Water Garden Tips

You want an easy water garden, but digging a hole in the ground and wrestling with pond liners doesn't seem particularly easy, nor is it your idea of a fun weekendSo here's a neat water garden that's versatile, doesn't take up much space and requires little maintenance.I've had a pond-in-a-pot for a few years now. It just takes 20 minutes to set up on the patio at the beginning of the season. Nothing could be simpler.

 How to create an easy water garden

Pond in pot - makes an easy water gardenEssentially a pond-in-a-pot is a large watertight pot with submerged or floating water plants arranged to create a pleasing composition.For a container water garden, it's best to start out with a water-tight pot, intended for water gardening. I chose a glazed pot traditionally used to grow lotus plants (shown here).However, any large watertight container at least 18 inches high with a diameter of at least 24 inches will do.Half barrels are a great size, and many garden centers now sell them with plastic liners as easy-to-set up kits.

If you're going to set it up on a deck, balcony or roof-top, remember that a container water garden is heavy, so check that the structure is strong enough to support the weight.

If you're concerned about weight, but still want the sound of water in your garden, consider the versatility of garden fountains for your deck or patio (link to Plow and Hearth opens in new window.