Tricia Edgar's Blog

Posted by Tricia Edgar

Water gardens are beautiful, but in these days of increased concern about water conservation, are they a thing of the past? Not necessarily.

Many conservation-oriented gardeners practise water-wise gardening. This practise involves choosing plants that work well in a particular garden space and in a particular area. For example, placing a fern in a bright, sunny location may cause it stress, since ferns often love moist, shady areas. Often, water wise gardening is just common sense. Native or indigenous plants are often a good choice, since they are well-adapted to the local environmental conditions. For example, in a desert climate gardeners can explore the wide variety of succulents and other plants that work well in dry places.

However, pond and wetland plants want water. How can gardeners accommodate the needs of the plants and reconcile this with the need to conserve water?

First, garden gadgets can be designed to conserve. Use solar, if possible. Purchase fountains and waterfalls that recycle and recirculate water, and place them in areas where the water won't evaporate on hot summer days. Purchase garden items specifically designed to conserve water, such as a rain barrel.

Got a small portion of the yard that is always soggy? Instead of placing a pond or a wetland garden in another area of the yard, put it in a wet spot. Or use swales and other landscaping techniques to create a slope in the yard that ends in a rain garden.

How about turning the home pond into a wetland to recycle water that has been gently used in the home? Industrial and municipal water systems now use wetland reeds and other plants to remove excess nutrients and heavy metals from water, making it useful for watering plants or even washing a car.

Water gardens don't need to use excessive amounts of water. In fact, they can create vital urban or suburban homes for animals and conserve, treat, and recycle water at the same time, becoming a star of the conservation-minded garden.

Posted by Tricia Edgar

Water gardens are a place of beauty, relaxation, and wonder. Dragonflies buzz around a pond, and birds play in the spray of a fountain. Even a small water feature in an urban area can bring wildlife to the garden.

How can those who love water gardens go easy on the planet this Earth Day, and every day?

Use Safe, Sustainable Methods of Pest Control

Gardening can sometimes be a frustrating endeavor, and it's tempting to find a spray that will solve garden pest problems. However, especially in a sensitive aquatic environment, try to go organic. Use pesticides that are natural and that allow wildlife to thrive in the garden. Hand pick weeds. Invite birds to the yard to eat insects, creating a natural predator-prey relationship in the water or wetland garden.

Attract Wildlife to the Garden

Playing host to a healthy garden ecosystem is a thrill. It's so exciting to watch birds visit and eat insects, butterflies pollinate the flowers, and dragonflies swoop down over the pond. Create quiet areas where frogs and salamanders can hide. Develop an understanding of the ecology of local wetland ecosystems and use the area around the pond as an extension of the pond. Create a small wetland or stream side garden, and this will attract even more diverse wildlife to the water garden.

Use Water Garden Features that Are Reused or Integrate Solar Power

There are many wildly creative water features available from local retailers, many of which integrate reused objects in an amusing and beautiful way. One in British Columbia, Canada is called Water Works Garden Art, and the owner integrates delightful elements such as old musical instruments in his water features.

Pond ornaments, fountains, and lights that incorporate solar power also reduce a pond's energy needs. Solar water features and fountains can run on their own power if they are placed in a sunny location.

Go easy on the earth, and watch as animals and plants thrive in the pond, wetland, or stream side garden.