Georgann Schmalz
Birding Adventures,Inc.Water is an essential landscape element in your wildlife habitat. Your choice of the size and style of a pond is determined by how much space and sunlight is  available, how  much money you can afford, and how much timeyou have for maintenance.  Even the smallest pond should be able to accomodate a number and variety of aquatic plants  and some smallfish.  Whether you choose to create a small mini-pond or build an elaborate pond  complete with a filter, fountain, and waterfall, your water feature will be the central focus of your garden.

When space is a consideration,a small mini-pond may be in order.  Half-barrels (old whiskey barrels)and small rigid plastic liners can be used to house aquatic plants and small goldfish or Shubunkins.   The minimum depth of water should be 18 inches.  A  small shelf can be added for marginal plants. Small tub ponds are ideal for decks, courtyards, patios, or even inside a classroom where a grow light is used.

BOG GARDEN

To create a bog garden,use  butyl liner with drainage holes   in the bottom. Add a 2 inch layer  of grit or gravel  followed by a compost layer of topsoil,   peat, and lime-free grit.  Add a stone   edging to hide the liner, fertilize,and   plant with a variety of bog plants: ferns   astilbes, loosestrife, primula.

SMALL RAISED POND

A small raised pond in a courtyard or patio has many advantages: plants and animals are brought up to eye level, there is no earth excavation, and it is safer if children are around.  Choose a rigid liner of any shape, providing a firm foundation and support of brick or dirt built up around the sides.

MARGINALS
Roots submerged, leaves and f lowers clearly above the surface.  Should be planted in a basket and placed on a shelf in the pond along the edge. Sedges,rushes,cattails, pickerel weed, arrowhead, parrot’s feather.

SUBMERGED
Roots and stems submerged,  leaves  almost always  submerged   and flowers on or above the surface.   Helps to purify the  water and  provides a spawning area for fish.   Plant can be planted in basket at bottom  of pond.  Elodea, milfoil, pondweeds,  willow moss

FLOATERS
Roots submerged, leaves and stems free-loating  on  or just below the surface and  flowers on or above the surface.   These plants provide cover. Just drop the plants into the water  Use duckweed and water lettuce.