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CONTAINER WATER GARDENING
from:It is not absolutely essential that you have a natural pond or even an artificial pool in the ground in order to enjoy a water garden. Container water gardening is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways for you to try your hand at this form of horticulture. Any container that can be used to hold water has potential for container water gardening. People have done wonderful things with old horse troughs, halves of distillery barrels, decorative fiberglass tanks, large cooking kettles, antique bathtubs and laundry tubs, and even children’s wading pools; turning otherwise drab corners and spaces into lush gardens. You can use just one pot or tub for container water gardening, or you can use several, with a variety of plants to make your garden all the more interesting.
Your container should be at least eighteen inches in diameter, but two feet is preferable. Where you place the container is very important. Of course, you want the container in a location where you can get the most enjoyment from it, such as on a patio or deck. But because the water in your container will heat up much more quickly than water in a pool in the ground, you must put the container in a place where it will be protected by shade during the hottest part of the day.
With container water gardening you have to be aware of stagnation and evaporation. You must top up the water frequently. It will also be necessary for you to regularly remove old water and replace it with fresh. Be sure you know just how you will drain or pump out the container and then refill it. Sometimes people forget to have the container within reach of a hose, resulting in some heavy lifting or frequent trips with a water bucket. If there are fish in the container, have a place to put them while you replace the water. This is also a good time to clean away any scummy build-up.
It is a good idea to line your container. Water gardening of this type obviously invites rusting and leakage. The material the container is made of might also contain substances that could be harmful to plants or fish. You can buy fiberglass shells that are specially made to line half-barrels. You can use PVC lining for other containers.
Any container of standing water is a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. Goldfish or other species that feed on mosquito larvae will help keep your container free of this problem. If you live in a cold climate you will have to put the fish in an indoor aquarium during the winter.
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