Garden Clippings
Choices abundant for water garden containers
First of two parts
By RUTH DAVIES
Article published on Thursday, June 28, 2007  |
One quiet but significant way to celebrate the Fourth of July is to plant a container or the garden in red, white and blue.
Survivors of heat and humidity are red salvia or red vinca, white vinca and blue salvia. Angelonias, scabiosa and scaveloa are a possibility and may make it through July.
Pinellas County has miles of beachfront, but not everyone can live on the water. However, everyone can enjoy the pleasure of seeing water by creating a water garden.
There are many choices and thought should go into the type of contained water garden desired. As this is a garden, not a fountain, at least six hours of sun is necessary for growth. Visibility is the first concern. Place it by the patio, lanai, front door – wherever it can be enjoyed the most.
The second step would be to determine the type of water garden – in the ground, in a ceramic pot, a barrel, a bathtub, a crock or a copper dish.
If there is traffic noise, a strong stream of water may be loud enough to drown out the nuisance.
Small plastic garden ponds are very simple to install; it’s just a matter of digging a hole to match the shape.
In a small entry courtyard, a recirculating pump can dribble water from the wall into a colorful ceramic pot to add a focal point.
It is not necessary to have a pump to move the water, although mosquitoes will not breed in moving water. By using water loving plants, the water can stay clear and fish will eat any mosquito larvae that appear.
Gambezi, guppies or gold fish will survive in an in-ground pond. BT capsules in a ceramic pot also will kill larvae.
One of the objectives is to plant the water garden as attractively as a garden with all those plants that love wet feet.
Plant suggestions will be covered in the next issue.
Ruth Davies is a Pinellas County Master Gardener. She can be reached at sunflower1368@juno.com.
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Article published on Thursday, June 28, 2007
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