Garden ponds and fountains were once mostly for the wealthy people. Nowadays, anyone can have a garden pond. A fountain or waterfall can be built-in almost anywhere - even if your "yard" is restricted to a patio or balcony.
Adding water to your patio can be as easy as setting out a shallow dish of water for use as a birdbath. Any shallow container at least 6 inches wide and a half-inch deep will work. Pie pans, trash can lids, or flowerpot bases work well in little spaces. Fill the pot with clean water and wash it every day or two. The wildlife attracted to the water will depend on where you put the container.
Containers set on the land typically attract the greatest number of wildlife species, from birds and butterflies to squirrels and toads. Hanging birdbaths or ones on pedestals will be limited to those creatures that can fly or jump high sufficiently to reach the water, and give birds a chance to run away from neighborhood cats and other predators.
If you want to raise water plants - and perhaps a fish or two--you can add a tub garden to your patio or yard. Many products are on the market these days. Normally, half whiskey kegs with plastic liners are used.
Many plastic tub gardens are obtainable in a variety of sizes and have the benefit of being lightweight and low-cost. Small pumps can be added to any of these containers to allow for fountains or cascades of water. Moving water is pleasant to listen to and attractive to flora and fauna.
Here are some considerations previous to adding a small tub pond to your patio or yard:
- If you desire to grow up water plants, decide a container that is at least a foot deep. While some water plants do well in shallow water, other types - as well as some water lilies - need deeper water.
- Consider adding a range of plant species. Depending on the deepness of your tub, place pots of plants either on the underside or on bricks to achieve the proper depth. Floating plants such as duckweed also can be additional.
- Floating plants decrease the quantity of sunlight that enters the water, which helps lessen the growth of algae. When adding potted plants, place a layer of stones on top of the soil before setting the pots in the water. This will help seize the soil in place and help avoid any fish from "digging" into the pots.
- If you live in a cold type of weather, think what you will do with the tub garden in the winter. Small tubs can be moved inside if an appropriate position is available. Other tubs may need to be drained to stop harm from freezing.
- Be careful: Use caution and take security measures if small children have contact to your pond. Even small tub gardens can be dangerous. If you plan to have a fountain or waterfall, be sure a grounded electrical outlet is on hand.
- On top of all, have fun. Water gardens offer habitat for wildlife, but also can be a pleasant hobby for you and your family.
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