Water gardening has become more popular than ever. To build a pond, start by digging a hole, then lay down pond liner and place rocks around the edges to create a natural look.
Adding plants to the water is the key to avoiding algae problems. It's important to cover at least 60 percent of the water's surface with plants such as water lilies, water hyacinths and oxygenating plants, which actually filter the water to help keep it clean.
Which plants do you choose? If you want to create a Japanese feel, try dwarf conifers with minimum color. Or you could try alpine plants. For this project, to coordinate with the rest of garden, host Rebecca Kolls chooses a lot of different plants that bring in color, texture and height. The garden already has a lot of rock, so she wants to soften the rock with groundcovers that will cover the rock to add a nice soft touch. The pond has a lot of exposed black plastic, so she also selects plants that will drape over the plastic and hide that as well. To add height, she chooses some conifers, crimson fountain grass (Pennisetum rubrum) and Siberian iris; the latter is a bog-loving plant.
Now it's time to get those hands dirty. To begin, look for empty spaces between the rocks where you can dig a hole for the plants. Be sure not to dig through any pump tubing. Plant the larger plants first. For this project, a dwarf Alberta Spruce is not only an anchor for the design, but it also adds height and texture. Once it is in the hole, fill in around the shrub with well-amended soil. Then, keep adding taller plants around the water. Plant in groups of three because it looks more random and natural.
Other good plants to use around ponds, especially those with a lot of rock, include some of the sedums and hen-and-chicks. They add a variety of color. Some are tight and low growing, while others are more leggy. They do great in full sun and help soften the rocks by growing right around them. Make sure they're in well-drained soil, not next to the pond because they are definitely not a bog plant. Carefully pull apart the sedum to make it easy to wrap around a rock. Also, adding pea gravel around these plants not only creates a more natural look, it hides the exposed black plastic. Rebecca plants some grasses, including low-growing blue fescue, around the pond.
With the area around the pond planted, it's time to tackle the upper stream area. She chooses lobelia for the outer edges; this low-growing annual adds color and is perfect for draping over the pond liner. Yellow Dahlberg daisies are another good choice for a splash of color.
When all of the plants are in place, the next step is to add mulch to help prevent the soil from eroding away. It protects the plants and provides a finished look. Cocoa bean mulch is one of Rebecca's favorites. Put a thin layer around the plants and add it to any bare spots of soil. Not only does this mulch look good, it smells terrific and helps condition the soil. Mulching of any kind helps retain moisture and keep the weeds away. Be sure to water all of your plants regularly to get them up and growing.
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