WATER GARDENING

Learn all about Water Features in Gardening

Water used as a spine in the landscape- A river, stream or canal which flows through a garden creates a line around which the garden is developed. This can unify the components of the garden and direct a person's attention along the path it takes.

Water used as central focus- A small or large water feature (eg. fountain, pond, or bird bath) can be used as a feature at the centre of a garden, which draws the attention from all other parts of the garden. The area where the water is located can then be developed as the centre of activity in the garden.

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • Scope and nature of water gardens
   • What size water garden
   • Water supply: rain, tanks,etc
   • Water quality
   • Siting the water garden
   • Evapouration rate, water depth, safety
   • Water in garden design: formal, informal
   • Edging, Water sculptures, shade
   • Water effects: sound, reflection, movement, light, cooling,
   • Water life: algae, fish, mosquitos, wildlife, plants
2. Water Garden Construction
   • Introduction
   • Planning the water garden
   • What effect do you want
   • Matching the effect with the type of garden
   • Shape, size and location
   • Type of construction
   • Surrounds
   • Using a liner
   • Pre formed water gardens (Kits)
   • Pond edges
3. Equipment: Pumps, lights, filters
   • Submersible pumps
   • Lighting: power source, DC power
   • Lighting design with water
   • Pond filtration systems: sterile or living water
   • Mechanical or biological filtration
   • Swimming pool filtration
   • Sand filters
   • Diatomaceous earth filters
   • Cartridge filters
4. Ponds and Watercourses
   • Designing a natural watercourse
   • Siting a stream
   • Water circulation
   • Pond design
   • Dams
   • Bog gardens
   • Reed beds
   • Pond management
   • Oxygenating plants
5. Spas and Swimming Pools: Design and aftercare
   • Choosing a swimming pool
   • What sort of pool do you need
   • Structural considerations
   • Cost considerations
   • Types of pools: concrete, fibreglass, vinyl
   • Above or below ground
   • Pump and filtration system
   • What shape
   • Special features in a pool
   • Heating a pool
   • Pool care over winter
6. Indoor and Outdoor Water Features
   • Introduction
   • Pot ponds
   • Water barrels
   • Wall plaques and wall fountains
   • Water walls
   • Water spouts
   • Bird baths
   • Fountains
   • Cobble fountain construction
   • Waterfalls
   • Cascades
   • Canals
   • Using water features in a landscape
7. Water Plants
   • Introduction
   • Waterside trees and shrubs
   • Bog plants
   • Emergent water plants
   • Floating leaf plants
   • Aquatic plants
   • Water lilies
   • Plants to avoid in water gardens
   • Surrounding plants
8. Aquatic Animals
   • Introduction
   • Conditions needed by fish and aquatic animals
   • Maintenance
   • Fish
   • Frogs
   • Tortoises
   • Water snails
   • Insects
   • Birds
   • Troubleshooting

Aims

• Describe the nature and scope of water gardens.
• Identify and describe generic construction materials and techniques suitable for water gardens and pools.
• Select appropriate equipment for use with water features.
• Specify the design and construction of a pond or watercourse
• Specify the design, construction and maintenance of a spa or swimming pool.
• Specify the design & construction of a Water Feature other than a pond or water course.
• Identity the water plants commonly used in water gardens
• Identify a variety of aquatic animals suitable for water gardens, and their requirements

HOW DO YOU BETTER PLAN A WATER GARDEN?

Shape, size and location are the three most basic, yet important, decisions you need to make about water gardens. They determine how well the garden functions, and how it fits in with the surrounding landscape. It is important to get it right before you start because it can be very difficult – and expensive – to change it later.

Shape
When you decide on the water garden’s shape you need to take into account the style of the house and garden, the shape of the land (topography), the type of construction used to build the water garden, and of course, your preference.

Pond shape and garden styles
Generally, formal ponds are used in formal gardens and free-form shapes are used in informal gardens. Ponds in formal gardens are based on strong geometric shapes – squares, rectangles or circles – with cleanly defined edges. They may be constructed on one, two or more levels with water flowing from one pond to the other, then pumped back to the upper level.

The shape of a formal pond may reflect the lines of the house or other nearby structures such as courtyard walls. For example, a pond that is built against a wall will be square, rectangular or semi-circular in shape.

Informal ponds are generally constructed as free-form shapes, similar to the shape of a pond in a natural setting. They are designed to blend in with the garden and are usually (but not always) surrounded by plants to soften the edges.

It always helps to draw shapes to clarify your ideas …draw the shape of the pond on paper or mark it on the ground with lime or a garden hose.

Size
For most people, their first water garden tends to be small, and if that works well, they might become hooked and try something larger.

When deciding on the size, think about how its scale will relate to the surrounding landscape. Generally, formal ponds look better in smaller gardens.

Natural ponds, where fish and water plants form part of a self-regulating ecosystem, should be as large and deep as possible. Shallow ponds evaporate quickly and experience greater temperature fluctuations that can be harmful to plants and fish. If you want to grow waterlilies or keep fish, the pond needs to be around 60 cm deep.

Ponds with fountains need to be large enough to catch the spray – this is especially important in small confined spaces such as courtyards where people are likely to be in close proximity to the fountain.

Location
The natural place for a pond is in a low-lying position or a depression in the garden. Always remember that water doesn’t flow up hill and it will not sit still on a slope … it sounds obvious, but you need to think about this when designing a natural-style pond.

Formal ponds can be sited anywhere on the block, and unlike informal and natural ponds, they are often raised above the surrounding ground level.

They are usually placed in a prominent position where they act as a focal point in the garden; for example, in the centre of a courtyard or lawn, or at the end of a formal hedge.

How Will You Benefit?

• Learn to design and develop a wide range of different types of water gardens
• Indulge a passion for water gardens - know and understand more about the options
• Fast track business or employment opportunities in water gardening
• Save money and time -no traveling to classes
• Determine when, where and how long your study sessions are, for yourself
• Make better decisions about the building, management and care of water plants and gardens
• Improve your career and business prospects in horticulture and landscaping