Water Gardening
Water gardeningwhether on a large or small scale is one of themost enjoyable, fascinating and (once theinitial construction and landscaping is com-pleted) trouble-free forms of ornamentalhorticulture.
The attractiveness of a water garden extendsover a long season. Few garden plants cancompare with tropical water-lilies by providinga succession of flowers from June onwards untilcut back by frost. These gardens lend them-selves superbly to artificial illumination. Boththe night-flowering water-lilies and the GiantWater Platter (Victoria cruziana) open theirflowers at dusk, to provide a nocturnal display.The most important consideration beforeplanting and construction of the garden is thesite. Full sunlight is essential for successfuldevelopment of nearly all the aquatic plants. Ifthe garden is shaded, growth becomes etiolated,and less floriferous. Trees growing in the nearvicinity of a pool are undesirable as the leavestend to accumulate in the pool, releasing harmfulproducts as they decay under water. In wind-swept locations, a windbreak of the AmericanArborvitae or Canadian Hemlock planted at asuitable distance on the north side will preventdamage to the more tender plants, and alsoassist in extending the display season.
The source of water should be relatively freeof salinity as well as industrial and municipalwastes. Where fish are desired the water shouldbe able to sustain a flora for the small organismswhich serve as fish foods; and to have anoptimum dissolved oxygen content of 4%.
Pool Design
The design of the pool may vary from theformal or traditional with a rectangular orcircular shape to the informal or more naturalform. For the smaller gardens a simple patternis advocated, being less complicated to buildand maintain. This type of pool is more likelyto blend with the landscaping of a smallergarden. Eighteen to 24 in. is an ideal depth. Toaccommodate shallow water and certainmoisture-loving bog plants, cement blocks orlarge stones can be placed under the plantcontainers in order to bring them up to thecorrect depth of water (2-4 in.).
Pool ConstructionThe best material for pool construction isconcrete—preferably reinforced—poured intowooden forms. The site selected should beexcavated to the necessary depth and outline.Provision for drainage should be made as thiswill facilitate periodic cleaning. The drain canbe run to low ground or sump built nearby.Galvanized iron pipe 2-3 in. in dia.
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