A properly designed and carefully constructed water garden should look like a part of a natural landscape shaped by nature for hundreds of years, where standing (or flowing) water blends harmoniously with the rich plant world.
Plants from the pond's surroundings are beyond the reach of the foil or mold, i.e. they thrive in normal garden soil. Plants are not in contact with water; if the substrate is permanently wet, it is probably only because the capillary septum around the joint is missing or not properly constructed. In principle, all the plants that we grow in flower beds in another part of the garden can be grown on the sites around the pond.However, to achieve the most harmonious transition from the aquatic plant zone to the garden zone, we advise you to choose those species that the form of growth does not differ substantially from that of the rush and swamp zones.
For planting, you can use a whole range of flowering perennials, for which the living conditions in a normal or slightly moist substrate are optimal and which is served by the specific microclimate that prevails near the water reservoir.Some plants adapt easily enough to varying environmental conditions that they can be grown both inside and outside the pond.European Flower, hemp plant and Siberian iris are good examples.
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Leaves of water lilies and grasses are an inseparable element of a pond (Photo: Fotolia.com) |
Graduation of the planting height works well both in plantings in a bed and at the edge of a pond.The height of flowering perennials increases gradually towards the bush.The lowest species are located closest to the water, which do not obstruct the view of the water.
Large flowering shrubs are a great complement to perennial planting from the edge of the pond only if they have a sufficiently large living space.If the pond is located 4-7 meters from the border of the property (garden), shrubs we can plant it like a slowly growing hedge.The space between the shrubs and the water is best filled with decorative perennials. The most interesting shrubs that can be planted near the water include, among others,flower dogwood Cornus florida, Japanese viburnum Viburnum plicatum and the ornamental apple tree 'Red Jade'. Japanese-style water gardens are best suited for magnolias, azaleas, dwarf maples, and displays consisting of bonsai trees.
Coastal planting model
Around the pond that is 8 m long and 4 m wide, you can plant such plants as:
1. Chinese miscanthus Miscanthus sinensis ´ Gracillimus ´
2. Magpie Molinia caerulea
3. Muscovy sedge Carex muskingumensis
4. Siberian iris Iris sibirica
5. Related knotweed
6. Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida
7. Parzydło Aruncus
8. Athyrium Vault
9. Hempseed Eupatorium cannabinum
10. Knotweed
11. Hemerocallis day lily
12. Geranium pratense
13. Lysimachia nummularia
Places where the ground remains exposed can be effectively masked with gravel or pebbles. Large, but flat stones look exceptionally elegant. These harmoniously blend all the elements of the coastline.The stable substrate creates a kind of footbridge, allowing access to water.To get rid of weeds, place a foil under the stones, then make a foundation of stones at least 10 cm. Plants are planted topically on such surfaces, making holes in the foil underlay.
In the vicinity of the water garden, you cannot miss a rest corner. The ideal solution is to merge it with water using a footbridge. Tall ornamental grasses such as miscanthus and pampas grass are suitable for planting in the immediate vicinity of the seat.
An inseparable part of every water garden are decorative sculptures, figurines, as well as water installations such as fountains, wall-mounted springs, fountains. These always intrigue and attract attention, thanks to them the water garden becomes multidimensional. Currently, they are just as indispensable decorative elements as plants or colorful fish.
Modern water gardens are equipped with a number of technologically advanced devices, divided into utility and ornamental.Among the decorative elements, the most important are lighting elements, such as lamps and spotlights, installed both below and above the water surface.
