Building a Simple Water Garden (With a Preformed Liner)

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Rich Binsacca

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Water gardens add another layer of beauty and texture to any landscape.

Have you ever passed a stunning garden pond and imagined what it would be like to have one in your own back yard? When done properly, water gardens add a whole new wonderful layer of color, texture – and even sound – to the garden. Unfortunately, to many home gardeners, they can be a bit intimidating.

But fear the water garden no more! Constructing a small garden pond with the proper specialized plants and equipment is easier than you might think. (For starters, there are many kits available to help you.)

The main consideration for installing a water garden is that the pond liner be completely watertight and large enough to hold at least 25 gallons of water. Most commercial preformed liners satisfy this requirement, so it shouldn’t be much of a worry. It’s also recommended that a liner be at least 30 inches deep – something to keep in mind when making your product selections.

If the unique plants grown in a water garden make you nervous, don’t be afraid – they’re not as difficult to nurture as they may seem. While it’s true that aquatic and marsh plants like cattails, bulrushes and water lilies grow in a different environment than the rest of your garden plants, you just need to give them what they need, and they’ll be happy. It’s really not all that different from experimenting with land-dwelling plants.

Just remember, most water garden plants should be set in specially formulated aquatic soil (available wherever you buy your plants). The submersible pots should also be topdressed with a layer of washed gravel to filter the water and help control its flow into the pots. The gravel also adds some weight to keep the plants submerged in the pond – though many plants also need additional weighting.

It’s best to plant aquatics like water lilies (a blooming perennial) in late spring. This allows their broad leaves to grow and cover most of the water’s surface, protecting their roots from the sun’s heat and limiting the spread of water algae (which is less likely to grow when plant leaves block the water from excessive sunlight). Don’t forget other plants – like cattails, some grasses and trailers such as parrot feather. These beauties can add dimension, texture and unique colors to your water garden, and they’re fairly easy to maintain. Generally, water plants thrive in partial sun; they should be kept clear of falling leaves and other debris from overhead foliage.

Yes, building a healthy garden pond requires a bit more skill than potting a petunia. But when done properly, the effort is well-worth it and boasts major paybacks in satisfaction. Need a little installation guidance? The following pictures and captions show the steps to take when installing a simple pond garden with a rigid preformed liner. Once your pond is in place, partially filled, and the filter has cleared the water, position your potted plants gently and slowly into the pond. Add additional water as required to bring it to within 1-2 inches from the top of the liner. (If you plan to add fish, ask for expert advice before introducing them to your water garden. You’ll want to make sure it’s large enough to accommodate fish, and you’ll likely need to condition the water properly.)

Garden ponds provide an excellent focal point for paths and seating areas, as well as provide a calming retreat, complete with soothing sounds. Enjoy your new gardening adventure!

Warnings

Always watch your children and pets around water! Although a garden pond is not a swimming pool, curious minds can’t help themselves, and accidents can happen.
Some aquatic plants are invasive and known to be noxious weeds in some states. If you’re not sure what these plants are in your area, check with your local Cooperative Extension Service.
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Facts

Water lilies and fountains generally don’t get along. Splashing water on the flowers keeps them from opening properly and creates an unnatural situation for the lilies. If you really want these two features in your water garden, make sure your pond is big enough for the both of them.
All water features require regular cleanings and may need help should string algae become established. A number of nontoxic additives made of enzymes and freeze-dried bacteria that feed on algae help control these pesky problems and are safe for fish and amphibians.

Tips

Transition the container plants located near a water feature, fountain or pond, using species that are marsh natives such as cattails, hostas or ornamental grasses. This will give your garden pond and its surrounding area a more natural appearance.
Unless you live in southern Florida, you’ll probably need to replace floating plants annually in spring. Most of these aquatics are hardy only in semitropical areas.

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Next Steps

Articles

Water Gardening: Prepare to Plant
Now that you’ve installed your water feature, it’s time for the real fun to begin: adding your plants. While most aspects of planting aquatics are similar to planting other gardens, there are just enough differences to add a little extra interest and discovery.
Pond Pumps: Helping Your Water Garden Come Full-Circle
Big or small, a water feature is only as good as the pump that keeps it going. Taking the time to understand the purpose of the pump you need, as well as how to properly install it, is critical for a healthy, balanced and beautiful ecosystem.
Water Garden Plants
What’s a water garden without water plants? Here are a few aquatic recommendations to look for when stocking your water garden.

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