Create a Beautiful Bog Garden

When to Start: Anytime
At Its Best: Summer
Time to Complete: 2 days

Materials Needed:

• garden hose
• pond liner
• bricks
• gravel
• well-composted organic matter
• topsoil

• perforated hose
• scissors
• rake
• garden fork
• shovel
• bog plants

Dig Out Border

Next to your pond or other suitable area, use a garden hose to make a curved and natural outline for your bog garden. Dig it out to a depth of about 24 inches and set the soil aside.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How To Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Place Liner and Stabilize

Lay the liner in the hole and push it into the corners. To hold it in place, overlap the edges of the hole with at least 12 inches of liner, and weigh it down with bricks. Make sure the liner isn't pulled tight or else it could rip when filled.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How To Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Perforate Liner With Fork

Although you want the soil in your bog garden to be moist, it shouldn't be completely saturated or it will lack oxygen, which is vital for healthy plant roots. To provide some drainage, pierce the liner with a garden fork at 3-foot intervals.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How To Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited