What is a water garden?
A water garden which is also known as an aquatic garden is a type of a man-made feature hosting a great place for garden pond plants and other perennials. Water gardens can be defined as any exterior or interior landscape or architectural element whose major purpose is to display, house or propagate a particular aquatic plant variety. The primary focus is on koi pond plants but at times, they can be used to house ornamental fish which may feature in the pond.
Constructing a waterfall, koi pond, or other landscape water feature is a great investment for any property. When constructed correctly, water features can add tranquility and value to any property – residential or commercial. The sounds of water flowing freely, the greenery brought on by the beauty of a water garden, and the pleasure of owning koi fish, all bring delight to ourselves and customers renting the property. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end – or at least a subtle halt while your water feature is to be assessed and repaired effectively for any leak.
Water gardens can be similar to aquaponic systems used to generate fish nutrients for the aquatic plants
Water gardening is a type of gardening which deals with the growing of aquatic plants adapted to the pools and ponds. Even though water gardens can be any size or depth, they are mostly small and shallow. They generally measure less than 20 inches in depth. This is supported by the fact that most aquatic plants are depth sensitive and need a specific depth of water in order to grow. The surface area and depth is determined by the species inhabiting the water garden.
Space required for your water garden
The average water garden measures about 11 feet wide by 16 feet or about 2000 gallons. They can also be as small as 6 feet by 8 feet or about 550 gallons. You should have 2 to 3 feet of landscape bed area around the pond for flowers and plants. Koi ponds and water gardens can take up considerably more space than that of a pondless waterfall or rock column fountain. We recommend hiring an experienced pond service provider to walk you through the difference between using a rubber liner vs cement, and how to best build your water feature based on the dynamics of your landscape as not all properties are the same.
Pond Safety
It is recommended that a water garden should have a minimum depth of 24″. A depth of 30″ is better since it provides more area for fish to winterize in the pond. Original content source koipros.com – This also provides a deeper area for fish to retreat in case a predatory bird comes into the pond. The first ledge of the pond is mostly 8-12″ in depth. This is meant to provide a shallow area around the ponds perimeter. This is shown in the water garden cross section on the following page.
Water Garden Cost
Water gardens are considered the most costly water option. A water garden installed professionally will range from $2,500-$75,000. This will depend on the size and type of rockwork. Considering the additional benefits and enjoyment of fish and aquatic plants, then a water garden is worth your investment. Yes we’ve had customers with pond builds over $250,000 – we realize not everyone has this budget, but in order to build what should be considered as a “custom fish tank”, with proper filtration and all – a typical budget of $10,000 – $30,000 would be good for a cement pond with decent filtration (similar to the cost of a Jacuzzi)
Maintaining your Pond with Aquatic Plants
It is very easy to maintain a water garden. The maintenance will only take 15 minutes a week. You will have to clean the net and mat found inside the skimmer once every 10-14 days. This will only take you 5 minutes. Apart from the regular maintenance of the skimmer, add beneficial bacteria to the pond every week. One of the best things about water gardens is the fact that a variety of plants can grow in them. The most sought out aquatic plant is the water lily. What makes them a very good choice because they spread across the ponds and flower throughout the season. The Lily pads provide a shade to the pond from the heat of the sun during summer. This allows the fish use their leaves as shelter.
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