It used to be that building a water garden was too difficult and expensive for the average homeowner. This is because concrete — expensive and difficult to install — was the main material used in construction. Most people had little choice but to call professionals for planning and installation, which made it a very expensive undertaking.

But now you can install a backyard pond using practical and comparatively inexpensive materials such as PVC and fiberglass. This brings the cost down dramatically and also makes installation much easier. You no longer have to make forms or mix concrete; all you have to do is dig out the hole and place the pre-made liner.

How much space is required for a small water garden?

In my opinion, there’s ALWAYS space for a pond. Perhaps as a water gardening enthusiast, I’m a little biased! But really, there are lots of examples of beautiful ponds that take up very little space.

Even the tiniest yards have room for some sort of water garden. I’ve known people who have raised goldfish and a single dwarf water lily in a ceramic pot on a balcony.

Where can I put a small water garden?

It depends what you want your pond to achieve for you. If it is just to be a reflecting pond, or a waterfall – and you don’t intend to grow flowering aquatic plants – then you can put your pond just about anywhere.

But if your goal is to grow flowering plants such as water lilies, you need to consider the amount of light that your pond gets. You see, most water lilies and other flowering pond plants require at least six hours of full sun per day to bloom. So you will need to place your pond in a place that gets that much sun during the growing season.

How deep does a home water garden need to be?

Like so many other issues in designing a water garden, it depends on what you want to achieve. If all you want is a simple reflecting pool, you’ll need only a few inches of water. But if you want to include plants and fish in your pond, I would recommend at least 18 inches of water for best results. This is because a shallow pond is more likely to freeze in winter, which could kill living organisms such as plants and fish.

As a general rule, to overwinter plants and fish in cold climates you need to have at least part of the pond to a depth of three feet so that the plants and fish have an unfrozen place to go.

What else should be considered when designing a small water garden?

You also need to consider the topography of the site when planning your small water garden. Don’t put it in the lowest part of your yard, because all the run-off of rainwater will collect there. Then your pond could overflow and you could have a flood in that part of your yard. It’s also important to ensure that wherever you put your pond, make sure that it has adequate drainage.

If you’re wanting a waterfall effect, it makes sense to site your pond in a place that has a steep slope. You can always create a slope by building up rocks and soil, but it’s a lot easier and less expensive if you start out with a natural slope.

Before starting any backyard project, be sure to check with your municipality concerning zoning laws and fencing codes. you might be surprised to learn that many cities and towns make no distinction between a water garden and a swimming pool. Therefore, security fencing may be required. Better safe than sorry.

Concluding thoughts…

A small water garden can be as simple as a barrel or ceramic pot. I’m sure that you will enjoy the variety of plant, bird, butterfuly and other animal life that is attracted to any water feature, no matter how small it is.

In this video Martha Stewart demonstrates how to make a home water garden in a container. Some of the main points she covers are:

1. Choose a waterproof container of any size or shape.

2. Select plants that are easily grown in indoor or outdoor water gardens.

3. Place potted plant in container, and cover with several inches of gravel to weigh down.

4. Fill container halfway with water using a slow hose or watering can.

5. Place in bright location, and keep water level consistent.

The plants that Martha discusses in the video include:

Umbrella Papyrus (Cyperus involucratus)
Umbrella papyrus, which has slender grasslike leaves that fall like an umbrella, can grow to 10 feet tall.

Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta)
A tropical perennial, the elephant ear’s corm, or plant stem, is used for food but it must be cooked. It is also known as “taro” or “black magic” because of the dark purplish color on the leaves.

Blue Rush (Juncus patens ‘Carman’s Grey’)
Although it produces brown flowers, the blue rush’s tall, blue foliage makes it unique.

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
The water hyacinth, a free-floating perennial has roots that hang below water and a bulbous base that allows it to float. Its leaves are beautiful and shiny, and it produces lavender to pinkish flowers.

Resources
All the plants that Martha talked about are readily available at most gardening centres.