Stillwater

The Joy of Water The Joy of Water GardeningGardening

ininOklahomaOklahoma

Overview Overview

•Good things can come in small packagesGood things can come in small packages

•Choose a pond site wiselyChoose a pond site wisely

•Things will start to take shapeThings will start to take shape

•Frame it like a pictureFrame it like a picture

•Yes there is some work involvedYes there is some work involved

•Where to go for assistanceWhere to go for assistance

Choosing a Pond Site• Front yard vs back yard

– Easily seen from your home– Easy to walk to—is there a path

– Will you want to party around it

– Will there be a deck

– Do you need to take special safety precautions

– Will children or elderly folks be at risk

– Will it need railings or fencing

– Does the City have rules

Choosing a Pond Site• Sunlight and Trees

– Water lilies require 6+ hours of sunlight– Trees can be messy

– Seeds, leaves, propellers aaaaaaaaaaaaagh

– What can you do about it?

– Some trees are poison

– black walnut

– fruit trees are a hazard

– Trees provide shade

Choosing a Pond Site• Drainage

– Mistake—don’t put it in a hollow– Boggy or wet soil can shift

– Your liner may float out

– Runoff from a rain can put things into your pond that don’t belong there, like fertilizer, mud, debris, pesticide

– If a hollow is your only choice, consider raised edges to discourage runoff

Choosing a Pond Site• Water and Electricity

– A dangerous combination– Follow code– Know what you are doing or hire an

electrician– Readily available

You Have Some Choices to Make• What shape and how large do you

want your water garden to be

• Copy this address into your browser and you will find a tool to figure the approximate number of gallons in the water garden you are planning.http://www.vnwg.com/building_tips01.jspTo get a more exact number after the water

garden is built, just READ THE METER before

and after you fill your water garden.

You Have Some Choices to Make• Shape• Formal• Informal—irregular• Garden hose method

• Above ground or in ground• Preformed or Flexible liner

• Rubber or PVC, measured in mils• One thousandth of an inch• 45 mil liner

• Depth• 2.5 to 3 feet• Marginal shelf 1 foot at least

There’s An Edge To It• Coping shelf• 2” deep• 16-18”wide• Lay out your edging material

April —Home & Garden Show

June -- Water Garden Tour (every other year)

Meetings typically 3nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Next meeting? Check out our website and

Newsletter

www.stillwaterwatergardens.org

Cost $10 per family