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Water garden oraquatic garden, is a term sometimes used forgardens, or parts of gardens, where any type ofwater feature (particularlygarden ponds) is a principal or dominant element. The primary focus is on plants, but they will sometimes also housewaterfowl, orornamental fish, in which case it may be called afish pond. They vary enormously in size and style.
Water gardening is gardening that is concerned with growing plants adapted to lakes, rivers andponds, often specifically to their shallow margins. Although water gardens can be almost any size or depth, they are often small and relatively shallow, perhaps less than twenty inches (51 cm) in depth. This is because most aquatic plants are depth sensitive and require a specific water depth in order to thrive; this can be helped by planting them in baskets raised off the bottom. A water garden may include abog garden for plants that enjoy a waterlogged soil. Sometimes their primary purpose is to grow a particular species or group ofaquatic plants, for examplewater lilies.
Water gardens, and water features in general, have been a part of public and private gardens since ancientPersian gardens andChinese gardens. For instance, the (c. 304)Nanfang Caomu Zhuang records cultivatingChinese spinach on floating gardens. Water features have been present and well represented in every era and in every culture that has includedgardens in their landscape and architectural environments. Up until the rise of theindustrial age, when the modernwater pump was introduced, water was not recirculated but was diverted fromrivers andsprings into the water garden, from which it exited into agricultural fields or natural watercourses. Historically, water features were used to enable plant and fish production both for food purposes and for ornamental aesthetics.
When the aquatic flora and fauna are balanced, anaquatic ecosystem is created that will supportsustainable water quality and clarity. Elements such asfountains,statues,artificial waterfalls,boulders, underwaterlighting, lining treatments, edging details, watercourses, and in-water and bankside planting can add visual interest and help to integrate the water garden with the local landscape and environment.
Inlandscape architecture andgarden design, a water feature is one or more items from a range offountains,jeux d'eau, pools,ponds,rills,artificial waterfalls, andstreams. Modern water features are typically self-contained, meaning that they do not require water to beplumbed in; rather water is recycled from either apond or a hiddenreservoir, also known as asump.
Thesixteenth century in Europe saw a renewed interest in Greek thought and philosophy, including the works ofHero of Alexandria abouthydraulics andpneumatics. His devices, such as temple doors operated by invisible weights or flowing liquids, andmechanical singing birds powered by steam, motivated several European palaces to create similar clever devices to enhance their public image.
InItaly several royal houses constructed large water gardens incorporating mechanical devices in water settings. The best-known is theVilla d'Este atTivoli, constructed in 1550 AD. A hill cascaded with many fountains andgrottoes, some with water-driven figures that moved or spouted water. Popularity spread across Europe with the well-known water garden atHellbrunn Palace built with many water-powered human and animal performing figures andpuppet theaters, andfolly fountains that erupted without notice to surprise visitors.[1]
On aconstructed stream, placing rocks in the path of the water makes small patterns,rapids andwaterfalls. The rocks disrupt the waterflow, causing splashing and bubbles that can make pleasant sounds and micro-habitats for plants, fish, and wildlife. Well-placed rocks can create splashing water that adds oxygen to preventhypoxia: the more bubbles, the moredissolved oxygen in the water.
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Water garden plants are divided into three main categories: submerged, marginal, and floating.
Some areas of the United States do not allow certain of these plants to be sold or kept, as they have becomeinvasive species in warmer areas of the country, such asFlorida andCalifornia.
Algae are found in almost all ponds. There are hundreds of species of algae that can grow in garden ponds, but they are usually noticed only when they become abundant. Algae often grow in very high densities in ponds because of the high nutrient levels that are typical of garden ponds. Generally, algae attaches itself to the sides of the pond and remains innocuous. Some species of algae, such as "blanket weed", can grow up to a foot a day under ideal conditions and can rapidly clog a garden pond. On the other hand, free floating algae are microscopic and are what cause pond water to appear green. Blanket weed, although unsightly, is actually a sign that the water is clean and well-balanced. Green water (free floating algae) means there are too many nutrients in the water, usually from rotting vegetation or too many fish for the space. Killing the free floating algae with chemicals will often cause it to die, rot, and then make the problem even worse as more nutrients enter the water. Adding more floating or submerged (unpotted) plants can help with the green water, as they can take the nutrients out of the water. There are also filters that can be installed to remove the nutrients and all types of algae from the water. Many ponds naturally go green early in the spring and then clear up.
Often the reason for having a pond in a garden is to keepfish, oftenkoi, though many people keepgoldfish. Both are hardy, colorful fish which require no special heating, provided the pond is located in an area which does not have extremes of temperature that would affect the fish. If fish are kept, pumps and filtration devices are usually needed in order to keep enough oxygen in the water to support them. In winter, a small heater may need to be used in cold climates to keep the water from freezing solid. Examples of common pond fish include:
Small aquaticsnails are usually found in ponds that contain plants. Some people purchaseapple snails to keep in their water garden. "Melantho snails" of the genusLymnaea are also used.
Ponds located in suburban and rural areas often attractamphibians such asCommon Frogs andFire Salamanders andreptiles such asturtles,lizards, andsnakes.
Garden ponds can attract attention from predators such as (in North America)raccoons,herons, snakes, and domesticcats. These predators can be a danger to fish. Owners of koi are often particularly careful to create protected areas as some varieties are very expensive.
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