Post on 30-Dec-2015
transcript
Water GardeningWater Gardening
Frank ReillyPrince William County
Master GardenerVirginia Cooperative Extension
www.advancedmastergardener.org
OverviewOverview site selectionsite selection types of water featurestypes of water features designdesign constructionconstruction water qualitywater quality plant selectionplant selection Problem-SolvingProblem-Solving
– animalsanimals– maintenance maintenance – problemsproblems
site selectionsite selection viewing areaviewing area
– water gardens are water gardens are magnetsmagnets
– is it a private retreatis it a private retreat– is it a garden is it a garden
destinationdestination– is it a view from is it a view from
within the housewithin the house– is it a view from the is it a view from the
streetstreet
site selectionsite selection
safetysafety– water features are a magnetwater features are a magnet
warn your guests!warn your guests!
– public accesspublic access– avoid children's play areasavoid children's play areas– avoid underground utilitiesavoid underground utilities– weight and locationweight and location
site selectionsite selection
runoffrunoff– overflowoverflow– rapid temperature changesrapid temperature changes– excessexcess
debrisdebris nutrientsnutrients contaminantscontaminants
site selectionsite selection
sunlightsunlight– need 6 hoursneed 6 hours– smaller water gardens need more smaller water gardens need more
shadeshade
site selectionsite selection
power power small ponds need pumps and small ponds need pumps and
filters filters – want lightswant lights– remember GFI for safetyremember GFI for safety
and waterand water
type of water featuretype of water feature
formalformal naturalnatural stream stream fountainfountain barrelbarrel waterfallwaterfall bogsbogs
designdesign
slopeslope– rise over runrise over run– ponds must be flatponds must be flat– hills are great for waterfalls, or cascading pondshills are great for waterfalls, or cascading ponds
designdesign
liner materialsliner materials– flexible: PVC orflexible: PVC or– Rubber Rubber
specifically for pond use specifically for pond use no roofing materialno roofing material
rigidrigid
designdesign
layoutlayout depthdepth
– 2 feet to over winter2 feet to over winter– consider a shallow shelfconsider a shallow shelf– consider a beachconsider a beach
designdesign
layoutlayout depthdepth measuringmeasuring area x depth = volumearea x depth = volume
– but remember to convertbut remember to convert gallons = volume in inches x 231 or gallons = volume in inches x 231 or
volume in feet x 7.5volume in feet x 7.5 liters = volume in meters x 28.41liters = volume in meters x 28.41
construction construction diggingdigging watch for rocks and utilitieswatch for rocks and utilities Check the level!!!Check the level!!! ShelvesShelves LevelingLeveling
ConstructionConstruction
Plan your filtration systemPlan your filtration system Allow for skimmer or pump and filterAllow for skimmer or pump and filter
– WiringWiring– PlumbingPlumbing
constructionconstruction lininglining liner size liner size
– width of pond + 2 x depth + overhang (usually 2 feet)width of pond + 2 x depth + overhang (usually 2 feet)– length of pond = 2 x depth + overhanglength of pond = 2 x depth + overhang
constructionconstruction PlantingPlanting Watch the water temperatureWatch the water temperature Watch out for chlorineWatch out for chlorine
plant selectionplant selection floating plantsfloating plants submerged plantssubmerged plants emergent plantsemergent plants lilieslilies
– hardyhardy– tropicaltropical
bog plantsbog plants
Floating PlantsFloating Plants
Duck weed – Lemna Duck weed – Lemna spp.spp.
Useful – some consider Useful – some consider it a pest.it a pest.
Water LettucePistia stratioides
Water HyacinthEichorina crassipes
Ludwigia setioides
Marsilea mutica ‘Varietaga’water clover
Emergent PlantsEmergent Plants
Cat tailsCat tails EquisetumEquisetum TaroTaro LotusLotus Water ChestnutWater Chestnut IrisIris ReedsReeds
plantingplanting techniquestechniques
– natural bottom vs. pottednatural bottom vs. potted– tropicals vs. hardy plantstropicals vs. hardy plants
densitiesdensities– the more surface water you cover the less the more surface water you cover the less
algae you fightalgae you fight– and the less water you see or hearand the less water you see or hear
QuestionsQuestions
Turtles/snakes and birds Oh My!Turtles/snakes and birds Oh My! Green WaterGreen Water Cloudy WaterCloudy Water LeaksLeaks SkeetersSkeeters
animalsanimals VisitorsVisitors
– Design changes – Design changes – elevationelevation
– NettingNetting– Reality checkReality check
snailssnails– examine your plant examine your plant
materialmaterial FishFish
– goldfish koi othersgoldfish koi others– be careful with exotic be careful with exotic
speciesspecies
Water QualityWater Quality
Nutrients the most important issueNutrients the most important issue The source of most problems you The source of most problems you
hearhear
Algae GrowthAlgae Growth
WaterWater NutrientsNutrients LightLight The right temperatureThe right temperature
Green WaterGreen Water EmergencyEmergency
– Chemical FlocculationChemical Flocculation– DyesDyes– PoisonsPoisons
PatiencePatience Long TermLong Term
– Better practicesBetter practices Resignation-AdaptationResignation-Adaptation
– Give up or change the designGive up or change the design– PlantingPlanting
Cloudy WaterCloudy Water
EmergencyEmergency– FiltersFilters– FlocculationFlocculation
PatiencePatience PlantingPlanting DesignDesign
LeaksLeaks
Are you sure?Are you sure? Troubleshooting leaksTroubleshooting leaks
– WickingWicking– SpillingSpilling– PuncturesPunctures– Other damage – ANTS?Other damage – ANTS?
The Spring PondThe Spring Pond
Water warmsWater warms Nutrients releasedNutrients released Spring algae or diatom bloomsSpring algae or diatom blooms Most ornamental pond callsMost ornamental pond calls Don’t feed until 50 degreesDon’t feed until 50 degrees
The Summer PondThe Summer Pond
Warm waterWarm water StratificationStratification Nitrogen fluxNitrogen flux Pea soup and clouds don’t mixPea soup and clouds don’t mix
The Fall PondThe Fall Pond
Cooling waterCooling water De-stratificationDe-stratification Turn-overTurn-over Stop feeding at 50 degreesStop feeding at 50 degrees
The Winter pondThe Winter pond
Cold water Cold water Stock heater or pump to maintain Stock heater or pump to maintain
open gas exchangeopen gas exchange Watch out for external plumbingWatch out for external plumbing Never skate in VirginiaNever skate in Virginia
choreschores
– SpringSpring DredgingDredging ReplantingReplanting Pest ControlPest Control Population ControlPopulation Control
choreschores
– summersummer Algae ControlAlgae Control Mosquito ControlMosquito Control Filter MaintenanceFilter Maintenance FertilizationFertilization Population ControlPopulation Control Plant Clean-upPlant Clean-up
choreschores
– FallFall Leaf Control/removalLeaf Control/removal Filter MaintenanceFilter Maintenance Population ControlPopulation Control Stop FeedingStop Feeding
water qualitywater quality
aging and/or treatmentaging and/or treatment– chlorine in tap waterchlorine in tap water– water temperature of well waterwater temperature of well water
filtersfilters– typestypes
internal vs. externalinternal vs. external mechanical vs. biologicalmechanical vs. biological
– selectionselection
QuestionsQuestions
Should I run my pump all winter?Should I run my pump all winter? I’m scared of frogs how can I keep I’m scared of frogs how can I keep
them out?them out? What about tropical fish?What about tropical fish? My Plants won’t flower.My Plants won’t flower. My fish are all gone – what My fish are all gone – what
happened?happened?