Water Gardens Can Flow Into Anyone’s Backyard

There’s something therapeutic and relaxing about gardens in general, but the sound of running water can heighten the allure of any garden retreat.

Water gardens are enjoying incredible popularity in homelandscaping plans these days. The benefits, water gardeners will tell you, include some help in drowning out neighborhood noise pollution and in setting a relaxing mood.

Water gardens don’t have to be large, expensive pools filled with exotic plants. You can set your own price parameters, but count on spending at least $50 for the basics, according to Michel Ravaz of Northern Water Gardens in Minneapolis.

Here’s his advice on how to create your backyard water garden for about 50 bucks:

Any container can work as long as it’s large enough and deep enough to look and work right. Containers the size of half whiskey barrels are excellent choices (but if you use a wooden barrel, it must be lined, and that will cost you more money).

Then, place bricks on the bottom of the container to function as stands for the plants. Next, you’ll need an aquarium pump, which costs about $15, and some clear plastic tubing (available at hardware stores) to connect to the pump. Don’t forget an “L” fitting to tighten on the end of the tubing to help direct the water over the stones.

Place the pump in the bottom of the container and pull the hose up through flat stones that you lay across the back third of the container. Place the water plants on top of the bricks, so that each plant container is submerged about 4 inches.

As for plant choices, Ravaz suggests: water iris, pickerel rush, water hyacinth, parrots feather, taro and thalia, as well as several other exotic varieties.

Placing some houseplants around the outside of the container can enhance the look, and sinking the arrangement into the ground will give it a more natural feel.