Transcript Water in the Landscape: From the Elaborate to the Simple

Water in the Landscape:
From the Elaborate to the Simple
Jen Bowry
Dale Cruzan
Karen Roudabush
Topics for Tonight
• Fountain/Pond Maintenance through the
Seasons
• Considerations for Fish
• Water Plants and Their Care
• Incorporating Water Features Beyond the
Traditional Fountain
– Rain Gardens
Water Garden Considerations
• Location
–6 to 8 hours of direct sun
–Most level site possible
–Away from tall shrubs and trees
- Viewed from the house
- Relationship with existing
landscape
- Easy access to water and electricity
Caring for Your Fountain: Spring
• Clean out debris
• Remove fall netting
• Cut back dead or
decaying parts of water
garden plants
Caring for Your Fountain: Spring
• Look for disease
problems in fish
• Clean filters
• Check electrical
equipment for
problems
Caring for Your Fountain: Summer
• Most growth occurs in
the summer
• Clear out the algae
– Algae that is long and in
strings can be picked
out.
• Check the water levels
• Check the water pH and
cloudiness
Caring for Your Fountain: Fall
• Pond starts to cool
• Place fall netting over
pond
– Prevents larger leaves
and twigs from falling
into pond
• Only feed fish on warm
days
• Divide up bog plants
Caring for Your Fountain: Winter
• Turn off fountains and
waterfalls
• Make sure filters are
clean
• Bring tropical plants
into the house
Container Ponds
• Excellent way to experience water gardening
without a large commitment.
• Require full sun for at least 5 hours daily
• Spot that is shaded in mid- to late-afternoon is
ideal.
• Keep them away from overhanging trees
• Have easy access to water
Creating Your Splendid Garden
• Container must hold at
least 4 gallons of water
• Plants will not
overwinter in an aboveground container
• When using city water,
be aware of chlorine
content
Containers
• Whiskey Barrel
– Line barrel with plastic
since wood may contain
something harmful to
plants and fish
• Galvanized horse trough
• Glazed pottery
• Claw-foot bathtub
Water Plants and Their Care
• Deep Water plants
• Floating plants
• Submerged or
Oxygenators
• Emergent
• Bog plants
Submerged/Oxygenators
• Wild Celery (Vallisneria
sp.)
– Ribbon-like
– Translucent, pale-green
leaves
– Will grow in shade, partshade and sun
– Water that is 6– 24 in
deep
Submerged/Oxygenators
• Anacharis (Egeria
densa)
– Whorls of deep green
leaves
– Occasional white
flowers
– Water 12 in-10 ft
deep
Emergent
• Blue Flag Iris (Iris
versicolor)
– Mixed blue flowers in June
– Grass like foliage
– Tolerate full sun to part
shade
– Grows from 24 –30 inches
tall
– Potted plant placed 3 to 6
inches below water surface
Emergent
• Dwarf Papyrus (Cyperus
isocladus)
– Green grass like foliage
with "starburst like"
flower-heads that turn
brown in the fall
– Tolerates sun to part shade
– Grows 12 – 18 in tall
– Potted plant placed 3 to 6
inches below water surface
Floaters
• Water Hyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes)
– Popular floater with
long, trailing roots,
– Balloon like petioles
– Spikes of pale lavender
flowers
– Zone 9 plant
• Brought in to winterize
Floaters
• Water Lettuce (Pistia
stratiotes)
– Velvet, blue green
leaves
– Forms a rosette of
foliage that looks like
leaf lettuce
Caring for Fish
• Maintain ecosystem
balance
• Wait 4-5 weeks after
planting to introduce
fish
• A good rule of thumb is
to use 1-2 inches
(length) of fish for every
square foot of water
surface
Caring for Fish
• Gambezi are effective at controlling mosquitos by
feeding on the larvae.
– They are black fish that provide entertainment by
flipping and jumping.
– They may even reproduce in water gardens.
– Over winter, keep them in an aquarium as they will
not survive in a container garden.
• Guppies will thrive in a small garden.
• Koi or goldfish are not recommended for a small
water garden, as they can not tolerate the
extremes in temperatures and gas.
Caring for Fish
• Acclimate fish to pond life by floating them in
a plastic bag in the pond for 15-20 minutes.
• Fish will feed on algae and plants, but some
people enjoy feeding them.
Subtle Uses of Water Features
Benefits of a Rain Garden
• are beautiful and easy
to incorporate into your
yard
• conserve water
• reduce standing water
in your yard
• reduce mosquito
breeding
Benefits of a Rain Garden
• survive drought seasons
• create habitat for
beneficial bugs, birds
and butterflies
• come in all shapes and
sizes that let your
creativity blossom!
Rain Garden Plant Selection
• Tolerant of occasional
flooding and dry
periods
• Noninvasive species
• Variety of species
• Variety of plant heights
Rain Garden Construction
• A rain garden's purpose
is to catch rain water
with its plants and soil.
• Install plants in proper
moisture zones.
• Plant in groups of 3-5 of
the same species.
• Taller plants should be
planted near the center.
• Plant according to
plant’s mature size.
Maintaining a Rain Garden
• Add 2-4 inches of mulch to a newly planted
rain garden.
– New mulch should be added each fall, as needed.
– Lightweight mulch should be avoided
• Trim dead, diseased, or damaged plants
immediately.
• Water during dry periods
– 1 inch of water per week is recommended.
Final Thoughts