Water Gardens

Water gardens are a very attractive feature. Adding a simple pond or creating a series of pools can give your garden it's own unique character. There are many options available, and even a small shallow bird bath type water feature will still be a great way to attract wildlife into your garden.

The following small guides should provide some useful advice.

Aquatic Plants - Hardy Water Lillies

Hardy water lilies can be planted in a suitable container using a loam garden soil and 2-3 fertilizer tablets.

Hardy lilies will grow horizontally across the container so a wide pot is necessary for planting (a 14 or 16inch fabric pot is the best container). Fill the pot 1/2 full with a loam garden soil and add the fertilizer tablets. The rhizome should be planted at one edge of the container at an angle of about 45 degrees with the crown exposed.

Continue to fill the pot to about 2 inches from the top, do not cover the crown.

The top two inches should be topped up with fine gravel or sand. Remember to keep the gravel away from the crown of the tuber.

The plant can be lowered to a depth of 6 inches to begin with, and then lowered to a depth of 12 - 18 inches as the plant grows.

Hardy lilies should be planted in early spring and should be fertilized every 4-6 weeks. They bloom from June through to September depending on the weather, and become dormant during the colder months.