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Aquatecture
Adding water features to your yard and garden
by Jason Miller

"Whenever I find myself growing grim . . . then, I account it high time to get to sea."
– Herman Melville, Moby Dick

Resources Half-Barrel Pond Tips

Plants Plants–especially flowering plants–make a half-barrel pond pleasing to view. The following four types of plants are desirable for a balanced ecosystem: Pygmy water lilies, hardy or tropical Oxygenating plants (anacharis, milfoil) Floating plants (water hyacinth, water lettuce, duckweed) Bog or marginally tall accent plants (rushes, canna, horsetail, lobelia, reeds, cattails) Snails Snails are the cleanup crew in a pond. Frequently, snails will accompany the plants you buy for your pond. Consult with aquaria store personnel if you wish to purchase snails to populate your pond. Certain snails, such as apple snails, will consume your plants, and are not necessarily recommended for planted barrel ponds. Fish While plants make a pond pleasing to view, fish add an element of fun. Even if no fish are desired, one type of fish is almost mandatory, and that is the mosquito fish (gambusia). (Mosquito fish can usually be obtained free from your local mosquito abatement program.) A few small mosquito fish will prevent your pond from becoming an insect breeding ground, and will not require feeding or mechanicals. One or two small goldfish can also serve this purpose. It is not wise to put koi in a half-barrel pond. They need more room and they devour plants. Do not put fish in your barrel until the water has "aged" for two to four weeks; that is, until the beneficial bacteria have had time to get established, or, alternatively, you can hurry the process by adding liquid or dried bacteria purchased from a pet store. Generally, a pond will support one inch of fish for every five gallons of water without requiring oxygenation or filtration. If you see your fish "gasping" at the top of the water (low oxygenation), or if you intend to put a lot of fish in a small space, then your pond will require mechanical filtration and aeration. Note: I have been informed by various sources that combining mosquito fish and goldfish can be fatal to the goldfish. The reasoning behind this is that the fast, energetic mosquito fish will deprive the goldfish of food and they may even disable the goldfish through aggression. However, my small ponds contain both mosquito fish and goldfish, some for three years now, and the goldfish are thriving and have produced offspring. Perhaps the problem only occurs when the mosquito fish population far outnumbers the goldfish population. (I keep only two goldfish and a few mosquito fish in each barrel.) Equipment Rollin' Stone Products (manufactures "Rock-on-a-Roll," a variegated-rock-colored liner that hides black liners) Pond filtration Flora and fauna LilyBLOOMS Lilypons Water Gardens Maryland Aquatic Nurseries Waterford Gardens Advice and more Water Gardening Magazine Deborah Simpson Arm Chair Gardner (click on "pond tour") Jeff Cook's Half-Barrel Pond Page Eric's Half-Whiskey-Barrel Pond Page

Water–especially captured water–is a thing of beauty. Perhaps that is why it so appeals to homeowners, coaxing them to add water features to their gardens and landscapes. Water features can range from simple birdbaths to complex waterways that tumble along carefully planned courses, or sprawling ponds with graceful fountains rising from their centers. No matter what form the water takes, however, the outcome is usually the same: it calms; it quiets; it creates a liquid island of tranquility in the backyard.

Why water?
Water's aesthetic appeal is obvious, yet elusive. On an intellectual level, we know what water is; we can name its chemical makeup, define it by its properties. Beyond that, we have a hard time explaining what it really is, why it feels the way it does, why it soothes us. Instead we find ourselves talking about the sound of water as it moves, our reflections as we stare into a still pool. We simply accept its therapeutic qualities the same way birds and smaller creatures accept them. And we imagine how we can add water to our backyard panorama.

Start small
If you've been thinking about introducing a water feature to your landscape, don't be daunted by the images of man-made lakes gracing mammoth backyards. You can incorporate small-scale features into your landscape design with very little effort and money. Anything that holds water can become a water feature.

A birdbath is a logical and inexpensive place to start. Keep the water fresh and in full view, and soon your yard will be teeming with feathered life! If you live in a colder clime, you might consider purchasing a small heater specifically designed to keep birdbath water from freezing during frigid winters. Contact your local birding store for more information.

From the birdbath, you could move to a self-contained, circulating water feature in any shape you desire. These types of water features are the epitome of easy setup and low maintenance. Buy the product, fill the reservoir and plug in the cord. Small bowls filled with rocks and water can be placed on deck posts and left to bubble pleasantly. Wall fountains can hang from brick or wood privacy structures, spilling a silver stream from a lion's mouth or a cherub's pot.

Another popular container used to create low-cost water features is the whiskey-barrel planter. Look for these in garden centers, nurseries and lumberyards. They are made from real whiskey barrels that have been cut in half through their mid-sections. You can purchase a plastic liner that is sized to fit the barrel or use a flexible PVC liner instead (two layers are recommended). Some folks forgo the liner; they fill the barrel with water and wait for the staves to swell, which seals off small cracks. Small holes, on the other hand, will need to be plugged with cork or a resin sealer.

When the whiskey barrel is watertight, it's time to add the water. Since most municipalities treat their water with either chlorine or chloramine, it is a good idea to use an additive that breaks down these chemicals. If your water is treated with chlorine alone, simply allow the water to sit for 24 to 48 hours, until the chlorine evaporates.

Bigger water
If you have the space and the inclination (not to mention the cold, hard cash!), you may decide to add an even larger water feature. Some homeowners choose ponds with waterfalls tumbling into them; some dig channels and create short runs of moving water that resemble actual rivers–complete with boulders and ridges that allow the water to cascade down their faces. While the cost of such ambitious waterways can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, the end result is usually downright breathtaking.

Basic needs
Almost every water feature of any size requires a number of parts to make up the watery whole. You will need a plan of attack, which will vary depending on the size and complexity of your project. A smaller water feature might require only a general idea of what you want to accomplish. If your imagination calls for a more involved creation, you will probably need to sketch a plan that takes into account existing topography and landscaping.

You will need a liner for your water feature, whether it be a rigid, preformed piece that fits into a whiskey-barrel planter, or a large, rubbery sheet designed to cover the hole or ditch you've dug for your pond or "river." If you've done any digging, place a few inches of sand in the hole before you lay down your liner.

Adding a pump is a good idea. The pump keeps the water moving (for visual interest) and aerates the water (to reduce surface algae). Choose a pump that circulates between 1,000 and 3,000 gallons of water per hour. Very large water features will likely require a larger pump.

Filtration might not be necessary. If you plan to add fish, however, you will probably need a biological and/or mechanical filter to remove ammonia and debris. Keep in mind that if you have a healthy pond, the water will darken with algae. This is natural and normal–you're not creating a swimming pool!

Water flora
It's hard to imagine a water feature without plants. They soften pond edges and enliven even smaller features such as barrel ponds. One major caution: know which plants are considered aggressive in your region. For example, the water hyacinth multiplies rapidly. It's a lovely, low-maintenance plant, but if you include it in a smaller water feature, you'll find yourself thinning it frequently. Throw the extra hyacinth away; don't toss it in a natural waterway nearby. Because of its invasive nature, it might be considered an "exotic" and you may find yourself in breach of local laws.

Bearing that in mind, here is a short list of common plants you should consider for your water feature:

Water hyacinth Water lettuce Water lily Water celery Lotus Soft rush Pitcher plant Dwarf papyrus Cattail Water fauna Perhaps the best advice regarding wildlife and water features is that you should decide what you will include before you build your creation. If you want fish slowly tailing their way through your pond, plan for it by including the proper aeration and filtration systems in your "blueprint." Fish options include mosquito fish (so named because they eat mosquito larvae), koi and goldfish. You might also wish to include snails, toads or frogs for extra visual interest; the snails would serve as a natural cleanup crew. See the Resources sidebar for information on how to find the fauna that fits your feature. Your aquatecture options are virtually endless, but this is perhaps what is most enticing about creating a water feature. You can spend as little or as much time and money as you want, and still end up with a creation that captures, in a beautiful way, your own watery world.