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

treestrees– rootsroots– leavesleaves– debrisdebris

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

site selectionsite selection

purposepurpose

type of water featuretype of water feature

formalformal naturalnatural stream stream fountainfountain barrelbarrel waterfallwaterfall bogsbogs

type of water featuretype of water feature

formalformal

type of water feature type of water feature

naturalnatural

type of water feature type of water feature

stream stream

type of water feature type of water feature

fountainfountain

type of water feature type of water feature

barrelbarrel

type of water feature type of water feature

waterfallwaterfall

type of water feature type of water feature

bogsbogs

Rain GardensRain Gardenstype of water feature type of water feature

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 pondpond streamstream bogbog depthdepth measuringmeasuring

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

designdesign

layoutlayout draw it out ALL the WAYdraw it out ALL the WAY

constructionconstruction layoutlayout levelingleveling

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 paddingpadding

– 2 inches of sand2 inches of sand– geotextile geotextile

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 edgingedging

– paddingpadding levelingleveling

constructionconstruction fillingfilling

– watch the foldswatch the folds

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

Submerged Submerged PlantsPlants

Look at Look at the pet the pet store!store!

Emergent PlantsEmergent Plants

Cat tailsCat tails EquisetumEquisetum TaroTaro LotusLotus Water ChestnutWater Chestnut IrisIris ReedsReeds

Need More?Need More? Iris louisianaIris louisiana

Bog plantsBog plants

SundewsSundews PitchersPitchers

Odd Ball Plant collections

LiliesLilies

HardyHardy

TropicalTropical

Ready to go plants

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

OverviewOverview

animalsanimals maintenance maintenance problemsproblems

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

How does a Pond WorkHow does a Pond Work

WaterWater SedimentSediment AirAir

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

Green WaterGreen Water

What causes it?What causes it?

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

What causes it?What causes it?

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

LeaksLeaks

Is it?Is it? Patch ItPatch It

SkeetersSkeeters

Moving waterMoving water FishFish DunksDunks

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?