Would you like to have a water feature for your backyard but have limited space to work with? A water garden doesn't need to be a large pond, taking up half of a large backyard. Container gardens are ideal for those who have limited mobility, limited time or who live in rental situations. Container water gardens can be made from containers of all sizes... flowerpots, dishpans, old sinks or bathtubs, or any container that can be made watertight. They are great for small courtyards, apartment balconies, patios and decks and even sun porches.

How Is A Container Water Garden Created?

The tools required for a container water garden include a large watertight container, water, sand or gravel, soil or clay, aquatic plants, aquatic plant fertilizer, small pots, extra pots and bricks, and optional garden features such as fish and/or fountain kit.

• Determine what kind of water garden you want. Would you want plants, fish or perhaps both? Would the unit be large enough for the fish and the necessary equipment for them? What type of plants do you want?
• Decide on the location of your container garden; preferably one that is visible and receives 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day and away from trees and shrubs. Make sure that your deck, balcony or roof-top locations are strong enough to hold a container water garden, once filled with water, it can be very heavy. It is also advisable that you place your feature near a water source so you and easily add more water to it if necessary.
• Select the container that you will use for your garden. Selections for a container garden may include a half barrel, square wooden containers, flower pots, old bathtubs or even small kiddie pools. Note that a dark color on the inside of your container, such as black, charcoal or dark green, will create an illusion of depth while keeping algae to a minimum.
• If the container is not watertight, waterproof it. Using a water sealant on a ceramic pot that is unglazed or using a heavy-gauge trash bag for these containers is proven helpful. Pond liners can also be used to waterproof a larger container.
• Fill 2/3 of the large container with water, folding the pond liner (if using) neatly against the sides of the container.
• Select aquatic plants for your water garden for visual appeal. Good choices for your container garden may include water lilies, umbrella plant, water hyacinth, horsetail, Japanese iris, umbrella plant, lotus, wild celery, arrowhead, water blue bells and dwarf papyrus.
• Place the plants into the small pots and use the appropriate clay or soil for them. To hold the soil in place, top with 1/4-inch to 1-inch of gravel or sand.
• Use overturned pots or bricks to create a variety of heights in your large container and position your potted plants on the bricks or pots in the large container. Be sure to follow the instructions for proper depth instructions for each type of plant. If the water source contains high concentrations of chlorine, allow the container of water to set for 24 to 48 hours before placing the plants.
• Continue to fill the large container until it is almost full.
• Add any additional garden features if desired. A bubbler or fountain can add interest to any size water garden. If you have a large enough container, you may want to add a waterfall kit along one side of the container.
• Fish can be added to your container water garden if desired. Just make sure the container is big enough for the fish. A container garden will probably not be big enough for koi, but there are many other fish that can live in the smaller space. Be sure your filtration system is set up properly for the fish.
• Enjoy your new container water feature!

How Do I Maintain My New Container Water Feature?

Maintaining a container water garden is also very easy. All you have to do is trim the dead leaves and stems off of the potted plants, fertilize them if needed or appropriate, remove leaves and other debris that fall into the water and keep the level of water maintained. When Autumn arrives, dismantle and shelter your water feature before a winter freeze arrives.