies will spread up to three feet or more so don’t put more than one in the same container. Water lilies are also a good choice in reducing algae growth. Whatever plants you select, do make sure that they all have similar light and growth requirements. Most will do well in partial sun/partial shady locations but do your homework before placing different plants together in the same environment. After you’ve selected the plants you’d like to use, fill your container with water and simply place potted plants inside your container…pots and all.

Extra Features

If your container is big enough you may want to consider adding some fish to your water garden. Fish add not only visual interest but also assist in maintaining a healthy ecosystem within the container by eating algae and mosquito larvae, often an unfortunate by product of any water feature. If you do decide to add fish, add them only after you’re plants have been established (about five weeks). Depending on the size of your container some good choices are guppies or goldfish.

Another option to add visual and auditory interest is to add a water pump. By placing a small pump in the bottom of your container and attaching it to a pipe and a fountain head you can circulate the water creating a very simple fountain feature. Since most water pumps run on electricity make sure you have access to an electrical outlet with a ground-fault circuit interrupter so as to avoid the risk of electrocution.

Water Garden Maintenance

The beauty of a water garden is that they require very little in the way of care and upkeep. Fertilize sparingly using a fertilizer specifically made for water plants. If you find your garden getting low on water, just top it off with the hose as needed. The biggest problem in maintaining a water garden is algae formation. Placing a variety of floater plants as well as submerged plants will greatly reduce this irritating problem. Another problem with water gardening are mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are naturally attracted to stagnant watery conditions and can be a real nuisance. By adding a "bubbler" to your container, you will keep the water moving. It is a good idea to drain your garden every couple of months, or as needed when pots start to look muddy. Carefully remove plants and scrub container thoroughly with a stiff brush. Then fill with water and place your plants in container once again. In colder climates, your water garden will need to come inside, as it won’t survive the cold temperatures.

I hope that you decide to try this project for yourself as it makes a lovely addition to any backyard landscaping. It's a fun project for the "do it yourselfer" and can easily be created in a day.